Honorary Members

Honorary Membership for life is conferred on persons who have rendered special service to astronomy and/or to the Society. Honorary Members do not pay membership fees and enjoy all the normal benefits of membership to the Society.
Any member of the Society may nominate a person for Honorary Membership. The nominated person does not have to be a member of the Society or of a Local Centre.
The Constitution states that there should not be more than 15 members and that Honorary Members are not eligible for Long Service Awards.

Honorary Members of the Society

  • Adv. A.J. Nel (2025) – in recognition for his long-term significant and meticulous legal and financial contributions to the ASSA
  • Chris Stewart (2017)
  • Dr. Ian S Glass (2016)
  • Ronnie Glass (2011)
  • Magda Streicher (2009)
  • Case Rijsdijk (2009)
  • Maciej G Soltynski (2008)
  • Peter G Cramb (2008)
  • Tim P Cooper (2005)
  • Auke Slotegraaf (2002)
  • Mike Begbie (2000)
  • José da S.Campos (1992)
  • Prof. G Heymann (1986)

Past Honorary Members

  • Cliff R G Turk (2001 – 2024)
  • Pat J Booth (2008 – 2015)
  • Peter Smits (2007 – 2008)
  • Dr. Janet Mattei (2003 – 2004)
  • Dr. Tom Lloyd Evans (2001 – 2014)
  • Prof. Michael William Feast (2001 – 2019)
  • Dr. T Lloyd Evans (2000 – 2015)
  • C D Gray (2000 – 2004)
  • Michael A Gray (2000 – 2019)
  • Rupert Hurley (1999 – 2005)
  • J Hirst (1992 – 1994)
  • Jack C Bennett (1989 – 1990)
  • Christos Papadopoulos (1987 – 1992)
  • Prof. G Heymann (1986 – 2005)
  • W C Bentley (1984 – 1998)
  • G Orphen (1981 – 1997)
  • A Menzies (1981 – 1988)
  • Daniel Overbeek (1978 – 2001)
  • Dr. A J Wesselink (1978 – 1996)
  • Harold E Krumm (1978 – 2001)
  • Dr. Alan William James Cousins (1978 – 2001)
  • Dr. Richard Hugh Stoy (1969 – 1994)
  • Prof. Arthur Edward Herbert Bleksley (1969 – 1985)
  • R P de Kock (1969 – 1980)
  • Dr. D S Evans (1969 – 2005)
  • Prof. C Fehrenbach (1965 – 2011)
  • Prof. D Velghe (1965 – 1987)
  • Dr. William Stephen Finsen (1965 – 1979)
  • Donald G McIntyre (1960 – 1966)
  • Prof. H Haffner (1959 – 1975)
  • A F I Forbes – (1959)
  • Dr. John Jackson – (1959)
  • Dr. H Shapley (1959 – 1973)
  • Dr. H L Alden (1959 – 1965)
  • Dr. Harold Knox-Shaw (1959 – 1970)
  • Dr. J Schilt (1959 – 1986)
  • Dr. Willem Hendrik van den Bos (1959 – 1974)
  • Sir Harold Spencer Jones (1959 – 1961)
  • Dr. R O Redman (1959 – 1976)
  • Alexander Forbes Irvine Forbes (1958 – 1959)
  • J H Oort (1949 – 1992)
  • Dr. R vd R Wooley (1949 – 1986)

Note: The Honorary Members prior to 1948 are not listed here.
References

  • Minutes of ASSA Council Meetings For practical reasons the search was limited to type-written minutes on which digital search functions work, starting in 1956.
  • ASSA Handbook
  • Sky Guide
  • Award of Honorary Membership to Rupert Hurly [1999MNSSA..58..103A]
  • Honorary Membership for Jan Hers [1997MNSSA..56..105A]
  • Honorary Membership for Christos Papadopoulos [1987MNSSA..46…65A]
  • Elections: Honorary Membership [1958MNSSA..17..114A]
  • Election of Prof. G Heymann as Honorary Member [1986MNSSA..45…69A]
  • Honorary Membership (Editorial) [1949MNSSA…8…18A], [1980MNASSAC…..28A]