1 December 2013

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

THE first presentation of the Sir Patrick Moore Astronomy award was made to Cameron Gray, at an award winners night held at Sackville school on 20 November.

Following the awards ceremony, a bench was unveiled to be placed in front of the school’s observatory dedicating the building “To the inspiration of Sir Patrick Moore, East Grinstead Stargazer”.

Sackville’s observatory was completed in 2012, shortly before Sir Patrick’s death, after which the Town Council approached the school to ask if they might like to dedicate it to the former resident’s memory.

The school had the idea for an annual award to recognise a student who makes the biggest contribution to Astronomy, not just the top grade. The Town Council readily offered to pay for the award and to make an annual prize of a voucher to the Telescope Shop in Lingfield.

The award is a piece of meteorite mounted on a wooden plinth with a reflective base (pictured below).

Town Clerk Julie Holden said: “I hope that this would have been thought of as fitting by Sir Patrick, and an encouragement for the next generation to create a passion for studying the stars.”