Les Sayer MBE DSM (1915 – 2008)

By North Essex Astronomical SocietyNo Comments
It is with great sadness that we have to report the passing of our Society president and good friend Les Sayer. Les lived a varied and textured life. He served as a Telegraphist Air Gunner (TAG) of the Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War, flying in the Fairey Swordfish. TAGs were responsible for providing Morse code communications as well as protecting the aircraft with a machine gun. While stationed on the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious in 1941, he took part in the final , vital attack on the German battleship Bismark. His squadron were part of the first wave which crippled the famous ship with torpedo bombing. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) for the part he played. This and other memoirs were featured in the book "Tag On A Stringbag" which Les co-wrote. You can find out more about these remarkable aircraft at the Navy Wings charity. Upon leaving the Navy, Les spent over thirty years in a...
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The Ten Commandments for Amateur Astronomers

By North Essex Astronomical SocietyNo Comments
1. Thou shalt have no white light before thee, behind thee, or to the side of thee whilst sharing the night sky with thy fellow stargazers. 2. Thou shalt not love thy telescope more than thy spouse or thy children; as much as, maybe, but not more. 3. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s telescope, unless it exceeds in aperture or electronics twice that of your own. 4. Thou shalt not read “Astronomy Now” or “Sky at Night” on company time, for thine employer makes it possible to continue thine astronomy hobby. 5. Thou shalt have at least two telescopes so as to keep thy spouse interested when the same accompanies thee under the night sky or on eclipse expeditions to strange lands where exotic wild animals doth roam freely. 6. Thou shalt not allow either thy sons or thy daughters to get married during the Holy Days of Astrofest. 7. Thou shalt not reveal to thy spouse the true cost of thy telescope collection; only...
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