The fact that Bedfordshire had five Antarctic explorers who went with either Scott or Shackleton is in itself most unusual but equally unusual are the famous astronomers renowned throughout the world of science, but who also had connections with this town.

These were Thomas (later Sir Thomas) Maclear, Charles Piazzi Smyth, Hester Periam Hawkins , Thomas Elger and of course, Admiral William Smyth. The pages below will take a look at these now generally neglected, Bedfordians.

How many other towns can claim to have three moon craters named after former citizens ?