The FAS council was saddened to hear of the passing of David ‘Doc’ Sutton. At the age of just 16 David joined the Fleet Auxiliary leaving in the mid-1960 when he got married. After his navy days he became psychiatric nurse and this is where the nickname ‘Doc’ comes from.
During the 1970s he was a member of the now defunct Sussex Astronomical Society and helped many newcomers. He later joined the Worthing Astronomical Society and served on its committee. He became a member of Worthing Astronomers who he helped with advice while they were setting up. He served on the FAS council as treasurer and assistant treasurer during the 1990s. He received the Eric Zucker award in 2006 for his services to astronomy. After his retirement from council he was always interested in the progress of the FAS.
Outside of astronomy David was a keen cricketer, joining Arundel Cricket Club in 1982, he continued on in as a scorer until 2011. He was the first to admit he was “not an easy bugger to get on with” but always had time for people with the same goals.
Our thoughts go to his former wife Christa and their children Paul and Yvonne and their families.