Mr Paul Wiltshire, deputy editor of the Bath Chronicle, wrote an interesting article in last weeks Bath Chronicle ( Thursday 13th December, page 18) highlighting the important contribution made by Sir Patrick Moore in the life of the William Herschel Museum, which is situated at 19, New King Street, Bath. It was from this address that, in 1781, the musician and astronomer William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus, which was the first planet to be discovered since antiquity.The picture in the article is of the unveiling of a statue to William and Caroline Herschel who assisted William in his work and was a competent astronomer in her own right discovering several comets. The unveiling was carried out by Mr Steff-Langston, the executive secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society. Standing next to him is Patrick Moore and next to him Francis Ring, who was Chairman of the William Herschel Society. We believe that the statue was
unveiled in November 1988 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Herschel (15th November 1738).
In the 1960s , New King Street was earmarked for demolition and redevelopment . It was Miss Phillippa Savery, a local conservationist, who contacted Patrick and through their efforts, and those of others, the demolition did not take place.
19, New King Street was purchased through the generosity of Dr and Mrs Hilliard, two prominent local benefactors, and converted into a small museum devoted to the Herschel family. It was opened in the 13th March 1981, the two hundredth
anniversary of Herschel's discovery of Uranus, by Patrick Moore and Caroline Herschel, the last direct descendant of William Herschel. Patrick gave the first William Herschel Lecture, which remains to this day an annual event of the Bath
calendar. He also became the first and to date the only President of the William Herschel Society. For Many years Patrick attended the annual William Herschel Lecture and promoted the Society. Recently, his increasing frailty has prevented
his attendance but he made a point of sending his best wishes and encouragement. Patrick's contribution to the William Herschel Society was immense and he will be sorely missed.
Dr Peter Ford MBE
Professor Francis Ring
Chair and immediate past Chair William Herschel Society
Herschel House, 19 New King Street, Bath. BA1 2BL UK. Tel:+44(0)1225 446865