Tiverton and Mid Devon
Astronomy Society
[ History of our society | Contact
info and maps | Old site ]
Tiverton A. S. was founded in 1985. We are a group of friendly people who
meet around once a month for lectures and talks. We also organise other
social events and outings, and offer regular observing sessions to see the
wonders of the night sky. Douglas Rice, our chairman, has run the society
since its inception. We are a member of the Federation of Astronomical Societies
(FAS).
Everyone is welcome to come along and try
out a meeting or two without obligation, so if you are a new guest to the
group there won't be any membership charges for your first couple of visits.
One year's membership costs £12, or £9 for children, senior citizens or
if unwaged.
Tiverton Astronomy Society began in 1985, when Graham West convened a gathering
of people in the town interested in the subject. Regular meetings
began, often with visiting speakers who have covered a wide range of topics
from Planetary Geology to Astrology, and from The Soviet
Space Programme to Observing the Moon. Visits to other societies
and observatories have also been arranged.
Run informally for many years, the society has grown particularly strongly
recently. Early in 2000 it became formally constituted.
At the time of the society's inauguration Douglas Rice, a teacher at Blundell's
School, had recently discovered a fine 8" Newtonian
telescope belonging to the school. With the help of a pupil, Nicholas Wood,
and advice from Patrick Moore, he restored the instrument to working order.
It was built about 1910, is extremely solid with a tube 7 ft long, and is
very user-friendly (if you don't mind climbing a step-ladder).
The telescope has been at Blundell's
since at least the Second World War. For some years it was situated on the
Blundell's clock tower, where it tended to be used by the boys for spying
activities! With the school's support the instrument was re-housed in a
wheel-off shed near Milestones (now Blundell's
Prep School) on Blundell's road (see map). For 15
years it has been the focus for public observing
sessions as well as seeing use by pupils and local groups. These days
several members also bring their own modern instruments to these sessions.
The best way to contact us if you have any queries is via e-mail: nick@tivas.org.uk.
You can also call a member of the committee if you wish; our telephone numbers
are listed below. Please call at a sociable hour of the evening - between
5pm and 8pm is ideal!
| Chairman |
Douglas Rice |
01884 252942 |
| Treasurer |
Neil Purves |
01884 277425 |
| Secretary |
Angela Britton |
01884 259092 |
| Assist. Sec. |
Jill Weaver |
01884 855420 |
| Website |
Nick Markell |
01398 341776 |
If you
wish to call us, please do so
between the hours of 5pm and 8pm.
You can also contact us by e-mail. |
The maps below, provided by Blundell's
School, show how to find us. The first shows how to find Blundell's
and the second is a map of Blundell's and Blundell's Prep. Click on either
to see a full-size version.
