Gordon Rogers
Speaker Topics
General Interest, History, Technology & Innovation, Other
Locations Covered
South East
Fees
£75 - £150
Availability
Short Notice
Profile Bio
Above all I love laughter and people. I am a Chartered Surveyor and Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society My interest in astronomy has lead me to construct the state of the art Crendon Observatory where I take images of Deep Space targets with exposures of up to 24 hours:. Sir Patrick Moore recorded an entire Sky at Night programme at the observatory. During the war I stumbled on the country's premier weapons experimental station which is the subject of one of my talks. I have had rich rewards from engaging in conversation with any human being where this possibility presents itself. Before learning his position I offered a bit part in a film to Alan whom it later transpired was President of Columbia Pictures, I scolded Ginger Rogers and met Colin who had just designed the imaging machine for the zebra fish! I operate on the basis that I do not charge a fee but encourage donations for Scannappeal, providing equipment for local hospitals.
Talk Description
"Winston Churchill's Toyshop"
Only 15 years ago did I learn that the premises from which I nicked a couple of anti-tank missiles and a box of fuses was "Winston Churchill's Toyshop", the country's premier WW2 weapons experimental station . The Department was under Churchill's direct control and over 50 weapons were invented. I have carried out extensive research at libraries in Oxford, Cambridge and London. James Tuck was a very important member of the team: he was a nuclear scientist who made a fundamental input
into the allied war effort and yet the military seek to efface him from history. It is such an untold story and I did manage to persuade the Discovery Channel to make a TV documentary but they only scratched the surface.
Other Talks
"The Sky at Night With a Laugh"
As an an amateur astronomer this talk covers astronomical topics of contemporary interest both amateur and professional. I have a passion for Deep Space imaging and have built a state of the art observatory adjoining my house: I explain how this operates. Sir Patrick Moore filmed a whole "Sky at Night" programme at the Crendon Observatory and asked me to write a book, "My Heavens" about it in his astronomy series. It is a staggering topic and there is plenty of room for humour.
"Military Moments Circa WW2"
Such a broad canvas but I have put together a collection of events where the great majority is likely to be novel to the attendee: even if known about I may well introduce an unexpected slant. Chosen topics are across the spectrum of utter bravery, incredible nerve, humour, deception, endurance, stupidity , survival and the macabre. I relate Albert Speer's view of the huge mistake the Allies made concerning the Dambusters Raid and tell of the friend who, over Palermo, released his bombs together with his gunner!
"Acquaintances Exceptionalle"
Over my long life I have met such a huge variety of fascinating characters both famous and unheard of. I now present a fully illustrated talk about some of them . Among them are film stars, inventors, the man in charge of the Hubble Space Telescope, the technician in charge of Apollo photography, a Hollywood mogul and many war heroes.
