In 1994 we moved to Yorkshire and I was staggered at the vastness of the dark sky and at being able to see the Milky Way from my back garden. This reawakened my interest in astronomy and I felt the need to learn more, so I joined a local evening class “Astronomy for Beginners”.

Then in 1997 Hale Bopp was in the sky and I could actually see this with the naked eye from my bedroom window. Following the 1999 Total Solar Eclipse, I joined the York Astronomical Society (YAS).

Just prior to the Lunar Eclipse in January 2000 I was asked to do a live interview with Robert Hall (BBC) from the YAS Star Party at York’s Knavesmire. This went out live on BBC 1 National News and resulted in over 200 visitors at the event and a number of new members for YAS. This also led to a 5 minute slot on the local BBC radio station once a month about the night sky.

My “passion” in astronomy is Dark Sky photography and Solar Observing. Sadly I am still trying to master astrophotography, as I have problems setting up my equipment each time I want to do this. I have been an active Solar Observer since 2003, reporting to the BAA, The Astronomer and the world Data Centre (SIDC) in Brussels. Until last year I was the only UK regular reporter.

My initiation to the BAA was the one-day out of London meeting in April 2001, followed by the Out of London weekend in September 2003 in York – for which I was the local organiser for both events. The following year I was voted onto the BAA Council.

With my increased interest in astronomy and enthusiasm for getting others interested, I was becoming increasingly aware of the BAA’s difficulties in attracting and retaining beginners to astronomy. As a result, with the help and support of a number of BAA officers and council members, I developed the Back to Basics (B2B) Workshops. In October 2005 I was elected Meetings Secretary. This has been an uphill struggle as the first thing I had to do was find a new venue due to the temporary closure of the Geological Society and the demolition of the Savile Row site. Despite these setbacks, I feel I have provided members with interesting meetings and workshops and have received a number of compliments. The B2B events have proved very successful and have resulted in a number of new members.