The Steavenson Award

The Lydia Brown Medal and Gift

Mr David Gavine received the Lydia Brown Medal and Gift for his significant contributions to the Aurora and Variable Star Sections, which had spanned in excess of 30 years. Notably, he had agreed in 1983 to act as the reporting centre for observations of noctilucent clouds. He had also provided great assistance to the professional community in 1973 upon the death of James Paton, overseer of the Balfour Stewart World Data Centre at Edinburgh University. The immense data bank was at risk of dispersion or even destruction, but, through Mr Gavine, the Association had been able to take it into safe-keeping, and continue to add to it.

In receiving the Medal, Mr Gavine said that his past 48 years of BAA membership had given him immense enjoyment, and the Winchester Weekends had proven particularly memorable. He reminisced that whilst the establishment of the data centre in Edinburgh had sounded superb in principle, conditions had in reality been incredibly cramped. Mr Gavine described how Sir Patrick Moore, George Alcock, Neil Bone, and Michael Gadsden, as well as many other BAA observers had provided him with great encouragement over the years.

Following the applause for the Award recipients, the President welcomed Mr Martin Mobberley to present Sky Notes, which would include an account by Dr Richard McKim of August's favourable opposition of Mars.