Tony Young and John Taylor attended this event, Tonys report follows

Venue: Barnett Observatory, Hastings Close, Chesterfield

About 35 people present, including Mary Barnett (widow of the founder), the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield, Members and friends of CAS plus John Taylor and me (Tony Young)

Talk by Richard Westwood of the CAS

Winter Horace Barnett (1915-1999) was the inspiration for the observatory in the 1950s. After constructing a 12” telescope for the nearby Sheffield AS, he had a vision of a larger 18” reflector telescope accessible to amateur astronomers in the Chesterfield area. Once he found sufficient financial support, the Chesterfield Astronomical Society was founded in November 1956 and the project was started. After much hard work the Barnett Observatory was officially opened by the Astronomer Royal in April 1960. The talk was amply illustrated by some period photos on the big LCD screen.

Over the years, the original telescope and the attached meeting room were starting to deteriorate and were in need of a major refurbishment. Amusingly, a fungus had started to appear on the meeting room ceiling which resisted all efforts to eradicate it and the members affectionately called it ‘George’. Because of his persistence, George was even made an honorary member of the CAS!

The refurbishments have now been completed and it extends the meeting room with a much needed new kitchen and (disabled) toilet. A computer room has also been added with access to the dome. A 12” Meade is mounted on a substantial pier in the viewing area adjacent to the dome, which will in the future have its own dome and be wired into the meeting room and onto the large LCD screen.

Future plans are to replace the crazy paving on the viewing area, improve the car park, a steerable Radio Telescope with computer and a Solar Telescope

The talk was concluded by a series of splendid images taken by CAS members

The Mayor of Chesterfield then performed the official Opening Ceremony by cutting the red tape and declaring the Barnett Observatory (re-)Opened

Reinhold Gasser, President, summed up and thanked all for attending

The afternoon was rounded off with tea and biscuits and good old fashioned friendliness and courtesy with fellow amateur astronomers talking shop and exchanging ideas