BS: Sir Patrick Moore

Subject: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 04:23 AM

good bloke, knows loads about space etc, I always watch his sky at night programme.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 04:28 AM

Log while since I saw the programme, but I agree with your sentiments John.
When I saw a threas I assumed something not nice must have happened to him. Pleased he is still doing what he does.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 05:30 AM

Great English eccentric, great xzylophone player also.
eric

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Stu
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 05:34 AM

We went to see him give a lecture on the future of human exploration of space, on the night Shoemaker-Levy hit Jupiter.

We watched a comet hit a planet, then Sir Patrick's lecture. He was quite inspirational and a facinating talker, with an incredible depth of knowlege.

Met him afterwards too - a lovely chap.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Partridge
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 05:38 AM

I'm with you John, although I watch the repeats as he's on too late for me.

I heard that his eyesight is failing, which is particulary sad.

Pat xx

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Gervase
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 03:18 PM

Unfortunately also very right-wing, previously a white-supremacist and still possessed of very dodgy views. Much like the late, unlamented Norris McWhirter.
None of which is to demean his excellent work in popularising astronomy, but even nice chaps can have their dark side.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 03:21 PM

His tailor wishes to remain anonymous.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: okthen
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 03:35 PM

We got a letter from him once, typed on his 1930's Imperial. I lack the descriptive powers to do it justice, it was a work of art, the patience he must have had to reply to every letter personally using the same typewriter he'd always used.
It must have typed in a straight line at one time in its existance, and the O's missing their centre reminiscent of the full moon, quite apt.
What a star the man is, long may he shine.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 05:53 PM

I was once a member of an astonomy club in the UK when my family moved to Norwich. He came to give a lecture, a larger than life character who just enthused on his subject.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 26 Sep 11 - 07:42 PM

What a remarkable man. Just watched a programme about him, hard to believe he is now 88. A great man in every respect.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Moore

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Max Johnson
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 07:19 AM

When I first became interested in astronomy about 30 years ago, I got his book 'Observing The Night Sky With Binoculars'. It's far and away (heh) the best advice on stargazing that I've come across.
I have a Norton's now, but Sir Patrick's is the one I generally use.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: banjoman
Date: 28 Sep 11 - 07:13 AM

Always been fascinated by him. Am I right in thinking that he wrote some books for young people many years ago. I seem to remember reading his space stories?

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Newport Boy
Date: 28 Sep 11 - 04:00 PM

Don't forget his musical ability. From Wikipedia:

Until being forced to give up owing to arthritis, Moore was a keen musician and accomplished xylophone player. He has composed a substantial corpus of works, including two operettas. Sir Patrick has also had a ballet entitled 'Lyra's Dream' written to his music. Devised by Beryl Phelps and choreographed by Richard Slaughter it received its world première in Salisbury, attended by Sir Patrick, on the occasion of his 80th birthday. He occasionally performed novelty turns at the Royal Variety Performance and appeared in a song-and-dance act in the 1971 Morecambe and Wise Christmas special. In 1998, as a guest on Have I Got News For You, he accompanied the show's closing theme tune on the xylophone and as a pianist, he once accompanied Albert Einstein playing The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns on the violin (of which no recording was made). Moore is listed by the Internet Movie Database as the uncredited musical consultant on the 1968 Stanley Kubrick/Arthur C Clarke 2001: A Space Odyssey. Patrick Moore was also the subject of a popular internet cartoon entitled "Patrick Moore Plays the Xylophone", which appears on Weebl's Stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Dec 12 - 06:52 PM

he died today.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 Dec 12 - 07:24 PM

BBC

"9 December 2012 Last updated at 16:33 ET

Sir Patrick Moore, astronomer and broadcaster, dies aged 89

British astronomer and broadcaster Sir Patrick Moore has died, aged 89.

He "passed away peacefully at 12:25 this afternoon" at his home in Selsey, West Sussex, friends and colleagues said in a statement.

Sir Patrick presented the BBC programme The Sky At Night for over 50 years, making him the longest-running host of the same television show ever.

He wrote dozens of books on astronomy and his research was used by the US and the Russians in their space programmes. ..."


There's more...BBC

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 09 Dec 12 - 07:52 PM

I had one of his books when I was very, very young. I did meet him once when he was staying with a neighbour at one of our previous houses. Pretty much what you saw on television.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 09 Dec 12 - 08:13 PM

An enthusiastic astronomer, whose enthusiasm was infectious, but a deeply unpleasant individual whose passing I won't be mourning. I would be interested to know, though, if anyone has news of Sir jOhn who started this thread and whose presence in the caff is sorely missed.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 10 Dec 12 - 08:15 AM

Peter, I'm interested to know why you feel he was 'a deeply unpleasant individual'. Was it his political stance, or something else?

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Will Fly
Date: 10 Dec 12 - 08:46 AM

Sir Patrick was a brilliant astronomer and communicator, and a superb musucian. Having met him a few times in Sussex (where I live), I can also confirm that he was deeply prejudiced against women, patronising, very right-wing (fair enough if you that's what you want) and, dare I say, somewhat racist.

But there you go - like most of us, a mixture of good, bad and something in the middle. I don't care for the man, but I can't deny his brilliance and his talent.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 10 Dec 12 - 12:35 PM

At around the time he was chairing the rather nasty United Country Party, he was involved in some kind of dispute with officialdom, and subsequently led a campaign to put razor blades under the flaps of letters sent to civil servants, with intent to maim.

'by their works shall ye know them...'

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 10 Dec 12 - 01:51 PM

I can see that he had much to admire yet some traits to deplore in him. His cat was called Ptolemy. Great name!

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: gnu
Date: 10 Dec 12 - 01:58 PM

Enjoyed his TV work. RIP.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 11 Dec 12 - 06:43 AM

I'm with Will here.

I met him several times, both as Secretary of our university Astronomical Society and at various functions and events when I was studying Astrophysics. An excellent communicator of astronomy to the general public, and a decent practical astronomer. But fairly repulsive in many of his other views, which we were treated to during various teas and lunches.

On the other hand, he did encourage Heather Couper to get into astronomy by replying to her letter that there was "no reason that a girl shouldn't do it"...which directly led to several evenings lying on my back in fields next to the then absolutely gorgeous 19 year old Heather. Unfortunately we were only counting meteorites, and she only had eyes for the stars!

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Dec 12 - 06:54 AM

Bit Rob - weren't you (and aren't you) a star?

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Rumncoke
Date: 11 Dec 12 - 03:45 PM

A few years ago now I managed to get lost on my way to Sidmouth - I have no idea how, nor where I ended up, but it was very dark and lonely where I stopped the car.

I got out of the car to look at the notice board in the lay bye - but that gave no clue as to the location.

Then I looked up and saw at once that I was travelling West, and needed to go South, towards the constellation of Orion.

You never know when a knowledge of the stars will come in handy.

Thank you Patrick Moore.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Ron Davies
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 01:04 AM

"As It Happens" had an interview with a guitarist for Queen who said he was a good friend of Sir Patrick.    Sir Patrick evidently was a self-taught astronomer--but many other astronomers looked up to him.

Just from his accent on the clip they broadcast, I could guess Sir Patrick might have been a very opinionated curmudgeon.    Not that anybody around here fits that description, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 04:25 AM

"Just from his accent"?!! FWIW, as a Cockney boy I wasn't at all put off by his aceent when I met him. It was just clearly spoken English, no plum in the mouth, no strained vowels, no 'upper-class drawl'.

Are people to be written off just for speaking clearly?

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 05:48 AM

"a campaign to put razor blades under the flaps of letters"

That I find difficult to believe. In his book "Bureaucrats and how to annoy them" (published under the pseudonym R.T.Fishall) he is quite emphatically against anything illegal.

He seems to have been the sort of gentleman who could strongly hold a minority view, and present it without forcing it on those who didn't happen to share it.

BTW, please don't confuse nationalism with racism.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Ron Davies
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 06:00 AM

"as a Cockney boy..."    His accent was posh.    I know what a posh accent sounds like--Jan is from Bradford on Avon and an excellent mimic of all sorts of UK accents.    And I also know that a posh accent can convey a sense of being an authority--and that others hearing it may go along.


You note I have complimented Sir Patrick on his abiiity to become an acknowledged expert on astronomy though he was self-taught.   And I have strongly implied that many who criticize him should look in the mirror.

The poster himself should learn to read carefully---though that does appear a rare skill on Mudcat.

"highly opinionated curmudgeon"   fits an amazing number, both on and off Mudcat.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Ron Davies
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 06:03 AM

"very opinionated curmudgeon"    "ability"

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Ron Davies
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 06:08 AM

Also, I said "might".

YMMV.   But so far I have read nothing to indicate my characterization of him is off the mark.   


And anyone who knows the English language should know that "curmudgeon" is not necessarily a pejorative.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Ron Davies
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 06:22 AM

Some people here wear the appellation as a badge of honor. And we think none the less of them for that.   "Endearing curmudgeon" comes to mind.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Musket
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 10:26 AM

If somebody with right wing views happened to die, it wouldn't get on Mudcat.

He is on Mudcat through his love for astronomy and his ability over the years to share it with others. His outlook on life is not why he is known. I don't wish to know what football team someone supports before deciding whether I like their music or not.

One of the reasons people can disagree with his views and indeed why his views can be so out of touch with others is because he and others were parachuted behind enemy lines to fight for such freedoms, including liberating other countries against the Axis powers. He thought a hell of a lot more about freedom than many who use the word only on their keyboard. He felt strongly enough to lie about his age in order to help his country rather than sit on the sidelines sneering at the government of the day. I might not agree with him, but by heck I respect him.

The rush to find fault with the recently dead seems to be fashionable these days. Good or bad, guilty or not guilty, it is easy to condemn when they cannot defend themselves.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 11:36 AM

'"a campaign to put razor blades under the flaps of letters"

That I find difficult to believe. In his book "Bureaucrats and how to annoy them" (published under the pseudonym R.T.Fishall) he is quite emphatically against anything illegal.'

At the time I was working as a civil servant, and we were officially warned to take care opening the post in the light of this campaign. It was also seriously reported in the 'Sunday Times'.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Jim McLean
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 03:07 PM

From an article by Hugh Muir in the Guardian:

• The death of Sir Patrick Moore has required due consideration for Farage, too. On the one hand, the astronomer was a proud Ukipian, happy to be used as a magnet for recruits. On the other, he proclaimed "The only good Kraut is a dead Kraut" and, "We are being swamped by parasites. Call me a racist but I would send them all back to where they came from." Some people did call him racist. Tricky.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Ron Davies
Date: 13 Dec 12 - 10:21 AM

"only good Kraut..."   

1)   He lived through WW II.    What experiences did he have then?

I suspect some men probably said something similar about the Japanese.


2)    When did he make this statement?

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 13 Dec 12 - 10:46 AM

His experience of WW2 was that his fiancee and the love of his life was killed by a German bomb. He never remarried or felt the slightest inclination to form a strong relationship with another woman, so in that respect, I can at least understand and allow for his visceral anti-German feeling.

But his wider (and well-documented) racism was more difficult to stomach.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Ron Davies
Date: 13 Dec 12 - 12:52 PM

Just read an article, while in a waiting room, on Julian Fellowes, creator of "Downton Abbey".   He's evidently a Tory but earlier in his career worked with Robert Altman, who's clearly on the other side of the spectrum.

Fellowes quote from the article:    :"I don't fall into the trap of thinking that people who disagree with me politically are bad people. And neither does he."

Some of our more slavering leftists could benefit by adopting that stance.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Ron Davies
Date: 13 Dec 12 - 12:55 PM

And perhaps it would start to provide an antidote to their conspiracy theory addictions---entertaining as they are.

Yes, of course there are conspiracy theories on the Right also--but Mudcat is not usually graced by their proponents.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Dec 12 - 01:29 PM

Yes indeed.
I always judge people on how they treat me, rather than their misjudged political persuasions

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 13 Dec 12 - 02:14 PM

He was a horrid man. He gave me the creeps when I was young. He still gave me the creeps now I am older. He made my skin crawl...and I never listened to a word he said for his entire persona made me feel ill.

I don't care if he had Aspergers or anything else, he was rude and unpleasant and someone should have told him a very long time back to stop being so obnoxious and unpleasant...

I can't understand WHAT Brian May saw in him at all...but thankfully, even though Brian absorbed all the sciencey bits, he didn't choose to copy this man's horrid manner...

He was enough to put you off star-gazing forever!

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Ron Davies
Date: 13 Dec 12 - 04:05 PM

"never listened to another word..."    The poster appears to be in the minority---for good reason.

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 02:22 AM

Perhaps it's you at fault Liz? Judging a book by it's cover? Turning that judgement into a predujice that stops you heeding anything else the man says or does. Aren't you usually protesting against that sort of complaining about that sort thing?

Subject: RE: BS: Sir Patrick Moore
From: Jim McLean
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 04:13 AM

The Telegraph 2002:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1411100/Sir-Patrick-attacked-over-racist-comments.html