Ripper Conference 2009: London

[caz]

Blimey, maybe next time Adam should draw up a detailed list of 200 people's individual 'requirements' well in advance, and then it just might dawn on them that he wouldn't end up pleasing a single one of them that way.

Hi Philip,

I agreed with what you said, but you did give me one of those QI moments when the lights flash and the buzzers sound, usually when Alan Davies drops a clanger:

(please remember that UK Conferences in the past have always been around the 100 mark; 65 is hardly a decimation).

90 would be a 'decimation', which means a reduction by one tenth.

I'm sure you meant to say that 65 is not the unreasonably drastic reduction that others are making it sound, and I would agree entirely.

It appears from certain comments made that some people have not thought to check out the King's Stores for themselves on the various related websites, or they could have ascertained in advance the maximum number the function room can hold. It's not a figure that is arrived at lightly, but one that is almost certainly based on health and safety and getting everyone out in the event of an emergency.

May I venture that in future years, soundings are taken BEFORE a venue is booked? London was always going to be very popular, for various reasons...

Hi Sara,

I don't get this. Did you or Nats have to wait for Adam to come to you personally to take 'soundings'? What was stopping either of you from offering him your helpful suggestions for large function rooms in London, when he first announced the particular difficulties this year was going to present, ie when they could actually have proved helpful?

May I venture that in future years, people don't sound off AFTER a venue is booked that they have a problem with, if they could have offered to help beforehand?

As Monty keeps hinting, it's not as if there wasn't plenty of warning...

If all you do is lie back and think of London, don't blame Adam if he can't make you come.

Love,

Caz
X

[Natalie Severn]

Hi Caz,
It is just a pity that so many of us who would have come,missed out.I honestly hadnt thought of the Bishopsgate Institute until I went to a meeting there a few weeks ago and noticed it contained more than three hundred people -it was two minutes from Liverpool Street and close to lots of pubs so I thought I would mention it on here.No criticism of Adam at all.[It cant be helped if most of us cant come----]
love
Nats
xx

[AdamNeilWood]

Just as an aside, I looked at the Bishopsgate, and other halls, but while there's plenty of space, there's a severe lack of bar and food facilities.

There's more to consider than how many seats can fit into a room.

This is the fifth Ripper conference I've organised, and will be the last. I've always gained an enormous amount of pleasure from putting them together, but some of the comments on here have taken some of that away this time round.

Looks like it's time to let someone else have a go from 2011.

Adam

[Natalie Severn]

Adam,as far as I am concerned it was just a suggestion-not a criticism.What you have organised in the past has always been first rate-and I am sure this one will be just as good.

[Sam Flynn]

This is the fifth Ripper conference I've organised, and will be the last. I've always gained an enormous amount of pleasure from putting them together, but some of the comments on here have taken some of that away this time round.

Adam - your efforts are much appreciated, and I hope that the (undoubted) good job you'll do at this year's event will encourage you to persevere. I know I won't be alone in thinking that.

We really are our own worst enemies, sometimes.

[George Hutchinson]

Yet again Ripperology tries to destroy itself from the inside.

You have the support and sympathy of the majority, Adam.

PHILIP

[The Grave Maurice]

Adam, believe me, even those of us who will be unable to attend the conference don't blame you. We all understand the difficulties of planning such an undertaking. People are only disappointed because the conference sounds so good, and they won't be able to be there. All the moaning is, in fact, a compliment to your organizational skills.

[Casebook Wiki Editor]

Adam - your efforts are much appreciated, and I hope that the (undoubted) good job you'll do at this year's event will encourage you to persevere. I know I won't be alone in thinking that.

You won't be, Sam, on neither side of the Pond. (Hmmmm....double negative...) Either side. OK let's just try: You're not alone in your thinking, Sam.

Hey Adam - a thought: how about a paid web cast of the lectures ? Is that feasible ?

[caz]

Hi Nats,

If it's any consolation, I'm keeping my fingers and toes tightly crossed for you and others who are currently on the standby list.

If I could wave a magic wand...

Love,

Caz
XXX

[Natalie Severn]

Hi Nats,

If it's any consolation, I'm keeping my fingers and toes tightly crossed for you and others who are currently on the standby list.

If I could wave a magic wand...

Love,

Caz
XXX

Thanks Caz---thats so sweet of you I understand the situation and that Adam has done his very best to provide the most appropriate venue for everyone in our expensive capital city.As it is ,those of us who dont live too far away, can still meet up in local pubs or have a meal together.

Love
Nats
xxx

[KatBradshaw]

I feel bad now that I have a place. I have been on and off Casebook for a long time and have been interested in the case for over 20 years, which given that I am only 29 is 2/3 of my life. (I was a very morbid child). I did my dissertation on the effect the murders had on charities in the area. I guess I feel the need to justify that I have a real interest and I am not just on here because I saw 'Whitechapel'.

[Janie Jones]

No need to feel guilty, Kat. You have just as much the right to attend as anyone else. I hope you enjoy yourself.

As someone who's attended every conference since 2001, I am obviously disappointed not to be able to attend this year. But since I'll be in London that weekend anyway, I'd love to get together w/anyone else who will not be able to attend.

Just let me know when & where, and I'll be there

[AdamNeilWood]

Speaker announcement

Dear all,

We're delighted to announce two speakers for the conference, both scheduled in the Saturday theme of 1889.

Stuart Orme, Events and Marketing Manager of Peterborough Museum, will be speaking on Alice MacKenzie, alleged Ripper victim. With Alice being a native of Peterborough, Stuart's talk will include a history of the area in Victorian times, including images of location probably familiar to Alice, as well as her move to London and eventual murder.

M J Trow, known to the Ripper fraternity as author of The Many Faces of Jack the Ripper as well as the Inspector Lestrade series, will be speaking on the Torso Murders of 1873-1889. Mei will be revealing how the body parts of at least ten women were fished out of the River Thames, all dismembered using a saw with a considerable amount of anatomical skill. Only Elizabeth Jackson, found in June 1889, could be identified, and she was briefly linked with the Whitechapel murders.

Best wishes
Adam Wood and Andy Aliffe,
Organisers, Ripper conference 2009

https://www.ripperconference.com

[AdamNeilWood]

Non-delegate attendance

Dear all,

We've been asked by those sadly not on the delegate list whether it would be possible to attend the evening activities at the conference... the answer is yes!

Once the last event of each day has ended, we will be delighted to welcome anyone who wants to come along to meet delegates and speakers, and to enjoy the evening entertainment.

The specific times are Saturday 7.00-11.30pm, and Sunday 6.00-10.30pm.

Best wishes
Adam Wood
Organiser, Ripper conference 2009

[Suzi]

Adam - your efforts are much appreciated, and I hope that the (undoubted) good job you'll do at this year's event will encourage you to persevere. I know I won't be alone in thinking that.

We really are our own worst enemies, sometimes.

Hear! Hear!!

Suz xx