The founder of Southend's Planetarium has been made an MBE in the New Year Honours.

Harry Ford, planetarium lecturer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, part of the National Maritime Museum, will receive the accolade in February for his services to museum education.

Harry, who was born in Dundee in 1938, was one of the founders of the Dundee Astronomical Society and later became director of the lunar section of the British Astronomical Association.

He was also curator of the Mills Observatory in Dundee where he encouraged many young people and trained them in the use of astronomical instruments.

Some went on to be distinguished astronomers such as Robert McNaught who discovered several asteroids and Neill Reid, discoverer of the smallest known star.

Harry and his wife Lynne lived in Southend from 1982 to 2000, during which time they designed a planetarium for Southend Central Museum in Victoria Avenue.

The couple now live in Eastbourne, Lynne's home town, but Harry remembers Southend fondly.

He said: "I miss Southend. It has fantastic shops.

"I am looking forward to the award ceremony with fear and trembling. I shall be very, very nervous."

John Skinner, Central Museum manager, said: "We have very fond memories of Harry Ford working here. "He is a great astronomer and a lovely man to work with. Everyone here will be delighted for him."

Published Thursday, January 9, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo