Just watched Tuesday night's tribute, and was reminded within seconds of another eccentric genius, sorely missed -
Magnus Pyke, although Dr
Brian May looked considerably younger (hair colour) than he does now - see 2010 picture v 2011 lower down v 2012 appearance at Olympic Ceremony.
Sir Patrick Moore was awarded a Bafta for services to Science & Broadcasting and comments were that he met the
first man in space and the first man to fly.
I disagree with the "first man to fly" - Was this
Sir George Cayley's Coachman/Footman/Butler, d. ???, or Grandson, d. 1878, (some ambiguity),
Augustus Herring, d. 1926, or
Wilbur Wright, d. 1912 - 3s flight 17 Dec 1903.
Since Sir Patrick Moore was born in 1923, there is only the chance that he could have met Cayley's Coachman/Footman/Butler, seventy+ years after the event (1853) or Augustus Herring before his (Patrick's) 3rd birthday, or Orville Wright, d. 1948 - 2nd to fly powered.
(I've discounted all "Lighter Than Air" pilots - Montgolfier's 1700's, Zeppelin 1800's)