An historian has recalled Kingston’s connection with space flight as the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first human in space.

New Malden author Ken Gatland may not have journeyed on an epic space voyage like Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin did on April 12, 1961.

But for historian Mark Stewart the former Hollyfield School pupil also helped put spaceflight on the map with his books on the subject.

Mr Stewart, who is Honorary Archival Librarian for the British Interplanetary Society (BIS), said Mr Gatland also edited Spaceflight Magazine, the world’s leading publication on astronautics.

He said his books have left a lasting legacy.

Mr Stewart said: “In his book, Spaceship Earth, he said: 'If our civilisation is to survive its childhood, the time is surely coming when we must begin the task of re-adapting our environment’.

“This was very prescient thinking for 1997 and such topics are now more relevant than ever.

Mr Gatland, who was also chairman of the BIS from 1973 to 1976, was working on a book which studied the Earth’s ecology, pollution and climate change, at the time of his death in December 1997.

Mr Stewart said his books inspired generations of schoolchildren to learn more about space exploration.

He said: “The highlight of his career was all the books that he wrote because they are still going strong today.

“That’s his legacy, that people are still reading and being interested by his books. They haven’t been replaced or superseded by anything else.”

Mr Stewart and his 16-year-old son Alex, who is also a member of BIS, received the Sir Patrick Moore Medal in January this year for their work restoring and maintaining the society’s library and archive.

Father and son, who live in Tolworth, also met Astronomer Royal, Sir Martin Rees.

Mr Stewart said: “He was a special guest and we didn’t even know we were getting the award. We were delighted to get the award and meet him; he’s really the top person in the field.”