Tim Furniss - Former Space Correspondent and Reporter RIP

[Eric Mc]

I posted this over in the "First to Pop Off 2019" thread in The Lounge but, as suspected, it elicited no response over there. Maybe people who frequent the Science Forum might remember Tim Furniss.

He was often seen on TV in the 1980s acting as an "expert" for BBC coverage of Shuttle missions. He made an appearance on a special Newsnight broadcast that went out in the evening of 28 January 1986, the day of the Challenger accident.

This is one of his books that I have in my collection - from 1983.

[Gandahar]

That's a shame Eric. I remember him also from that time.

I think the fact nobody responded over there and that we remember him might mean we are almost getting into middle age !

[Eric Mc]

Almost?

Regarding Furniss, in latter years he seemed to go a bit off the rails regarding conspiracy theories, not about Apollo but about the Challenger accident. Which is a real shame as in that Newsnight Special he was the one who's speculation as to what had happened was closer to the truth.

He had been running his own website to promote his oddball views on the Challenger accident but he got so much flak on it, he closed it down. He also seemed to have become a "Born Again Christian", which, to be fair, is not an issue of itself but it also seemed to coincide with his sudden desire to be contrary regarding spaceflight issues.
He was also let go by Flight International and ceased being called up[on by TV news for "expert" comment.

All very strange.