Episode 54: 23 July 2012 – Manchester Interplanetary Society and Stanley Davis
Stanley Davis
The August 2012 edition of Spaceflight, the monthly magazine from the British Interplanetary Society carried an article where I discuss the Northwest of England’s contribution in Rocketry during the 1930s. An extended version of that article is available for free download on Astrotalkuk.org - here.
So on to today’ episode.
In 1937, two teenagers Harry and Stanley with an outrages ambition to design and build rockets for space travel joined a newly formed group with a name to match – the Manchester Interplanetary Society. Soon each met a girl, fell in love. They exchanged wedding rings and pledged to stay together for their journey through life.
Members of the Manchester Interplanetary Society. Harry Turner is 1st on the left
Two years later began the ferocious and violent events of World War Two that would shatter their dreams and lives along with millions of others around the world. Harry Turner spent much of the War in India and following his return enjoyed a successful career as an artist. Stanley Davies died in August 1941 from injuries he endured at Dunkirk.
Recently this shared story brought together Harry’s son Philip and Stanley’s daughter Ann. In episode 50 Philip recalled the memories of his father and in this episode Ann Sutcliffe remembers her father Stanley Davies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UV37Bnbo0Q