In 1972, Milton Keynes Astronomical Society was founded by 16 year old Richard Lambert and two of his fellow students at the Lord Grey School, Bletchley.   Early meetings were held in Richard's house and consisted of informal discussions on various astronomical topics.

By 1975, the membership had grown to 15, incorporating a wider adult participation.  Meetings were now held regularly at Sutherland Grove, Bletchley, with the emphasis on members providing in-house talks, still a regular feature of the Society's programme.  Much midnight oil was burnt discussing a more formal structure of MKAS and the drafting of a written constitution.

In 1976, the Society opted to take advantage of the facilities offered at what was then the Bradwell Abbey Field Centre.  Soon after this move to the North of the City, Richard Lambert succumbed to a fatal illness, aged 20.   His death was a tragic loss to the Society both in his leadership and his knowledge of astronomy.

This Lecture is dedicated to his memory, his enthusiasm, his hands-on approach to Astronomy.

2007 : The Sun: A Biography; Dr David Whitehouse

2006 : Cassini-Huygens to Saturn and Titan; Dr Andrew Coates

2005 : Black Holes are real; Dr Paul Murdin

2004 : Superclusters of Galaxies; Dr Katherine Gunn

2003 : Observing deep sky objects visually; Stewart Moore

2002 : TA and the Astronomer; Guy M Hurst

2001 : Beagle Flies to Mars; Dr Collin Pillinger

2000 : Planets and Life beyond the Solar System; Dr Barry Jones

1999 : The solar wind; Dr Christopher Owen

1998 : Meteorites and microfossils from Mars ;Dr Monica Grady

1997 : Astronomy from space: ISO and HST results; Dr Gerry Gilmore

1996 : Comets; Dr Jonathan Shanklin

1995 : Messier marathon; Paul Money

1994 : Photographing Perseid meteors; Neil Bone

1993 : Ups and downs of gravity; Dr Bob Lambourne

1992 : Pulsars; Prof Jocelyn Bell-Burnell

1991 : Observing meteors; Steve Evans

1990 : Victorian astronomy; Rob Marriott