Originally, the Principal of the Ackland-Burghley School approached Doug Daniels to start an astronomy adult evening class. This proved a success.
Later, due to the pressure of work, Doug handed the class over to Terry Pearce, a long-term friend and a keen amateur telescope maker.
During the subsequent years, by popular demand of the students, the class evolved into not just an astronomy class, but a telescope making class, where members
were encouraged to grind, polish and figure their own telescope mirrors and build their own instruments from scratch. Usually having spent a year completing their
mirrors, they then attended the metal work class for a further year to complete their telescopes
By introducing many people to the study of astronomy and telescope making, the class also became a natural source for demonstrators and assistants at the
Hampstead Observatory, and many of the alumni became members of the Hampstead Scientific Society.
The class continued to meet weekly throughout the intervening years, surviving the closure of the original Ackland-Burghley venue and finally moving to the
Westminster Kingsway College. It was at this institution that it was finally closed down due to 'economic cutbacks', by a disinterested adult education authority..
When originally started, the whole London evening class system was run by the I L E A. Once control was handed to individual boroughs, such as Camden in this
case, the chance of unusual classes surviving faded. Running a protectionist system, only residents in a particular borough, were offered reasonable fees.
Interested students from other areas, were expected to pay much more per term. Unusual classes drew members from a greater London area than a local borough,.
so in this way, all of the London boroughs managed to destroy a vibrant and varied evening class system.
The remaining members of the class were not happy with this decision to stop running as an evening class and so the Camden Amateur Telescope Society (CATS)
was formed to carry on the good work and application was made to affiliate it to the Astronomy Section of the H.S.S.
Simon Lang.... Terry Pearce... Doug Daniels.
C.A.T.S. now, now re-named Amateur Telescope Makers London, met fortnightly at the Highgate Newtown Community Centre.
It was at that location that past and present members gathered on the evening of October the 11th to honour their mentor Terry Pearce, for 38 years continuous service to the study of astronomy and telescope making. Many members brought along their telescopes and enjoyed the opportunity to renew old acquaintances and meet new fellow enthusiasts.
At the ceremony, Terry was elected Honorary Life President of C.A.T.S. and was presented with a certificate and a trophy, in the form of a model telescope, designed and made by Simon Lang, to whom we are also grateful for organizing the splendid party that followed.
Anyone interested in joining the class is welcome to contact Simon Lang, Telephone 07999 774287, as well as contacting Terry or Chris, via e-mail.
Doug Daniels Astronomy Secretary and past President of the HSS
Simon Lang also now past president of the HSS)
VISIT THE HAMPSTEAD SCIENTIFIC SOCITY SITE