Club Meeting June 2026

Vice President Ted McDonald welcomed members, today’s speaker Dr. Martin Hudson and Roger Collins guest of Don McPhail and Bob Atack guest of Graham Peake.

The vice president introduced today’s speaker Dr. Martin Hudson, making his third visit to the Club, to speak on the subject of “The Life of Sir Bernard Lovell” (1913-2012).

Martin began by describing his long relationship with Bernard Lovell as his doctor and friend when they were both living in Cheshire. Lovell was a real polymath with interests as wide as science, astronomy, music, horticulture and cricket. He was born in Oldland Common in Gloucestershire and was educated locally and then Bristol University where he graduated with a first class honours degree. This was followed by a PhD in 1936 for his work on the electrical conductivity of thin films, and then on to Manchester University working on cosmic ray research.

Martin then took us through Lovell’s work during WW11, especially on the development of Radar, and also under orders from Winston Churchill research which ultimately seriously curtailed U-boat activities in the Atlantic and the destruction of the rocket making facility at Peenemunde.

After the war Lovell continued his studies of cosmic rays and following problems of background interference in Manchester moved to a more remote location, leading to the establishment of Jodrell Bank. This work started in 1948 and was completed in 1957. Martin described the operational developments as the facility grew and the worldwide benefits that emerged especially during the Cold War where during a visit to Russia Lovell was firstly approached to work for the Russians and then a possible attempt on his life.

Lovell retired in 1981, but never stopped working, inventing a light meter for cricket which is still used today.

Following questions from the floor Chris Dunn gave the vote of thanks and members acknowledged an excellent talk with a round of applause.