Re:He wrote the future: On Arthur C. Clarke's centenary
by at-fates-hands on Monday January 23, 2017 @09:45AM
(#13462456)
>> and now chief engineer of the Rolls Royce Rocket Division
Did I read that right? Rolls Royce had/has a rocket division?
Re:He wrote the future: On Arthur C. Clarke's centenary
by arethuza on Monday January 23, 2017 @09:49AM
(#13462494)
Turns that Val Cleaver was quite an interesting chap:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Cleaver
"he became general manager and chief engineer of the Rolls Royce's rocket departments, where he was responsible for the engines which powered the Blue Streak missile and Black Arrow launch vehicle"
Sadly the UK did have our own launch capability - but we only ever launched one satellite - Prospero:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitrified_fort
I also love the account of the meeting that Clarke, C.S. Lewis and Tolkien had in a pub:
"An extensive correspondence with Dr. Lewis led to the a meeting in a famous Oxford pub, the Eastgate. Seconding me was my friend, Val Cleaver, a space buff from way back (and now chief engineer of the Rolls Royce Rocket Division). Supporting Lewis was Professor J. R. R. Tolkien, whose trilogy, The Lord of the Rings created a considerable stir a few years ago. Needless to say, neither side converted the other, and we refused to abandon our diabolical schemes of interplanetary conquest. But a fine time was had by all, and when, some hours later, we emerged a little unsteadily from the Eastgate, Dr. Lewis’s parting words were "I’m sure you are very wicked people – but how dull it would be if everyone was good."