ITIS a little-known fact that Scotland has produced pioneers in practical rocket research for space flight. John Dunlop Stewart of Paisley was one such person during the first era of amateur rocketry in the 1930s, who also continued to be passionately involved in model rocket flying into the 21st century.

Born in Paisley in 1921, Stewart was educated at the John Neilson Institute. His interest in the possibilities of rockets for space travel was inspired by science fiction magazine illustrations and by the exploits of Gerhard Zucker, who in 1934 came to Scotland from Germany to attempt the sending of mail by rocket from the island of Scarp to Harris.

Zucker's rocket mail attempts were unsuccessful, showing that more work was needed to make rocket flight viable. This was underscored by Stewart's first experiment, the flight of "Research Rocket No.1". Designed to combine the thrust from seven small firework rocket motors, its erratic flight due to uneven motor firing determined Stewart, with his brother Peter and some school friends, to embark upon practical research into aspects of rocket flight which were possible to tackle with small rockets and limited resources.

Thus the Paisley Rocketeers' Society (PRS) was established on February 27, 1936. Between then and the outbreak of the Second World War, the PRS conducted 61 experiments in their "Research Rocket" series, covering topics such as the recovery of rockets by parachute, stabilisation of rockets, aerial photography and mail carriage by rocket, thrust augmenters and multistage rockets.

It was with multi-stage and camera-carrying rockets that Stewart and the PRS achieved world firsts. On December 31, 1937, RR47 - a three-stage rocket with a first-stage booster - dropped off when expended, then a second stage in line to carry the flight higher and faster, plus a third stage atop the second to achieve maximum height and range, was launched in St James' Park, Paisley. The flight was the first successful demonstration of a principle fundamental to space flight. Every space vehicle launched into orbit or beyond since Sputnik 1, including the Apollo missions to the moon, has ascended by three or more stages of rocket propulsion. In its own way, the flight of RR47 ranks in significance with that of the Wright Brothers' "Flyer".

In August 1938, Stewart, aided by his sister, Elizabeth, and brother, Peter, flew RR53 in a first attempt at aerial photography by amateur rocket. This flight was launched near Tarbert Castle, Loch Fyne. The clouds above this location were captured on film, rather than the scenic view. However, the camera rocket system was developed over further flights.

With the outbreak of war in 1939, the PRS was dissolved.

Stewart spent the war years as a draughtsman at the Rolls-Royce plant in Hillington. After the war he took up a career as an industrial designer. During the post-war years he pursued other interests which included a camera club, formed with his brother Peter, and which had some 30 members. He also took an active part in the affairs of his church, becoming an elder in Paisley High Church.

In 1965 he was contacted by philatelist, Margaret Watson, who had purchased a collection of PRS 1930s rocket mail.

This, plus the forthcoming 30th anniversary of PRS in 1966, led to the reconstitution of the society. Rocket flights resumed on November 27, 1965, from the Gleniffer Braes above Paisley. It was discovered that money could be made from the sale of rocket mail to collectors around the world. This led to Stewart and the PRS conducting rocket mail flights to raise funds for charities, in particular the Scottish National Institution for the War Blinded. In 1969, however, the home office issued a letter banning Stewart from such private rocket activities (ironically, the same year as the Apollo 11 moon landing). To get around this ban, Stewart and the PRS turned to developing water jetpropelled rockets, known as "aquajets". By this ingenious means, charity rocket mail flights were able to continue, as were further experiments in aerial photography. Aquajet flying is now an established part of modern

model rocketflying activities.

During the 1980s, when model rocketry using preloaded solid fuel motors became legal in the UK, Stewart and the PRS began annual meetings of rocketflying enthusiasts in Scotland.

This led to the establishment of International Rocket Week, still held every August at Kelburn Country Centre, near Largs, which in turn has helped to further model and amateur rocketry in the UK. Some of those involved in these activities today were members of the PRS during the 1970s and 1980s, encouraged and educated not only in rocketry dynamics and design, but also in a constructive attitude to life by John D Stewart.

John Dunlop Stewart; born September 3,1921, died March 28, 2005.