Tracey Curtis-Taylor (Merged threads)
Thread Starter
The question now is how the Vice Chancellor,Graham Galbraith can justify this award?
It appears the Vice Chancellor of Portsmouth Poly fell for the same trick as the Master of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots Chris Ford.Added to the debacle the current Master ,Peter Benn ,defended the award to TCT putting her her on the same status as Tim Peake. Once again I copy the letter from Chis Ford below.
I hear rumours that HCAP carried out no checks on the claims submitted by her PR team. This was followed by an attempt by the next Master to cover the mistake hence the redrafted citation.
He must have felt that admitting the mistake would cause embarrassment to the HCAP?
Dated 16 Feb 2016, and signed by the Vice Chancellor para 2 states:
"The Committee would be delighted if you would agree to attend and receive an honorary degree in recognition of your recent inspirational 13,000 mile solo flight from Farnborough to Sydney. There is much admiration for your outstanding achievements, both in your recent flight and your 2013 flight between Cape Town and Goodwood."
"The Committee would be delighted if you would agree to attend and receive an honorary degree in recognition of your recent inspirational 13,000 mile solo flight from Farnborough to Sydney. There is much admiration for your outstanding achievements, both in your recent flight and your 2013 flight between Cape Town and Goodwood."
I hear rumours that HCAP carried out no checks on the claims submitted by her PR team. This was followed by an attempt by the next Master to cover the mistake hence the redrafted citation.
He must have felt that admitting the mistake would cause embarrassment to the HCAP?
Last edited by Mike Flynn; 23rd Dec 2016 at 05:43.
Tim Kelly worked for/with/partnered Portsmouth Uni as part of the Velux 5 yachting challenge. The contacts have been established before TCT taxied into view. As a PR man it would be an easy step to promote the latest marketable product to an old ally.
VELUX 5 OCEANS partners up with the University of Portsmouth
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/timkellycommsconsultant
Last edited by SATCOS WHIPPING BOY; 22nd Dec 2016 at 23:54.
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TCT quoted in Satco's attachment:
"I am very, very grateful for this. It feels as if I am finally breaking free of the shackles of life and fulfilling a destiny that was always meant to be"
Please, please oh mighty one I beg of thee, doth tell me my eyes are deceiving me
"I am very, very grateful for this. It feels as if I am finally breaking free of the shackles of life and fulfilling a destiny that was always meant to be"
Please, please oh mighty one I beg of thee, doth tell me my eyes are deceiving me
Thanks Airpolice 
I know my place.
I have the letters BSc after my name on my CV. Only when pressed for more details do I reveal it is my Bronze Swimming certificate 
Portsmouth Uni have cut this very fine and technically are in breach of the FOI act but my quarrel is not with them. They have provided the key letter that highlights why the award was given. I have written back asking that they provide the reminder of my request without any undue delay but realistically I cannot see that happening until after the New Year when the topic for discussion will be Tracey Curtis-Taylor OBE
I have requested that my reply be forwarded to the Vice Chancellor and I have asked if, given what we have now seen from them, they will reconsider their position and the award to her.
I know my place.
none of you lot who are whinging have any decent degree or letters after your name, so you must be just ordinary people.
Portsmouth Uni have cut this very fine and technically are in breach of the FOI act but my quarrel is not with them. They have provided the key letter that highlights why the award was given. I have written back asking that they provide the reminder of my request without any undue delay but realistically I cannot see that happening until after the New Year when the topic for discussion will be Tracey Curtis-Taylor OBE
I have requested that my reply be forwarded to the Vice Chancellor and I have asked if, given what we have now seen from them, they will reconsider their position and the award to her.
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I think Airpolice was just trying to inject some humour to a rather sad situation. I'll read his/her post as satire, and not be worrying about the letters after my name...
... change their story and paperwork to fit....
To my recollection, on every occasion when a sporting award issued, was later found to be undeserving, it was stripped from the athlete, and none too politely either. Lance Armstrong, doped Russian Olympians, and Ben Johnson the runner come to mind. In my opinion, a university (institution of intellect and research!) has a much higher standard to maintain in issuing its awards than a sporting group - who right now seem to be the standard of honour. That's a bit embarrassing for the university.
No, TCT has not done everything she could do to correct the situation, she has the option (and invitation) to avail herself of the same media who reported her lies to have them report her truths, rather than quietly changing things in the background, in the hope that it won't be noticed.
And what is this PPRuNe witch hunt accomplishing? Well, whether TCT ever honours up or not is one thing, but at least the next aviation liar to be will think twice about it! Apparently, right now, members of PPRuNe are upholding the standard for truth in piloting which the HCAP and Portsmouth University will not! Perhaps in the future those and other organizations will recall the PPRuNe search for truth, and do their homework before issuing awards!
Clearly, Tim (forked tongue) Kelly has done his utmost to correct the SOLO part by persuading the HCAP and now Pompey Poly to change their story and paperwork to fit the recently uncovered facts.
To my recollection, on every occasion when a sporting award issued, was later found to be undeserving, it was stripped from the athlete, and none too politely either. Lance Armstrong, doped Russian Olympians, and Ben Johnson the runner come to mind. In my opinion, a university (institution of intellect and research!) has a much higher standard to maintain in issuing its awards than a sporting group - who right now seem to be the standard of honour. That's a bit embarrassing for the university.
No, TCT has not done everything she could do to correct the situation, she has the option (and invitation) to avail herself of the same media who reported her lies to have them report her truths, rather than quietly changing things in the background, in the hope that it won't be noticed.
And what is this PPRuNe witch hunt accomplishing? Well, whether TCT ever honours up or not is one thing, but at least the next aviation liar to be will think twice about it! Apparently, right now, members of PPRuNe are upholding the standard for truth in piloting which the HCAP and Portsmouth University will not! Perhaps in the future those and other organizations will recall the PPRuNe search for truth, and do their homework before issuing awards!
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If the VC is worth his salt he's going to realize his staffs due diligence was lacking and Tim Kelly flat out misled him leaving rescinding the degree as the only option. I'd imagine the Southern Echo newspaper would have a few questions for him, the awards committee and Tim Kelly as they were completley hoodwinked also.
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So now we have it.
Portsmouth University confirms that they gave Ms Curtis-Taylor an honorary degree based on a "misunderstanding" of what she actually did.
Although she has admitted elsewhere that her flights were not solo, she failed to point this out to those responsible for granting her award and quietly accepted her degree on what looks very like false premises.
So, as an honourable institution with a reputation to safeguard, what should Portsmouth University do? They have two choices:
1. They can do what they have done so far and pretend that the award was made on the basis of "achievements" different from those disclosed in the FOI information.
If they do that, they will simply look increasingly stupid in the eyes of anyone who reads the facts either here or, probably in the not too distant future, in the local or national press. That problem can only be exacerbated when SWB finally prises from them the remaining information covered by his FOI request.
2. They can admit that they made a mistake and either rescind the award or, perhaps better, have a quiet word with the recipient and suggest that she might prefer to hand it back. Doing that would reassert their ethical standards, protect their reputation, and come across as facing up to having made an honest mistake.
I have to say that the second option is the one I would go for as it shows the University as having behaved correctly when the true facts have come to light; and puts the responsibility for what happened firmly where it belongs.
If anyone in the TCT team thinks that this is wrong: I would remind them of the challenge that I and several other posters here have made repeatedly:
Please answer the Three Questions.
Either do so convincingly, or apologise and offer to hand back these awards, and the whole problem goes away; fail to do so and it will continue to stalk you and blight all of your reputations.
Portsmouth University confirms that they gave Ms Curtis-Taylor an honorary degree based on a "misunderstanding" of what she actually did.
Although she has admitted elsewhere that her flights were not solo, she failed to point this out to those responsible for granting her award and quietly accepted her degree on what looks very like false premises.
So, as an honourable institution with a reputation to safeguard, what should Portsmouth University do? They have two choices:
1. They can do what they have done so far and pretend that the award was made on the basis of "achievements" different from those disclosed in the FOI information.
If they do that, they will simply look increasingly stupid in the eyes of anyone who reads the facts either here or, probably in the not too distant future, in the local or national press. That problem can only be exacerbated when SWB finally prises from them the remaining information covered by his FOI request.
2. They can admit that they made a mistake and either rescind the award or, perhaps better, have a quiet word with the recipient and suggest that she might prefer to hand it back. Doing that would reassert their ethical standards, protect their reputation, and come across as facing up to having made an honest mistake.
I have to say that the second option is the one I would go for as it shows the University as having behaved correctly when the true facts have come to light; and puts the responsibility for what happened firmly where it belongs.
If anyone in the TCT team thinks that this is wrong: I would remind them of the challenge that I and several other posters here have made repeatedly:
Please answer the Three Questions.
Either do so convincingly, or apologise and offer to hand back these awards, and the whole problem goes away; fail to do so and it will continue to stalk you and blight all of your reputations.
Last edited by Jonzarno; 24th Dec 2016 at 06:51.
Awesome but Affordable
May I wish Tracey a forgettable Christmas and a more truthful and apologetic New Year in 2017.
Perhaps Santa will bring her an industrial dose of scopolamine, or whatever that truth drug used by interrogators is called. I do hope so. At least Santa is flying solo, though Rudolf may assist occasionally with navigation to zillions of chimney pots.
Perhaps Santa will bring her an industrial dose of scopolamine, or whatever that truth drug used by interrogators is called. I do hope so. At least Santa is flying solo, though Rudolf may assist occasionally with navigation to zillions of chimney pots.
Thread Starter
And a very happy Christmas Mr T. You really have a way with words
I recall she had some scathing comment for you earlier this year so I guess (like me) the Christmas card has not arrived.
My advice to TCT is to reflect on this from her Times interview.
source Tracey Curtis Taylor - Aviatrix, Adventurer, Inspirational Speaker
So why did she not confess to Portsmouth University that their letter of award for solo flight needed correction?
Satco posted this question earlier.
TCT and her PR man Tim Kelly were both in receipt of this letter last April.
The Times article contained this
In addition to Jonzarno's question I would like to know why you accepted the honorary Doctorate from Portsmouth University Tracey which clearly cites it was in recognition of what they honestly perceived to be solo flights?
Some of you may question why we keep this thread going and digging deeper.
Portsmouth University is a public body. They have a responsibily to be honest and truthful in awards.
Hunterboy sums the issue up well.
I recall she had some scathing comment for you earlier this year so I guess (like me) the Christmas card has not arrived.
My advice to TCT is to reflect on this from her Times interview.
She admits she could have done more to correct misleading reports that made liberal use of the phrase “flying solo”.
“I wish we’d sorted that misreporting out but I can’t do everything all of the time,” she said.
“I wish we’d sorted that misreporting out but I can’t do everything all of the time,” she said.
So why did she not confess to Portsmouth University that their letter of award for solo flight needed correction?
Satco posted this question earlier.
Dated 16 Feb 2016, and signed by the Vice Chancellor para 2 states:
"The Committee would be delighted if you would agree to attend and receive an honorary degree in recognition of your recent inspirational 13,000 mile solo flight from Farnborough to Sydney. There is much admiration for your outstanding achievements, both in your recent flight and your 2013 flight between Cape Town and Goodwood."
So, there you have it, in their own words, signed-off by the VC, an award for SOLO flights. No mention at all of any outreach, role model, STEM encouragement. I conclude that the award, like the Bill Woodham Trophy, was issued on a lie and should therefore be removed.
"The Committee would be delighted if you would agree to attend and receive an honorary degree in recognition of your recent inspirational 13,000 mile solo flight from Farnborough to Sydney. There is much admiration for your outstanding achievements, both in your recent flight and your 2013 flight between Cape Town and Goodwood."
So, there you have it, in their own words, signed-off by the VC, an award for SOLO flights. No mention at all of any outreach, role model, STEM encouragement. I conclude that the award, like the Bill Woodham Trophy, was issued on a lie and should therefore be removed.
The Times article contained this
She estimates she was alone in the aircraft for about 10 per cent of the time, with guest passengers for 20 per cent and with Ewald Gritsch, her Austrian engineer, for the rest.
Some of you may question why we keep this thread going and digging deeper.
Portsmouth University is a public body. They have a responsibily to be honest and truthful in awards.
Hunterboy sums the issue up well.
The sad thing is that it devalues these awards for those that deserve them. There will the whiff of bull**** and spin anytime that honours are handed out.
Last edited by Mike Flynn; 24th Dec 2016 at 17:13.
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Much of this thread has focussed on lies, bad flying and the dubious wearing of service ‘wings’ – but this is all mere detail. The TC-T story is not about a bold, adventurous aviator, nor is it just about a grade-A narcissist flying across the world on a 5-star jolly. It is about a well-funded business arrangement between Bird in a Biplane Ltd and, principally, Artemis and Boeing, along with other lesser-known organisations. The aim of the project was to generate publicity for the sponsors and Tim Kelly energetically orchestrated this – sometimes, it would seem, a little too energetically.
Now we wait with baited breath - will the TC-T PR machine have nobbled the organisation responsible for dishing out NY Honours ………… or have they got the message in time? Will they have learned from the mistakes made by Portsmouth University, HCAP and others?
And what now for Tracey? I note that her Facebook/Twitter postings have been dormant for the past two months and the Facebook ‘comments’ facility has now been locked; I can’t see any recent additions to her website either. She seems to have gone very quiet just lately.
Now we wait with baited breath - will the TC-T PR machine have nobbled the organisation responsible for dishing out NY Honours ………… or have they got the message in time? Will they have learned from the mistakes made by Portsmouth University, HCAP and others?
And what now for Tracey? I note that her Facebook/Twitter postings have been dormant for the past two months and the Facebook ‘comments’ facility has now been locked; I can’t see any recent additions to her website either. She seems to have gone very quiet just lately.
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Imagine the fun of overturning that, it puts the LAA vote (victory) in the shade.
Awesome but Affordable
I was happy to take on Tracey at the LAA AGM and we won. However I draw the line at taking on Her Majesty if she feels able to award some honour to her citing some of her PR claptrap. God willing the powers that be will heed the situation..... but maybe not. The honours system has given rise to a fair amount of criticism over recent years. I do hope this will not give rise to more. Because I am a Royalist and proud of it. I took an oath of loyalty to the Crown 70 years ago in the Scouts and it still stands.
T C--T's Wiki entry currently reflects the misinformation (lies directly put to them by her over-zealous PR team???) upon which her honourary degree was awarded:
I wonder how long the team of ruthless editors - indeed censors - will let this inconvenient truth remain, as it doesn't sit comfortably with the story they want told, much more along the lines of:
In May 2016, the Air League presented her with a framed address in recognition of her flight from Farnborough to Sydney.[31][32] In July 2016, the University of Portsmouth, England, awarded her an honorary doctorate degree, based on the misunderstanding that her journeys had been flown solo: "...in recognition of your recent inspirational 13,000 mile solo flight from Farnborough to Sydney.", as cited by Graham Galbraith, Vice Chancellor, University of Portsmouth, in his letter dated 16th February 2016, flights which she now concedes were not flown solo. [33]
Also in 2016, the Honourable Company of Air Pilots awarded her its Masters Medal for her work in "raising awareness of science and technology in general, and aviation in particular, amongst young women across the world".[34]
#3110 (permalink)
pilotmike
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T C--T's Wiki entry currently reflects the misinformation (lies directly put to them by her over-zealous PR team???) upon which her honourary degree was awarded:
Quote:
In May 2016, the Air League presented her with a framed address in recognition of her flight from Farnborough to Sydney.[31][32] In July 2016, the University of Portsmouth, England, awarded her an honorary doctorate degree, based on the misunderstanding that her journeys had been flown solo: "...in recognition of your recent inspirational 13,000 mile solo flight from Farnborough to Sydney.", as cited by Graham Galbraith, Vice Chancellor, University of Portsmouth, in his letter dated 16th February 2016, flights which she now concedes were not flown solo. [33]
I wonder how long the team of ruthless editors - indeed censors - will let this inconvenient truth remain, as it doesn't sit comfortably with the story they want told,
Yup! Speedily( in panic ? ) removed as below:
Latest revision as of 19:16, 25 December 2016 (edit) (undo)
185.69.144.92 (talk)
(Undid revision 756612822 by 2A00:23C4
591:1600:219
3FF:FE0C:3930 (talk) this is original research, is not permitted)
Dear reader ( and I know there are very many of you) if you haven't already done so, I do recommend your reading the TC-T Wikipedia page. Do look at "View History", to witness the almost innumerable modifications and deletions, before finally settling down with a glass of the seasonal to read ,in "Talk", the hilarious ( and inept) textual gymnastics attempting to obfuscate well sourced and rationally constructed analysis. Doubtless you will draw your own conclusions regarding the ongoing continuation of this clumsily mismanaged and now inevitably escalating PR farce.
pilotmike
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T C--T's Wiki entry currently reflects the misinformation (lies directly put to them by her over-zealous PR team???) upon which her honourary degree was awarded:
Quote:
In May 2016, the Air League presented her with a framed address in recognition of her flight from Farnborough to Sydney.[31][32] In July 2016, the University of Portsmouth, England, awarded her an honorary doctorate degree, based on the misunderstanding that her journeys had been flown solo: "...in recognition of your recent inspirational 13,000 mile solo flight from Farnborough to Sydney.", as cited by Graham Galbraith, Vice Chancellor, University of Portsmouth, in his letter dated 16th February 2016, flights which she now concedes were not flown solo. [33]
I wonder how long the team of ruthless editors - indeed censors - will let this inconvenient truth remain, as it doesn't sit comfortably with the story they want told,
Yup! Speedily( in panic ? ) removed as below:
Latest revision as of 19:16, 25 December 2016 (edit) (undo)
185.69.144.92 (talk)
(Undid revision 756612822 by 2A00:23C4
591:1600:2193FF:FE0C:3930 (talk) this is original research, is not permitted)Dear reader ( and I know there are very many of you) if you haven't already done so, I do recommend your reading the TC-T Wikipedia page. Do look at "View History", to witness the almost innumerable modifications and deletions, before finally settling down with a glass of the seasonal to read ,in "Talk", the hilarious ( and inept) textual gymnastics attempting to obfuscate well sourced and rationally constructed analysis. Doubtless you will draw your own conclusions regarding the ongoing continuation of this clumsily mismanaged and now inevitably escalating PR farce.
Last edited by Haraka; 26th Dec 2016 at 08:41.
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Looks like Tim Kelly missed a trick, the attached link is a list of bio's for the women who do outreach, mentoring on STEM subjects to the kids at the girls2pioneers group in Singapore, the same group TCT shared her wisdom with. The women listed are highly accomplished professionals who collectively have more degrees than a thermometer in their chosen professions. Surely 60 minutes of me, me, me warrants recognition by inclusion on the list?
http://unwomensg.wixsite.com/girls2pioneers/ambassadors
http://unwomensg.wixsite.com/girls2pioneers/ambassadors
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Déja vu ?
I've been and amused and fascinated follower of this unfolding story for a long time. It occurs to me to point out that "there is no new thing under the Sun". It has all happened before (106 years ago, to be precise).
Google: "The Dreadnought Hoax", select Wikipedia, read and enjoy. Particularly apt is this snippet from ("Zanzibar Hoax at Cambridge"):
Ring any bells ?
And "Abyssinian Hoax on the Dreadnought", might interest certain Flag Officers of the Royal Navy (and RNR !) - not to mention the Honours Committee and a Royal Personage.
Like G-KEST (#3109), 76 years ago, I swore to ".....defend his Majesty, his heirs and successors, in person, Crown and dignity....." (which some might think impugned by this association).
'Nuff said.
Danny42C.
Google: "The Dreadnought Hoax", select Wikipedia, read and enjoy. Particularly apt is this snippet from ("Zanzibar Hoax at Cambridge"):
...The Mayor wanted the student sent down but was persuaded by the Vice-Chancellor that this would damage his reputation further.[1][2]...
And "Abyssinian Hoax on the Dreadnought", might interest certain Flag Officers of the Royal Navy (and RNR !) - not to mention the Honours Committee and a Royal Personage.
Like G-KEST (#3109), 76 years ago, I swore to ".....defend his Majesty, his heirs and successors, in person, Crown and dignity....." (which some might think impugned by this association).
'Nuff said.
Danny42C.
Last edited by Danny42C; 26th Dec 2016 at 15:09. Reason: Error.
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Any awards looming?
Victoria Beckham "delighted and humbled" to be receiving a gong - any word of TCT?
When Googling Tracey Curtis Taylor and "news" - one gets
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=tr...taylor&tbm=nws
...which is news flurry of her being stripped of her award.
When Googling Tracey Curtis Taylor and "news" - one gets
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=tr...taylor&tbm=nws
...which is news flurry of her being stripped of her award.
Awesome but Affordable
With all due respect, I think I did my bit in getting her LAA award rescinded. There has been enough adverse publicity about Tracey to torpedo her ambitions and I know of many in far higher places than where I reside who share my views. I will leave taking on the Honours system to others on this thread who have devoted hours, if not days, of time posting to the thread. If you have the bottle...get on with it.
A happy New Year to one and all, except Tracey who should roast in hades for all her untruths and exaggeration.
A happy New Year to one and all, except Tracey who should roast in hades for all her untruths and exaggeration.