Volunteer shares Astronomy experience and knowledge with hospice patients

Peter Howell, has very kindly been volunteering to deliver Astronomy sessions in Arthur’s Shed in the gardens at the Hospice for over five years now.

He was delighted this week to also share his experience and knowledge with a patient in the Inpatient Unit when a nurse found out about the patient’s interest. As he was unable to join the session, Peter visited him in his room at the Hospice, so he could remain comfortable in his bed. Peter shared:

“It was a pleasure to spend time with a patient in the Inpatient Unit. We talked about how we both became interested in Astronomy and what sparked that interest.

I related how I became hooked on the subject after an aunt gave me a life-changing present (literally!) on my 8th birthday. This was an early book by the late Sir Patrick Moore – one in which the constellation maps were produced on his typewriter using the asterisk key.

We went on to tell each other about our own telescopes and the objects we enjoy observing.”

The patient commented:

“I never would have expected to have an Astronomy session in the Hospice and I found it very interesting.”

Peter continued:

“I also described what the Arthur’s Shed Astronomy Group does, the subjects we cover and the practical sessions in which we have made sundials, a nocturnal and a simple spectroscope. We are currently making weekly observations of the Sun to monitor the transit of sunspots across the solar disk.

The sessions in Arthur’s Shed run most Friday mornings from 10 -11.15 am. (Coffee and biscuits included). We are a small, friendly group of around five people including patients who are visiting the Living Well Service and who come before their session there. Everyone is welcome.

Our topics include the solar system, stars, cosmology, some astronomical history and current space missions. (Life, the Universe and everything in fact!).

I have had comments and feedback to include more practical “make projects” and, perhaps, an observing timetable using binoculars to tour some moderately challenging celestial objects over the course of the year from home, so I am working on that too.”

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For more information about the sessions at Arthur’s Shed, please visit arhc.org.uk or to book a session mail: arthurs.shed@arhc.org.uk or telephone 01223 675777