It is with great sadness that the committee of the Commission for Dark Skies must report the terrible news that Bob Mizon, whom many of you will know from his outstanding efforts to protect the night from the scourge of light pollution, died suddenly at home earlier this week.

For the last few decades, Bob has co-ordinated the British Astronomical Asssociation's Commission for Dark Skies (CfDS), which he helped to establish, but his astronomical interests ranged far wider than light pollution, as the many astronomical societies to whom he has given talks will attest. He was also passionate about education and, after a first career as a French teacher, in the late 1990s he acquired a mobile planetarium, which he named the Mizar Travelling Planetarium (Bob loved puns!), through which he took the wonders of the night sky to children and adults all over Britain. In 2010, his work was officially recognised when he was awarded an MBE "for services to astronomy and the environment".

He was one of the instigators of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Dark Skies, and was one of the people behind the establishment of the UK Dark Skies Partnership. He was instrumental in helping Cranborne Chase AONB achieve its status as an International Dark Sky Reserve.

Recently, ill health caused Bob to cease his planetarium shows, but he continued to advocate for responsible outdoor lighting and represented the CfDS at the BAA's "Winchester Weekend" only the weekend before his death.

He leaves his wife, Pam, their three children, and a granddaughter ... and the many of us who were privileged to have had our lives touched by his. The stars have lost one of their greatest friends on planet Earth.