Sir Fred Hoyle Celebration at St John’s Cambridge – Saturday November 8 2008
by Kevin Brown : last updated: October 11, 2008Always looking for an excuse to visit my Alma Mater – this Saturday event in Cambridge, looked immediately unmissable…
It’s a chance to visit the ancient library of St John’s College and take part in the Sir Fred Hoyle day – one of John’s most successful and remarkable fellows.
The event details are Saturday 8 November 2008, from 11am to 4.30pm, at St John’s College Cambridge (it’s located right in the middle – park nearby and enjoy the short walk through the atmospheric Cambridge streets)
Once there, you can absorb talks and tours of the library.
Also, you will be able to view Sir Fred’s collection of books, childhood records, wartime memories and important astronomical correspondence.
Funded by the National Lottery, it’s an event, not to miss.
PS..
Entry is free. More details here
Also an alumnus (”foster-child” in the Latin)of St.Johns, in 1964 or 1965 I attended a lecture in the Cavendish Labs. in which Fred Hoyle defended his steady state theory of the Universe in front of an audience sceptical to start with and more sceptical by the end. There was uproar and mocking laughter. Possibly he relished this, rather than being hurt? Did anyone take minutes?? I was also privileged to sit next to Hoyle at High Table, just once. A whimsical account is to be found at:
http://www.scarthinbooks.com/FredHoyle.shtml
On another note, revisiting the old calleges and the Backs at Cambridge is an odd experience. Externally, NOTHING seems to have changed. The very twigs on the trees seem to be the same. Behind the doors, however, there has been a transformation far transcending the changes of personnel.