Icon helps Kingham Hill reach for the stars

Kingham Hill School have been assisted by world-famous astronomer, Sir Patrick Moore, as they start work building their very own observatory.

Sir Patrick has offered technical advice and his blessing to ‘The Sir Patrick Moore Observatory’, which will be built in a carefully chosen position on the school’s hill top site between Chipping Norton and Stow-on-the-Wold in Oxfordshire.

Headmaster, Nick Seward, has always been a great admirer of Sir Patrick’s work and was inspired by his books and TV programmes to study astrology at school, taking a more philosophical interest in it thereafter. The two eventually met at the astronomer’s Selsey home to discuss the proposed observatory, which will be a feature of the next phase of building development at Kingham Hill – a project which should be completed in September, 2014.

“Like the Psalmist, astronomy inspired in me a sense of perspective, and of wonder at the universe and the place of human beings within it. At Kingham Hill we enjoy a site largely free of light pollution and I’m convinced that our pupils will benefit from exploring the cosmos by telescope as I did when young”, comments Mr. Seward. “Sir Patrick’s encouragement and advice have been a real boost for the project.”

89-year-old Sir Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore, CBE, FRS, FRAS, was born in 1923 and has attained prominent status in astronomy as a writer, researcher, radio commentator and television presenter. He is credited as having done more than any other person to raise the profile of astronomy among the British general public.

Kingham Hill’s development plans progress at a pace and will result in a state-of-the-art building that will include a library at its heart, science and mathematics departments and much more.