Memories of Arthur C. Clarke

     I met Arthur C. Clarke on the 30th of September 1950 at the opening of the First International Astronautical Congress in the Salle Richelieu, La Sorbonne, Paris, France. As far as I know, I was the only American present on that historic occasion. He was part of the British delegation that included Eric Burgess and others who later became lifelong friends and colleagues.  

     The following year, Clarke began shepherding me to membership and later fellowship in the British Interplanetary Society. On 2 February 2002, I celebrated 50 years continuous membership in that wonderful institution.  

     Over the years, Clarke and I would meet whenever opportunities arose. We started what became a tradition in June 1953 when my wife Maruja and I were in London for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, continuing a few months later in Zurich during the Fourth International Astronautical Congress. And so it went, sometimes we connected in Europe, sometimes in the States, usually New York City and Washington, D.C. – the latter often at the home of our mutual friends, Fred and Pip Durant. Maruja and I will never forget those many intimate evenings.

     By the mid-1960s, I found myself working with Clarke and film director Stanley Kubrick on the film “2001: A Space Odyssey,” first during pre-production in New York, later during set preparation and filming at the MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, England. Years later, in October 1996, I fondly remember Arthur Clarke’s presence, in his wheel chair, at a session I was chairing in Beijing, China during the 47th International Astronautical Congress.   

     In 2003, Arthur asked me to represent him and receive his award as one of the “100 Stars of Aerospace” in a ceremony at the Salle Wagram near L’Etoile, Paris, France. The occasion: the Paris Air show’s celebration of the “100th anniversary of manned, powered, controlled and sustained flight” pioneered by the Wright Brothers in 1903. Using an electronic balloting process hosted by IBM, thousands of aerospace professionals throughout the world identified those members of the aerospace community held in highest regard. Among them were three science-fiction authors, No. 20, Jules Verne, deceased; No. 56, Arthur C. Clarke, very much alive; and No. 84, H.G. Wells, also deceased. What a thrill for me to be there, receive the award on Arthur’s behalf, and say few words appropriate to the occasion!  

     For some years, I’ve been honored to serve on the board of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation in Washington, D.C. where we just celebrated, on the 10th of March, the 2007/2008 Sir Arthur Clarke Awards ceremony at the Cosmos Club.
  In his last e-mail message to me dated 30 January 2008, Sir Arthur wrote that “I am now surviving on 16 hours of sleep every day, and getting used to doing some reading and light work from my semi-reclined position…Attached is my latest Egogram, which reminds me that I’ve had another good year.”

     With that positive note, my friend and colleague of 58 years signed off with greetings and best wishes for the New Year. It’s hard to imagine life without him. 
 

Frederick I Ordway III, charter and life member and Board of Governors
National Space Society, Washington, D.C., 19 March 2008