To all those who have supported Hanwell Community Observatory:

We are grateful to all the people who have supported HCO since we opened the grounds in 2005 for the first ‘Stars and Snowdrops’ Event. Thousands of you have come in often pretty inclement weather. Others have also attended star gazing events. We have loved meeting you all and some have joined the group from these events.

We were unable to open in 2020 and have not opened for ‘Stars and Snowdrops’ since then but we should like to get back to events. Apart from COVID, things were complicated by the need to care for an aged parent with all the stress this brings but, it is with the greatest sadness that we have to report that on 18 December 2024 Christopher Taylor, the founder and Director of HCO, died after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. HCO and, especially the younger members of the group, are determined to keep his legacy going and we remain committed to public outreach in astronomy.

It is our hope that we shall be able to run ‘Stars and Snowdrops’ in 2026 on our usual second weekend in February – 14th and 15th February. Please tell all your friends and help us to advertise and make this a success.

Rowena E Taylor