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  Space historian, author Rex Hall (1946-2010) (Page 3)

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Author Topic:   Space historian, author Rex Hall (1946-2010)
nasamad
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Posts: 1830
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001

posted June 02, 2010 02:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for nasamad   Click Here to Email nasamad     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I know this is my second post on this thread about the late (great) Rex, but I just thought that since losing my father it has given me great pleasure and remind me of many memories when I have read the kind things that were written about him by his friends and colleagues after his passing.

It would be nice to think that someone close could print out this thread and pass it on to him family, for them to see how much he would be missed and how highly he was regarded around the world.

Adam

StarDome
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From: Cambridge UK
Registered: Mar 2012

posted June 02, 2010 03:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for StarDome   Click Here to Email StarDome     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Don't worry Adam, it's already been printed as is so far.

nasamad
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Posts: 1830
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001

posted June 02, 2010 05:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for nasamad   Click Here to Email nasamad     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thats good Andy, I'm sure they will get pleasure from reading it when they can.

Ashy
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From: Preston, England
Registered: Mar 2004

posted June 02, 2010 06:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ashy   Click Here to Email Ashy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I only had the pleasure of meeting Rex a couple of times at Autographica, but found him to be a lovely man. He will be missed by his family and friends. May he rest in peace.

Si

contra
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From: Kiel, Germany
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posted June 03, 2010 02:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for contra   Click Here to Email contra     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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ed zigoy
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From: Portland,OR,USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted June 03, 2010 06:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ed zigoy   Click Here to Email ed zigoy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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hlbjr
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Posts: 293
From: Delray Beach Florida USA
Registered: Mar 2006

posted June 03, 2010 06:47 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for hlbjr   Click Here to Email hlbjr     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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music_space
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Posts: 1042
From: Canada
Registered: Jul 2001

posted June 03, 2010 09:45 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for music_space   Click Here to Email music_space     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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Lou Chinal
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From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007

posted June 03, 2010 12:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lou Chinal   Click Here to Email Lou Chinal     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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Mike Isbell
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Posts: 313
From: Silver Spring, Maryland USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted June 03, 2010 01:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike Isbell     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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Philip
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Posts: 4566
From: Brussels, BELGIUM
Registered: Jan 2001

posted June 03, 2010 02:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
On the BIS website.

Dave Shayler
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From: Halesowen, West Mids, UK
Registered: Dec 2009

posted June 06, 2010 04:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dave Shayler   Click Here to Email Dave Shayler     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I must write and thank all of you who have contributed to the messages on this thread recalling the untimely passing of our friend and colleague Rex Hall. At such a sad time it is most comforting to read such wonderful tributes and other memories of this great man, who touched us, all in his own special way. The messages have been passed on to Lynn and the family.

It is 'part of the process' as Rex would say to recall some of the more memorable moments with him as well as to feel the sadness without him. Some of my recollections have been passed to the tributes in the BIS Spaceflight and the Midland Spaceflight Society Capcom magazines, but here for this group are a few more.

Many times, following the annual Soviet Technical Forum at the BIS a group of us headed up to Rex and Lynn's home for a 'post forum get together'. Occasionally I drove there with Rex giving directions from the passenger seat. Rex was a driver but not a car owner. In his work though he had travelled the routes of London many times and therefore he an excellent navigator. What I remember from these journeys, are the 'tourist guide' snippets of information he injected into the journey, often with humour and insight a professional tourist guide would have envied.

On another occasion Rex was introducing civilian engineer cosmonaut Yuri Usachev to an audience when the projector suddenly stopped working. Rex was always apprehensive of technology failures though this time he said it was far more comforting knowing he had his very own 'Flight Engineer' to call upon.

Rex was probably the most known 'non-cosmonaut' in the cosmonaut team. His authority and respect is famous. In fact he was so close to the cosmonauts they often personally welcomed him during official functions at Star City and were amazed about how much he knew about them. Many flown and unflown cosmonauts were generous in the supply of information and photos to allow us to compile The Rocket Men, Soyuz and Cosmonaut Training Centre books. It was this closeness to the cosmonaut team that triggered a mischievous streak in me during the preparation of The Rocket Men. As the editor and I prepared the images, from another photo we inserted a 'smiling head shot' of Rex onto early cosmonaut photos of the Gagarin group. At the next BIS forum Rex gave an update of the latest cosmonaut news to the group and then introduced me as the next speaker. Before I started my paper I gave the 'inside story' of how Rex had become so knowledgeable about the cosmonaut team... he was there at moments of history all along. I revealed images just uncovered of Rex in-between Korolyov and Gagarin at the foot of the launch pad, of Rex in the same limousine as Tereshkova during her post flight process, and of a baby with the remarkable resemblance to Rex in the arms of Tereshkova and Nikolayev. This went down well at the meeting and Rex loved the joke.

During the compilation of the Rocket Men and Soyuz books Rex was meticulous in his scrutiny of the text and tables, but was not so enthusiastic about reading the results of his work should he spot an error he missed the earlier. It had taken a while to convince him to work on Rocket Men and then Soyuz but once on board I know he really enjoyed the process.

It is with great satisfaction to look back and think we are fortunate to have his work in not only the two books I co-authored with him on but also in the Cosmonaut Training Centre with Bert Vis, the three volumes of Who's Who In Space with Michael Cassutt and The First Cosmonaut Team with Colin Burgess. I am certain these will remain as standards for many years to come a fitting tribute to Rex's dedication and passion and something for his family to look upon with pride.

Just a few months ago Rex and I were talking about a new edition of the Soyuz book and he had continued to help with updates of the Cosmonaut Team biographies we had first produced through Astro in 1985. This work will continue, and his help in expanding my own collection of Soviet/Russian material will be utilised and remembered in future productions.

It is hard to think of the loss of such a nice person as Rex just months after another great friend and fellow Soviet space sleuth Neville Kidger. Just a few nights after hearing the sad news about Rex I spoke with Neville Kidger's wife, Wynn who told me of their family decision to add to Nev's memorial the line 'to infinity and beyond' from Nev's favourite film 'Toy Story'. I suggested, that, as a football fan, Nev's stellar journey was probably via Leeds United football stadium which Wynn thought amusing. One hopes that Rex is right there with Nev amongst the stars seeking out cosmonauts he never met on Earth, finally filling out the gaps in his research... so farewell my dear friends thanks for all the memories and help over the years... safe journey...

historyinminiature
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From: Slatington, PA U.S.A.
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posted June 06, 2010 05:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for historyinminiature   Click Here to Email historyinminiature     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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Steve Procter
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From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000

posted June 06, 2010 08:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Steve Procter   Click Here to Email Steve Procter     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Following on from Dave's last comments I'm sorry Nev didn't get to see his beloved Leeds United gain promotion.

Over recent years also Rex often offered his comiserations whenever I spoke to him or exchanged e-mails over the latest set of woes to befall the club.

Space and football followers, both, and will be missed by all.

Steve

minipci
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From: London, UK
Registered: Jul 2009

posted June 10, 2010 06:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for minipci     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
. RIP

StarDome
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From: Cambridge UK
Registered: Mar 2012

posted June 10, 2010 01:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for StarDome   Click Here to Email StarDome     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I am just back from attending Rex's funeral.

To have know this man and had time to get to know him was truly amazing and life changing.

I learnt a lot more today of the “other” Rex, his involvement in the London Tower Hamlets projects and his work for under privileged children. I knew some of it and the inspiration he gave to so many people young and old without a thought for himself... typical Rex. Hearing people recall their thoughts was so touching a tribute to him... incredible in fact.

We had three moving tributes to Rex before we and all in attendance attended the BIS HQ for a get together to honour him.

My love and sympathies to his wife Lynn, who was as dignified as ever.

An amazing man has left a void in our hearts that will never be filled, but as one person mentioned, "that’s not a bad thing, because that void is where we can keep our memories of him" and it is where I will be keeping my memories of this cherished, much loved, respected, wonderful, caring, considerate and truly inspirational man.

RIP Rex, I will miss you dearly but remember you always.

Thank you to the BIS and those cS'ers who were there too especially thanks to Dave Shayler, thank you Dave, Derek Warsnop, Rob Wood and my good friend Richard Osbourne of the BIS, thanks for your time and support today. I hope everyone had a safe journey home.

If you want to help in some way then buy his books or please make a donation to the charities that Rex held very close to his heart

The BIS (bis-spaceflight.com), and the other is an education charity, Summer University, (justgiving.com/futureversity) that Rex was instrumental in.

Thanks everyone.

Mike Z
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Posts: 393
From: Ellicott City, Maryland
Registered: Dec 2005

posted June 10, 2010 09:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike Z   Click Here to Email Mike Z     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Rest in Peace Rex and prayers to Lynn.

Lunar_module_5
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Posts: 135
From: Wales, UK
Registered: Dec 2004

posted June 29, 2010 03:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lunar_module_5   Click Here to Email Lunar_module_5     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have only just seen this news and am greatly saddened to hear of the death of Rex Hall.

Back in the early 80's Rex used to correspond and send me bundle upon bundle of photos and info and his insights into the then Soviet programme (all the letters were in his wonderful handwriting).

To a young and eager space mind it was like Christmas come early every time one of those packages fell onto the mat.

I always appreciated the time he spent with each letter or package. He never once asked for anything in return but seemed happy just to know that someone was interested in the subject. It is a philosophy I have carried myself to this day. I have kept all the correspondence he sent me...and always will.

Rest in Peace Rex, and thank You

Simon - UK

dom
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Posts: 351
From:
Registered: Aug 2001

posted May 31, 2012 02:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dom   Click Here to Email dom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Incredible to realise that today is the second anniversary of Rex's passing.

Thankfully his cherished BIS 'Soviet Forum' will take place in London on the 9th June and I would encourage anyone who can to attend as a tribute to his memory.

Gone but not forgotten.

music_space
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From: Canada
Registered: Jul 2001

posted June 05, 2012 07:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for music_space   Click Here to Email music_space     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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