2017/09/10 - The Astronomical Association of Jamaica
The tributes to the late Mr. Hedley Jones, who died on September 01, have
acknowledged his contribution particularly to the music industry to which he
made a great contribution.
Among his other interests was Astronomy, and the Astronomical
Association of Jamaica, (the AAJ), would like to place on record not only its
condolences to his family, but also its acknowledgement of his support of the
science of Astronomy.
In his article on Astronomy in St. James which appears on our website,he
admits to having 'pledged to be a star gazer' in 1927 at the age of ten. He was a
member of our Association, and also the British Astronomical Association.
He recounts his visit in 1971 to Kempshot in St. James, where there was at
the time an Observatory and the library with astronomical information which had
been collected by a previous owner of the house, Maxwell Hall.
Hedley Jones used to build telescopes, and he makes special reference to
one that he had built - "a 6 inch refractor telescope, mounted on a locally devised
and built motor driven equatorial stand" - which he considered his best effort at
telescope making. Using that instrument he viewed Halley's Comet in November
1985.
The AAJ was thrilled have him attend a function at Sam Sharpe Teachers
College, in October 2012, with a hovering Hurricane Sandy. We had an
afternoon with the members of the College and of several schools in the Montego
Bay Area, when we distributed Galileoscopes to the various institutions. This
came through the instrumentality of Mrs. Jeanne Robinson-Foster, and Mr. Jones
and his son were special guests, and he participated actively in the function. His
keen mind and enthusiasm impressed us all, and more so when we added the
fact of his venerable age of 1 month short of 95 years.
We give thanks for the many interests of Mr. Hedley Jones, and are
especially grateful that these included Astronomy.