Bertrand Meigh Peek is best remembered for his direction of the Jupiter Section and for his classic 1950s book, only the second ever written about the giant planet. Peek filled the gap left by Steavenson’s absence abroad for one apparition, so he never had a chance to show what he might have been able to achieve in the analysis of the observations. Peek contributed to the Section between the years 1924 and 1961. His son Brian is also a member of the Association. The short obituary notice for Peek, in J. Brit. Astron. Assoc., 76, 295 (1966), omits a few facts worthy of note. On the reverse side of the fine portrait from 1918, shown here, there are notes in Brian Peek’s handwriting about his father. ‘Bertrand Meigh Peek (1891–1964), M.A., F.R.A.S.; President of BAA 1938–40; Author The Planet Jupiter ; Three times winner Cambridge mathematics prize; Cambridge tennis champion – half blue; Member Anglo-Soviet chess match teams; Major in The Hampshires Regiment 1914–1918; Yachtsman; Composer of musical symphony; Early radio expert.’ The photograph was sent to the late Terry Broadbank of Poole (who named his observatory after Peek and Phillips), and was later acquired by me for the BAA.

Return to the History of the Mars Section

Return to the Mars Section home page