TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Ardenne High School student Kelile Asher is still basking in the joy of attending DinoCon 2026, the United Kingdom’s largest palaeontology-themed convention celebrating all things pre-historic.

Kelile, who has long had a passion for palaeontology, was taken on the trip by his mother, Kesi Asher-Dawkins, editor of the Jamaica Observer’s education products, including
Learning Corner, Study Centre and Junior Study Centre.

At the request of the Observer Kelile wrote a first-person account of his visit to the July 25-26 event, staged at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, which featured talks and presentations from palaeontologists worldwide, stalls selling a wide variety of palaeo paraphernalia, exclusive palaeoart workshops, and much more.

Here is a lightly edited version of his story.

The summer of 2026 will go down in history as my best summer ever! I took a journey that opened many doors to my aspiring palaeontology career. At 12 years old I consider myself already equipped with the knowledge of palaeontology that is leaps and bounds ahead of my years.

As I started my journey to England at 7:55 pm, I saw a member of the ground crew dancing with lighted marshalling wands — he looked like a Hawaiian dancing with torches. I chuckled as I got comfortable for my nine-hour flight. Arriving about 11:55 am at London Gatwick Airport the following day, I was excited, as my summer of fulfilment got underway.

A big brown and black Tyrannosaurus Rex, popularly known as T-Rex, met me at the entrance of the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, where DinoCon 2026 was being held. My reaction was awkwardly delayed, as I stood and stared at what looked like a person in a generic Theropod costume. Slowly, I approached and patted it on the head.

At DinoCon many stands were set up with various paleo products on offer. Prices were in the British pound which, based on Jamaica’s exchange rate, made the amount we carried seem insignificant. However, we made our way through the crowd and paid close attention to what was available for purchase and what was on display.

Kelile Asher takes a photo with YouTuber Marco Makes, who made dinosaur models for his booth at DinoCon.

I saw a Carnotaurus skull, lots of cool paleo art, dino stickers, T-shirts, articulated figures which could be set as I wanted, and other dinosaur collectibles. I met several palaeontologists and spoke with them about my career interest, and I received valuable advice. In particular, I met Darren Naish who helped with producing the book
Dinosaurs, How They Lived and Evolved, which I bought and am now reading.

While viewing the exhibitions I was chased in circles by a robotic Stegouros on the floor, until it walked away. I thought someone would have filmed it and posted it on the Internet so I could watch myself on a video short, but that didn’t happen.

The highlight of the exhibition was a booth that I was keen on inspecting. It belonged to YouTuber Maco Makes, who made a series of models of dinosaurs specifically for DinoCon. I was amazed when I saw him! I went up to him and introduced myself. I took a photo with him and then purchased his unpainted T-Rex model, which I have now successfully painted and designed.

DinoCon also hosted several lectures about palaeontology and palaeontologists origins; I attended a few. However, what I really wanted to see was David Armsby, for the first time, show and talk about the dinosaur film he would release.

Aspiring palaeontologist Kelile Asher pats the T-Rex at DinoCon 2026, the United Kingdom’s largest palaeontology-themed convention celebrating all things pre-historic, in July.

While creating the Diictodon craft piece, there was a book to sign in memory of late Actor Sam Neil, who played Dr Allen Grant in Jurassic Park and two of its sequels.

I have many pictures of this exciting DinoCon.

To wrap up my trip, I visited the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. I gave my mother the tour of the museum, as if I was the tour guide, and my speeches were exquisite. The skeletons of the T-Rex and the Iguanadon were put in early reconstructions to show the evolution of palaeontology, as there was the museum’s own reconstruction of a T-Rex face beside the foot of the skeleton.

There were also skeletal displays of the Triceratops; Edmontosaurus; a marine predator; and the first scientifically described dinosaur, the Megalosaurus, among other things. That was quite a thrilling experience, especially because of the Nile crocodile and the many birds on display. I purchased an Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and a toy for my brother at the gift shop.

Kelile Asher plays tour guide during his visit to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in England.

This reminded me of my visit to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, United States, which had a T-Rex skeleton battling a Triceratops skeleton, as well as technology screens that gave information on the dinosaurs’ anatomy and habits.

This trip to DinoCon 2026 was unlike many others I have taken as we went to a completely different side of the Earth. My mother had been saving since last year for this trip, and it was worth every penny.

Would I do it again? Yes I would.