"Hawkwind Passport" photos.....Why?

Brian · **Joined:** Thu May 29, 2008 12:16 pm **Posts:** 2

Hello

I've been out of the festival scene for a while (haven't seen Hawkwind outdoors since Stonehenge '85..or was it '86, I forget) but I stumbled across the details for the Hawkfest and thought "Oh yeah, I'd really like to go!....but I need a Hawkwind Passport?....well if that's what it takes, I better get one quick!"

So off I go to get some toner for my printer and some passport photos....when it crossed my mind that I was about to send my name, address, email, tel.no. and signed passport photos to an otherwise unknown PO Box address in Newcastle....isn't that a bit of a security
risk? ..y'know..Identity Fraud n'all that?

.....ah, paranoia! but, as Hunter S.Thompson wrote, "In the 21st Century there is no such thing as paranoia...only ignorance"

So, I'd just like someone to tell me...Why the need for two signed passport photos? What purpose does it serve?

I don't want to be awkward or hassle anyone - but I am, after all, a Hawkwind fan....and we were never noted for our blind acceptance and unquestioning obedience ;-)

Cheers all,
Brian

PS hope this is the right forum for this question!

dragster · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 2:11 pm

I didn't know all this......wow! :shock:

Hawkwind · **Joined:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:36 pm **Posts:** 223

Brian wrote:

Hello

I've been out of the festival scene for a while (haven't seen Hawkwind outdoors since Stonehenge '85..or was it '86, I forget) but I stumbled across the details for the Hawkfest and thought "Oh yeah, I'd really like to go!....but I need a Hawkwind Passport?....well if that's what it takes, I better get one quick!"

So off I go to get some toner for my printer and some passport photos....when it crossed my mind that I was about to send my name, address, email, tel.no. and signed passport photos to an otherwise unknown PO Box address in Newcastle....isn't that a bit of a security
risk? ..y'know..Identity Fraud n'all that?

.....ah, paranoia! but, as Hunter S.Thompson wrote, "In the 21st Century there is no such thing as paranoia...only ignorance"

So, I'd just like someone to tell me...Why the need for two signed passport photos? What purpose does it serve?

I don't want to be awkward or hassle anyone - but I am, after all, a Hawkwind fan....and we were never noted for our blind acceptance and unquestioning obedience ;-)

Cheers all,
Brian

PS hope this is the right forum for this question!

Hi There Brian, welcome to the forum.

There is not really any need for a signature on the photos, that was on the forms at the beginning to make them as much like a regular passport form as possible. But point taken, we will take that bit off the form. When the photos are glued onto the passport, you can't see the signature anyway.

The second photo gets stuck onto the bit of the form we keep, for our passport holder records. Its quite nice to be able to put a face to a name when communicating with folk, and the passports are used as i.d. when coming to Hawkfest, parties or picking up special offers etc

It also means we can check that its you using your passport and your identity hasn't be stolen by another fan trying to get your goodies :lol:

Anyway, sorry if you disagree with the concept, we do understand your misgivings. All we can say is that the data is passed on to no one and Margaret, who is in charge of passports, guards it fiercely.............There will certainly be no identity theft risk. The PO Box is in Newcastle as that is where Margaret is based, if it makes you feel better, you can apply through the band's own PO Box in Devon.

It would be a shame if you couldn't make Hawkfest as its very special and about as close as you can get to the old free festival days....

Hope this puts your mind at rest.....

The Hawkfest Team

Brian · **Joined:** Thu May 29, 2008 12:16 pm **Posts:** 2

Thanks for the reply, Team :-)

well, I've thrown caution to the winds....swallowed my instinctive paranoia....just this once, and only for the chance of seeing the mighty and much beloved Hawkwind playing under a starry sky in the company of good people. The application is in the post together with (unsigned) photos of my ugly mug. Hope that's OK and I'm not too late to get a ticket.

Best wishes to all - see you there, I hope!
Brian

majick · **Joined:** Fri May 02, 2008 4:49 pm **Posts:** 11

Hawkwind wrote:

..... the passports are used as i.d. when coming to Hawkfest, parties or picking up special offers etc

It also means we can check that its you using your passport and your identity hasn't be stolen by another fan trying to get your goodies .....

The Hawkfest Team

Hi Team,

I applied for a Hawkwind Passport in order to purchase tickets for the Hawkfest 2008 but I'm still not sure whether you even recieved my application....?

However, I emailed Margaret and was given a 'temporary number' which allowed me to successfully purchase tickets for my family

My question is: Am I still likely to be sent a Passport? and will it present a problem if I arrive at the Hawkfest with valid tickets but no Passport? I'm not sure whether I should be re-submitting my details, (I offerred to via email to Margaret but got no reply), please advise.

Best Wishes,
Majick Mark

Bra1nstorm · **Posted:** Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:16 pm

Hi all,

Any idea how long it takes to process a passport application?
Will I get it back in time for Hawkfest?

I sent off the form & photos etc today and am hoping to get it back in time for Hawkfest.
Margaret kindly gave me a temporary passport number so I could buy my ticket today before they ran out but wondered if the passport takes long to arrive.
I'm a newbie on this forum so I hope this is a suitable place to ask this question, I thought it followed the previous post so decided to stick it here!

Cheers all.....;~}