John Lennox honoured for donation of telescope
The college marked a generous donation of a telescope and telescope house by Emeritus Fellow Professor of Mathematics John Lennox with a ceremony and unveiling of a plaque followed by a lunch on Wednesday 25 February.
Principal Sir Michael Dixon welcomed friends and colleagues and formally expressed his gratitude to John, whose gift – formally introduced as The Lennox Telescope – had already begun to enrich the lives of the students and strengthen the college’s connection to its astronomical heritage.
Recently elected Governing Body Fellow and Professor of Astrophysics Rob Fender and the college’s astrophysics research associates have already been able to introduce a series of stargazing evenings. Following a successful pilot last year, the first two events this term were fully booked within minutes, demonstrating strong student enthusiasm. Further sessions are planned, with interest extending across the wider college community.
Sir Michael also added that John’s gift is impeccably timely with Green Templeton’s efforts to preserve its historical landmark, the Radcliffe Observatory – making the college once again a home for the observation and marvel of celestial bodies. The campaign, Preserving the Past | Inspiring the Future, is currently enabling a redesign of south lawn, with further window repairs and northern landscaping due to begin in April. Future fundraising will focus on enabling conservation and decarbonisation of the building. The more permanent location of the telescope house within the Observatory gardens is under discussion.
For John, whose academic work has long explored the relationship between science, philosophy, and theology, the telescope carries particular resonance. His donation therefore represents not only a practical addition to the estate, but also a symbolic one, connecting the college’s historic observatory setting with contemporary intellectual exploration.
During the lunch, John also surprised guests with further gifts in kind: a Vixen 8’’ VC200L Sixth Order Aspherical Cassegrain telescope for both visual and astrophotography, as well as a Televue 85 refractor telescope and a number of eyepieces.
John remarked how important it was to leave behind a legacy that fitted in with the original purpose for which the observatory was built.
As Green Templeton continues to invest in the conservation of the Radcliffe Observatory and to strengthen its links with astrophysics, The Lennox Telescopes will play a visible and inspiring role – opening up the night sky to students and fellows alike, and reinforcing the college’s distinctive blend of heritage, scholarship and community.
More about John
John’s forthcoming autobiography will be available in bookshops (preorder: Amazon; SPCK) from 16 April.
