Leslie V. Powis – Hamilton Amateur Astronomer and RASC Leader
Early Life and Background
Leslie V. (Les) Powis (1919–1985) was a Canadian amateur astronomer who became a pillar of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Hamilton Centre . Little is recorded publicly about his early life or education. Like many RASC enthusiasts of his era, Powis was not a professional astronomer by trade – contemporary records refer to him simply as “Mr. L. V. Powis,” implying he pursued astronomy as a serious hobby rather than a career . By the mid-1950s he was living in the Hamilton area (specifically in Waterdown, Ontario) with a keen interest in the night sky. He joined the RASC Hamilton Centre in 1957 , already possessing a well-developed enthusiasm for astronomy. In fact, that same year Powis made a name for himself among observers – on August 11, 1957, he was reportedly the first person in North America to spot the new Comet Mrkos . (It was joked that it was nearly called “Powis’s Comet” due to his early sighting .) This early observational feat underscored his dedication and skill as an amateur astronomer.
Powis’s family life intertwined with his astronomy passion. He and his wife, Violet, settled in Waterdown where they raised their children. Powis encouraged his son David’s interest in astronomy, and in the 1960s he helped a group of local youths (including David) form their own club. The first meeting of the “Waterdown Astronomical Club” was held at the Powis residence on Orchard Drive, with young David Powis elected as its inaugural president . Under Les Powis’s mentorship, this youth group grew to nearly 30 members and enjoyed guest lectures from Hamilton Centre veterans (including Powis himself) . The club eventually became the Hamilton Centre’s official Junior Section, reflecting Powis’s commitment to educating the next generation of stargazers .
Leadership in the Hamilton Centre of the RASC
By the late 1950s, Les Powis had become deeply involved in the Hamilton Centre’s activities. He joined the Centre’s council in 1958 and quickly emerged as one of its energetic leaders . He was part of a post-war cohort of Hamilton amateur astronomers – alongside colleagues like Stewart “Stu” Buntain, J. Gordon Craig, W. S. Mallory, Rev. Norman Green, James (Jim) Winger and others – who revitalized the Centre through the 1950s and 1960s . This group shared an ethos of hands-on instrument building, active observing, and public outreach, and Powis was no exception. He served in various executive roles over the years, contributing to the Centre’s growth and governance.
Notably, Powis was elected President of RASC Hamilton Centre, first serving a term in the early 1960s and again a decade later. RASC archives list him as the Centre President in 1962 , and he returned to that office for another term in 1971 . (In practice, Centre records indicate he effectively led the club during 1961–62 and then once more in the early 1970s .) As President, Powis chaired meetings, guided the Centre’s activities, and represented Hamilton at the national level. His tenure came during a vibrant period – the Hamilton Centre was hosting regular lectures (often at McMaster University), organizing observing nights, and embarking on ambitious projects. Powis provided steady leadership, helping to sustain the momentum built in the 1950s. There were no crises noted under his watch; instead, the Centre “was vibrant and growing,” carrying on its mission smoothly during Powis’s terms, much as it had under his peers in that era . After his presidency, Powis continued to serve the Centre in other capacities – for example, he spent several years as a Councillor and even took on the role of Centre Treasurer in later years . In these roles he remained a guiding figure behind the scenes, ensuring the Centre’s administrative and financial health.
One of Powis’s most enduring contributions to the Hamilton Centre was his pivotal role in establishing a permanent observatory for the club. During the 1960s, the Centre sought to build its own observatory on a rural property in Flamborough (just outside Hamilton). As Treasurer, Powis was instrumental in arranging the financing for this project . He also took the lead in practical matters – he scouted and secured a suitable observatory site and personally threw himself into the construction and ongoing maintenance of the building . Fellow members recall Powis as a hands-on builder; he spent countless hours helping to pour concrete, erect the dome, and install equipment at the new facility. Thanks in large part to his drive, the Hamilton Centre Observatory became a reality by the mid-1960s (its first 13-foot dome was completed in 1963 and formally opened in 1964). Powis’s outstanding contributions to this major undertaking did not go unrecognized – many years later, the Centre’s observatory was officially named in his honor as the “Leslie V. Powis Observatory” .
Throughout his local leadership, Powis was also a generous educator and advocate. He frequently gave talks at the Centre’s monthly meetings, sharing his wide-ranging knowledge with fellow members . Whether the topic was telescope making, new celestial discoveries, or his experiments in radio astronomy, Powis was an engaging speaker who enjoyed educating others. His peers remembered that he was always willing to assist newcomers and to present at public “star nights” or to amateur science groups in the region. In one anecdote from the era, a youth astronomy club in nearby Waterdown gratefully noted visits by Hamilton Centre members – “Messrs. S. Buntain, J. G. Craig, W. S. Mallory, L. V. Powis and J. A. Winger” – as guest speakers who inspired the youngsters . This spirit of outreach was a hallmark of Powis’s approach: he believed in sharing the wonders of astronomy with the community.
Contributions to Astronomy and RASC Activities
Beyond his administrative roles in Hamilton, Les Powis made significant contributions to RASC activities at both the local and national levels. In 1964 he was elected Recorder of the national RASC – an officer responsible for keeping official records of the Society – and he went on to hold that position for eight years . This national executive role meant Powis was involved in society-wide governance during a transformative period for the RASC. He traveled to and participated in RASC General Assemblies across Canada (including meetings in Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and Winnipeg) as part of his duties . His diligent work as Recorder ensured that the proceedings and decisions of the Society were properly documented during most of the 1960s, a contribution vital to RASC’s institutional memory. Serving on the National Council also allowed Powis to be a bridge between the Hamilton Centre and the broader Canadian astronomy community, raising the profile of his local Centre.
As an observer and tinkerer, Powis embodied the spirit of amateur astronomy. His early claim to fame was the Comet Mrkos incident in 1957 – a testament to his vigilance. While Comet Mrkos had been discovered overseas, Powis’s pre-dawn observation on Aug. 11, 1957 was likely the first sighting of it from North America . Members joked afterward that had circumstances been just slightly different, the comet might have borne his name . Though he never officially discovered a comet, Powis’s near-miss illustrated his enthusiasm for observing and his readiness to scan the skies at any opportunity. He was also active in planned observing programs; for instance, he took part in comet and nova search efforts and variable star observing campaigns that the RASC encouraged in the 1960s (these were the years when amateurs like him were integral to observational astronomy initiatives).
Telescope construction and instrumentation were another arena of contribution for Powis. He was a skilled telescope maker who built his own instruments – at one point he was constructing a 12½-inch Cassegrain-Newtonian reflector in his workshop . He participated in the Hamilton Centre’s telescope-making group (ATM group), exchanging ideas on mirror grinding and optical design. Powis’s technical aptitude extended to the emerging field of radio astronomy as well. As an electronics hobbyist and licensed ham radio operator, he experimented with building radio receivers to detect celestial signals . His callsign isn’t recorded, but his interest in ham radio (a trait he shared with several other Hamilton Centre members) led him to explore radio observations of the Sun and Jupiter, long before such activities were common in amateur circles. This blend of skills – optical astronomy and radio – made Powis something of a polymath within the club. He could help a newcomer collimate a telescope one week, then discuss the basics of radio sky scanning the next.
Powis also contributed to RASC publications and events in less visible ways. While he did not author major research papers, he often wrote reports or provided content for the Hamilton Centre’s newsletter Orbit. In the late 1960s, for example, he served as Secretary of the Centre for four years , during which time he likely prepared meeting minutes and summaries that appeared in Orbit or were sent to the RASC National Newsletter. His name appears in various archival documents – from observing reports to committee notes – as someone always willing to do the necessary “paperwork” to keep programs running. At public outreach events, such as annual open house nights and science fairs, Powis was a dependable volunteer. He helped organize telescope viewings for the public and gave media interviews promoting astronomy in the Hamilton region. All these activities, while not as glamourous as discovering a comet, were crucial contributions that kept the RASC’s mission of public education thriving at the grassroots level.
Later Years and Legacy
Les Powis remained active in astronomy right up to the end of his life. In the 1970s and 1980s he continued to hold leadership roles in the Hamilton Centre, including another stint as Centre President in 1971 and service on the executive in other capacities . Even as newer members joined, Powis was regarded as an elder statesman of the club – the sort of experienced hand who could advise on projects or lend a tool to a novice telescope maker. In recognition of his decades of dedication, the RASC’s National Council honored Powis with the Society’s Service Award in 1984 . This award, one of the highest distinctions for RASC volunteers, was presented at the General Assembly held jointly by the Hamilton and Niagara Centres in the summer of 1984 (which coincided with Hamilton Centre’s 75th anniversary) . Powis was one of a record number of awardees that year – a testament to how widely respected he was across the Society. By this time, he had contributed over 25 years of continuous service to RASC activities.
Tragically, less than a year after receiving the Service Award, Les Powis passed away suddenly. Members of the Hamilton Centre were shocked by his unexpected death on 19 April 1985 . He was 65 years old and had been active in the club literally until his final days – just a few days before his passing, Powis had been out at the Centre’s observatory repairing a broken window, exemplifying his hands-on dedication . The RASC community mourned the loss of a stalwart member and sent condolences to his family and the Hamilton Centre . In the wake of his death, tributes poured in highlighting Powis’s many contributions: he had served the Centre as Councillor, Treasurer, and President; he had advanced public education in astronomy; and he had been the driving force behind the observatory in Flamborough . To commemorate his legacy, the Hamilton Centre moved quickly to honor the man who had given so much of himself. The observing site that he helped establish was formally renamed the Leslie V. Powis Observatory in 1985, as a tribute to “the man who did so much towards establishing a permanent observatory” for the Centre . The official dedication and opening of the Leslie V. Powis Observatory took place in 1987, complete with a plaque and ceremony that celebrated Powis’s contributions .
Today, the Leslie V. Powis Observatory remains a central hub of the Hamilton Centre’s activities and a living reminder of Powis’s vision and hard work . Generations of amateur astronomers in Hamilton have looked through telescopes in that observatory and, knowingly or not, benefited from Les Powis’s labors. His name also lives on in the annals of the RASC: he is remembered not only for the offices he held, but for the enthusiasm and generosity he brought to Canadian amateur astronomy. In summary, Leslie V. Powis’s biography is one of devoted service. Over nearly three decades, he transformed his personal passion into lasting institutional contributions – as a club leader, telescope builder, mentor to youth, record-keeper, and public outreach ambassador. His life exemplified the impact that a determined amateur astronomer can have on his community. The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada continues to honor that legacy, ensuring that “Les Powis” is remembered as a driving force in Hamilton Centre’s history .
Sources
- Peter Broughton, “Looking Up – A History of the RASC” (Encyclopedia Uranica entry on Leslie V. Powis) .
- RASC Hamilton Centre Archives – “Sixty Years in Orbit” special issue (1969), including profiles and Centre history .
- RASC Annual Reports and National Newsletter: 1984–1987 (Hamilton Centre and National Council reports) .
- Hamilton Centre records and Orbit newsletter excerpts (1960s) .
- Obituary, RASC National Newsletter Aug. 1985 (announcement of Powis’s death and contributions) .
