In the 1930s, when it was known as the Edinburgh Astronomical Association, John Henry Lorimer, a well-known artist and brother of the famous architect Sir Robert Lorimer, was Vice-President. He died in 1936 and left a substantial legacy to the Society: We own a bust of Mr Lorimer and two of his paintings. Some of the funds were used to endow a medal in his honour, to be awarded at the discretion of the Council, to persons who have made notable contributions to popular astronomy. It is not awarded often, and not given lightly.
As of 2024 the Society has awarded the Lorimer medal to 14 individuals in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the public promotion of astronomy. They are:
Sir James Jeans, DSc LLD FRS (1877-1946)
1938 October 7th
Rev Dr Martin Davidson (1880-1968)
1948 October 28th
Sir Harold Spencer Jones, FRS (1890-1960)
1953 October 16th
Prof William Marshall Smart, MA DSc FRAS FRSE (1889-1975)
1958 October 3rd
Sir Patrick Alfred Moore, FRAS (1923-2012)
1962 November 2nd
Sir Bernard Lovell, FRS (1913-2012)
1969 October 3
Norman G Matthew, FRAS FRSSA FRSE (1908-1982)
1976 April 2
Harry Ford
1984 November 28
Nora Jenkinson (1908-2005)
1993 May 4
Dave Gavine, BSc MA PhD FRAS FRMetSoc (1937-2019)
1995 June 2
Mary Brück, BSc MSc PhD FRAS (1925-2008)
2001 May 4
Alan Pickup, BEng FRAS FBIS
2011 May 6
Ron Livesey, CEng FICE FRAS (1929–2021)
2019 September 14
Prof. Chris Lintott BA PhD FRAS
2024 October 15
A number of Lorimer’s paintings can be viewed on the Art UK website. The Society still owns Sunlight in the South Room, Kellie and The long shadows, which are on display at the National Trust for Scotland, Kellie Castle, Fife.
