I was able from the age of 11 to use my fathers 3" Dolland Student refractor, later in the 6th Form of Farnborough Grammar school I had access to the Army's refractor to study planets and vividly recollect the great red spot on Jupiter. I have been a member since 25th October 2000 and continue visually observing. In 1997 I aquired a AP 900 mount and I have a 6" refractor with a FSQ 85 piggy backed on top. I use a CCD and a DSLR for guided images of Deep Sky. I am also venturing into Spectroscopy with the Alpy 600 Instrument.