So fairwell then, John Stewart

[cydermaster]

Just been told in the chatroom, and seen on uk.tech.rocketry, that John Stewart of The Paisley Rocketeers Society passed away this Easter Monday afternoon.

At the IRW this year, my table was next to the display of newscuttings about him and the Soc. He'd been into model rocketry from the 1930s, and was one of the pioneers.

Hopefully somebody will jump in here with a more comprehensive obituary.

 

[adrian]

That is sad. There was a local flying meeting on Saturday, where John Bonsor announced that John Stuart was very unwell, so this was definitely on the cards. I wasn't expecting him to pass away so soon, though.

Attached: picture of John Stuart and Danny Kaye inspecting one of John's aquajets. (Danny also passed away not so long ago and was remembered at IRW 2004. )

 

[cydermaster]

Been doing a bit of surfing, looking up Paisley Rocketeers Society. Turned up this:

A copy of a flier for the 1985 Paisley Rocket Weekend (which I presume became the IRW) showing some of the first rockets made by the PRS back in the 1930s: https://www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/redglare/pais.jpg

(found via this page, which takes an interesting look at the history for model rocketry from the point of view of a fireworks enthusiest: https://www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/redglare/)

[edit]
Found this page too, with a few photos: https://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~portwin/ASTRA/Rocketry/airdrie_rocketry.html

 

[andysrockets]

It was very sad news indeed. Most of us probably only knew him as the 'old chap who consistently won the water rocket trophy', but I know that many familiar faces in rocketry were inspired by John Stewart some decades ago.

Cyder was almost right about the Paisley Rocket Weekend... here is what STAAR say on their website (edited by me to be up to date): "...this IRW will build upon the successes of the Scottish Rocket Weekends (1986 to 1991), the International Rocket Weekends (1992 to 1997), and the International Space & Rocketry Weeks since1998, all held at Kelburn, near Largs. This growth of rocket festivals in Scotland was begun and inspired by the Paisley Rocket Weekends held in 1985 and 1987, organised by the Paisley Rocketeers' Society..."

The IRW was very different last year without Danny Kane, and again this year will be different without John.

John Bonsor, Andy Norrie and Kevin Cave will be attending the funeral.

 

[adrian]

The Scotsman posted this obituary today: