Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, this was only the second time since January 2020 that members of Wycombe Astronomical Society could meet again in person. And whilst the Perseid Meteor Shower was an excellent reason to gather, this meeting was particularly significant – because 2021 marks the 40th Anniversary of our Society!
Forty-five people attended, not only members and their families but, very importantly, our President, Professor Bob Lambourne. And he had an important role to play this evening, namely to inaugurate our new telescope (not that the weather at the beginning of the evening showed any promise!) Undeterred, members enjoyed a barbecue of burgers, and just celebrated being able to mix with real people.
As the evening darkened, Bob Lambourne stepped forward. He recalled how Wycombe Astronomical Society had had a very sticky start. In 1981 an advertisement was placed in a local newspaper calling for anyone with an interest in astronomy to meet up. Only one person responded! Undeterred, a second advertisement was posted and this time thirty people replied and from that second meeting, (actually held on the day of the Summer Solstice, 21st June 1981) our Society formally came into existence.
Reviewing the development of the Society over the last forty years, Prof Lambourne was able to review the activities of the Society, emphasizing our very raison d’être – education. Not only education of the members and the public, but also reaching out to professionals. He also noted that our earliest telescope was a rather unwieldy Newtonian Reflector. Since then, we’ve usually had 11 inch scopes – and with each one, the advances in technology made observing and astrophotography an increasingly viable, affordable and successful pursuit, as was indeed witnessed in our recent astro-imaging exhibition.
Bob reflected on the advances now made in modern astronomy by reflecting on what was happening in astronomy back in 1981. Edward Whitten’s Positive Energy Conjecture was proved, the notion that Black Holes shelter entropy was conceived, Robert Kirschner discovered the first Galaxy Void and Voyager 2 performed its first fly-by of Saturn.
At this point the sky started to clear and observing became possible. So Prof Lambourne drew his short speech to a close – “Wycombe Astronomical Society has a great future ahead of it and what ensures this is the friendliness, the approachability and the ambition of its members and Committee”.
Sandy Giles
