That is really sad news. I first got to know Ron in the late eighties and then, when I was running the Deep Sky Section, I got to know him really well. He was a quietly spoken, gentle and very helpful person. A very talented and largely self-taught practical engineer, optician and innovator. One of the great BAA members of his generation. I always enjoyed our Saturday evening chats at Winchester and sometimes a visit to his house the following day to see what was new. It always amused me (and others) that the first thing Ron did with any new piece of kit was to totally dismantle it in his lounge to see how it could be improved – usually replacing anything plastic with metal. I also shared an interest in 1960s British motorcycles with him. A very sad day.
British Astronomical Association
Supporting amateur astronomers since 1890