To my old friend David Sinden.
I learned recently of the passing last year of the chap who taught me everything I know about optics. I met this outspoken ultra keen optical guru as a teenager in the early 80's in my home town of Newcastle (UK) where he held free Saturday morning ATM sessions.
Anyway, he was the Newcastle's very own "John Dobson" and had us all making our own scopes when those US Orange Cats seemed so very far away.
So I thought I might introduce this man to you all because his proudest achievement was figuring the 3.9 metre primary in the Anglo-Australian Telescope. And boy did he go on about it!
Here's his obituary in the British Astronomical Association. http://www.britastro.org/iandi/sinden.htm
Thanks David, for your enthusiasm and help, and for the great scopes you left behind.