Eric Burgess

Early Life

Eric Burgess was born in 1920 and was educated at the High School of Commerce in Manchester England. Before World War II he worked as an accountant to a motor and engineering firm. He joined the Royal Air Force and served five and a half years as a technical instructor.

Manchester Interplanetary Society

In June 1936 Burgess formed the Manchester Interplanetary Society after having organised various meetings on rocketry. He established a rocket proving ground near Glossop in the Pennines in 1937. On March 27th 1937 Burgess and other members of the society performed a rocket test at Clayton Vale in front of a crowd of onlookers. One of the rockets exploded and injured some people in the crowd leading to the Society being put on trial on June 14th. At the trial Burgess eloquently defended the society's actions. Their barrister was provided by the Daily Express newspaper and the charges were withdrawn.

Combined British Astronomical Society

Burgess was elected as President of C.B.A.S.

World War II

When the British Interplanetary Society placed their activities on hiatus during World War II, Burgess decided to continue with his activities in Manchester. He teamed with another space enthusiast, Kenneth Gatland, to keep the principles of the British Interplanetary Society alive.

After the War - The New BIS

Burgess became friends with Arthur C. Clarke and met with him near to the end of the War. Immediately after the end of the War Burgess and the members of the C.B.A.S. met with some of the members of the British Interplanetary Society to combine forces. The meeting took place on September 25 1945. Many BIS members did not attend the meeting and several were displaced, including founder Phillip Ellerby Cleator. Shortly after the end of the meeting Burgess became Chairman of the new BIS.

Author

Later Life

Eric Burgess moved to California in 1956 and became an American citizen in 1962. He died in 2005.