Lord Alfred Tennyson wrote some of his best poetry in response to the untimely death of his friend Arthur Hallam. His short poem Break, Break, Break is an exquisite example of a short poem that encapsulates loss and heartbreak...

Brea, Break Break - Lord Alfred Tennyson

Asha, did you know there was an astronomical connection with the great poet?

Tennyson named his eldest son Hallam after his friend. Hallam Tennyson - the 2nd Baron - was also the 2nd Governor General of Australia.

Beryl Hallam Augustine Tennyson, a great grandson of the poet, was a writer and BBC radio producer. Although he married, he was gay, which his wife apparently knew. Sadly, in 2005 he was murdered and I think the murder is still unsolved.

But Beryl Hallam's son Jonathan is a Professor of Astronomy at University College London. He has been the head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, but I don't remember if he is now. Tennyson is quite distinguished in his field and a Fellow of the Royal Society, England's premier scientific society. It's the oldest in the world, dating from the 17th century.

Mona I had no idea about this - thank you for the information. Also I interesting to see Beryl as a man's name - I have come across it as a women's name, often for women of my grandparents' generation.