Jay Tate
In June 1996 Jay submitted a proposal to the British Ministry of Defence and the Department of Trade and Industry, proposing the establishment of a British National Spaceguard Centre to study the threat posed to the UK by the impact of an asteroid or comet. Support was received from scientists worldwide, including Dr Arthur C Clarke, Dr Gene Shoemaker, Professor Edward Teller and many others. The Ministry of Defence dismissed the proposal without consideration, but the Department of Trade and Industry has, after over three years, decided that further study would be appropriate.
In January 1997 Jay established Spaceguard UK which is now the largest independent Spaceguard organisation in the world, with a substantial national and international membership. During the past two years the subject of Spaceguard has been publicly aired in both Houses of Parliament, and Jay has been a regular contributor on television and radio, and also in professional and popular journals.
Born in 1955, Jay is a member of the Board of Directors of the international Spaceguard Foundation, a member of the Executive Committee of the Space Development Council, a consultant to the International Astronomical Union Working Group on Near Earth Objects, an associate of COSPAR (Panel 3) and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. Jay has assisted the British Government Task Force that investigated British participation in the growing international Spaceguard programme during 2000.
Anne Tate
Anne Tate is a qualified teacher who has occupied a number of primary teaching posts in the UK and in Germany (with the British Forces Education Service). Since 1995 she has acquired qualifications in adult education, office and business administration and IT. Working at FOCUS, a Ministry of Defence sponsored organisation providing business related education to Army dependants, Anne was appointed administrator in 1997, and then director in 1999. In April 2000 Anne moved on to manage the office of an estate and fish farm in Wiltshire. Her duties involved financial and budgetary management, office administration and planning.
Being married to Jay, Anne has been deeply involved in the evolution of Spaceguard UK, and is ideally experienced and qualified to address the task of managing the business aspect of The Spaceguard Centre, as well as taking on an educational role, especially with school parties.
