A Tribute to Sir Francis Graham- Smith R I P
It is with great sadness that we announce the death on June 20th 2025, at the age of 102, of a much loved and highly respected former Henbury resident, Sir Francis Graham-Smith.
Sir Francis , the Thirteenth Astronomer Royal, known to many in the village as Graham , and his wife Lady Elizabeth settled in the Old School House in Henbury in 1981 and both became very active in many aspects of village life. Elizabeth passed away in 2021 and Graham left Henbury some time thereafter to be close to family members in Anglesey.
Whilst retaining his life-long involvement in radio astronomy and the Jodrell Bank Observatory, Graham took on many activities devoted to the wellbeing of Henbury and its community.
He was President of the Henbury Society, a Parish Councillor and, for a time, its Chairman.
during which time they together defeated a Planning Application that would have destroyed the independent and distinctive character of Henbury.
He was at the heart of the Henbury Society team that researched and published an authoritative history of Henbury from the Domesday Book to the end of the 20th century -"Henbury History of a Village" which has been widely praised.
Furthermore he was a founding Trustee of Henbury Millennium Green Trust and its Chairman for some 20 years. His tireless work and wise guidance enabled the Trust to create and establish this green haven in the village so dearly loved by all the community. You see him here planting trees in March 1999 and, with the contractor , installing the sundial he designed in 2000.
Everything Graham did for Henbury he did with good nature, wisdom and boundless determination for which the community is forever grateful.
The Henbury community offers its condolences and deepest sympathy to his family on the loss of this remarkable man.