THE founder and director of Kielder Observatory has been recognised with an honorary award for his contribution to the region at a Sunderland University graduation ceremony.

Gary Fildes was presented with the honorary fellowship lastThursday at the Stadium of Light for his outstanding contribution to making astronomy and space science accessible to a wider audience.

The ceremony took place in front of over 3,000 graduates, with his award presented by vice-chancellor Shirley Atkinson.

Gary (51), from Sunderland, has had a passion for astronomy from the age of four.

He turned to a more practical career – bricklaying – and went on to bring up his family, but he never lost his passion for the stars and in 2002, joined the Sunderland Astronomy Society.

Gary started running Star Camps in Kielder in 2003. He said: “Astro tourism was born in Kielder then and it is now in the world’s top 10 star sites.

“Perhaps appropriately, around the turn of the Millennium, things began to move quickly when I was asked to do talks about the constellations, how to find the North star and other astro stuff.”

Around 2006, a management group was pulled together and a design competition was launched through the Royal Institute of British Architects to design an observatory.

After an investment of £450,000, Kielder Observatory opened in April 2008 and visitor numbers now stand at over 23,000 annually.

This is set to increase with a second observatory scheduled to open to the public in 2018.

“I am so honoured to be receiving this award from Sunderland University – it is an amazing recognition for what I have strived to achieve,” added Gary.

“I firmly believe that astronomy is a humbling experience that can benefit us all, no matter what your background or educational experience.

“My hope is that the little things I have done will serve to inspire others.”