Astronomer Royal to open refurbished Discovery Centre

The Cleethorpes Discovery Centre, soon to be open to the public, will be formally endorsed in a private civic ceremony by Sir Arnold Wolfendale FRS, 14th Astronomer Royal, on Thursday, June 26.

Sir Arnold Wolfendale served as Astronomer Royal from 1991 to 1995, an honour awarded to a renowned scientist working in the field of astronomy initiated by Charles II who founded the Royal Observatory Greenwich in 1675.

The Discovery Centre is set to inform and stimulate all visitors to the resort. North East Lincolnshire Council’s interim head of paid services, Liz Jones, is honoured to welcome Sir Arnold Wolfendale to the new facility.

Ms Jones said: “We are delighted to be able to formally open this redeveloped attraction by such an esteemed guest.

“Particularly appropriate as the line of longitude, the Greenwich Meridian, passes through Cleethorpes.

“Sir Arnold will be very warmly welcomed to the Discovery Centre, which has undergone a major refurbishment and extension.

“The venue will provide an impressive collection of informative and exciting displays throughout the year which will appeal to residents and visitors to the resort.

“We are thrilled that Sir Arnold is supporting the Discovery Centre. The centre will enhance the range of experiences on offer in Cleethorpes and will ensure there is never a dull moment within the resort.”

Sir Arnold was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, the UK’s leading professional body for astronomy and astrophysics, in 1973 and a Fellow of the Royal Society, the national academy of science of the UK and the Commonwealth, in 1977.

Knighted in 1995, Sir Arnold held academic posts at the universities of Manchester, Durham, Ceylon and Hong Kong.

Sir Arnold, passionate about education, is visiting the region to promote and discuss John (Longitude) Harrison’s links to The Grimsby Institute.

John Harrison, born in 1693 was a clockmaker who grew up in Barrow-upon-Humber. It was he, not an astronomer, who solved a great scientific problem of the inability to read the longitude of ships at sea which led to frequent shipwrecks and lost lives.

Spending 60 years building and refining a clock that would keep precise time at sea, known today as a chronometer, Harrison’s clock kept accurate time to one second a month.

The log of HMS Resolution reveals numerous references to the timekeeper, which Cook called "our trusty friend the watch".

Sir Arnold Wolfendale during his visit is delivering two lectures to promote Harrison in education in association with Grimsby Institute of Higher Education.
Whilst the lectures are free, donations will be gratefully received to support the charity that Sir Arnold is Patron off, Time for Life which raises money for breast cancer screening.

Sir Arnold's visit has been inspired, planned and orchestrated by Christina. A. McGilligan-Fell.

Christina said: “Like clogs in a watch, we are all interconnected. To be a catalyst on such a wonderful memorial day is an honour and a privilege.

“Cleethorpes is a wonderful resort and The Grimsby Institute is an excellent place of learning for all.

“Harrison had no formal education and his story of success is evident enough when, Neil Armstrong after taking dinner with the Prime Minister at Downing Street, stood and gave a toast to John (Longitude) Harrison.

“The lectures will deal with the story of this wonderful, loan genius from Barrow. I hope that this is the launch of good relationships with the North East Lincolnshire Council, the Grimsby Institute and Sir Arnold FRS – connecting the past with the future, in the name of John (Longitude) Harrison.”

A commemorative plaque will be designed and created in Lincolnshire lime-wood by sculptor OH Boyd to mark the re-opening of the Discovery Centre.

The artist, also a supporter of John Harrison’s triumph, works almost exclusively in wood and his work is characterised by its impact and representational accuracy.

He is currently carving a portrait bust of Sir Arnold Wolfendale for the National Portrait Gallery.