On Friday, July 8th, the SAS at Washington Wetlands Centre we were presented with a very kind donation for £1000 from the Freemasons of the province of Durham has kindly donated from their Durham Benevolence charitable fund £1000 to the SAS.

This will help enormously in funding for our newly constructed Cygnus Observatory’s dome control system laptop/equipment.

The Chairman, Vice-Chairman , Treasurer and Secretary were there to receive the donation from Dave Dorward and Rod Scott from the Freemasons of the province of Durham .

It’s quite poignant as the Freemasons of the province of Durham had previously kindly donated £1000 in 2002 that was part of a number of community-based funds from local businesses & organisations that helped towards the initial construction of the Cygnus Observatory.

So the Freemasons are continuing with community help in funding the SAS with the next stages of the societies Cygnus Observatory. So thank you very much to the Freemasons of the province of Durham.

The new Cygnus Observatory is due to  be officially re-opened on Sunday, 18th  September 2016 by Sir Arnold Wolfendale (Durham University Emeritus Professor & the 14th Astronomer Royal) before our first talk of the Season that will also be given by Professor Arnold Wolfendale. This is quite apt as Sir Arnold opened the Cygnus Observatory in 1994.

Regarding progress of the Cygnus Observatory dome keep a lookout for our forthcoming news article on the progress of the new dome for the Cygnus Observatory in our Society News.

Onward and upward and clear skies.