THE mayor of Minehead unveiled a plaque in memory of author Arthur C Clarke at Minehead Middle School on Tuesday.

It marks the centenary of the birth of Sir Arthur at 13 Blenheim Road, Minehead, on December 16 1917, and was made possible by the fundraising efforts of middle school pupil Anthony Knight and his friends.

Anthony has earned a Blue Peter silver badge for his efforts, which included a cake sale at the school which he and 11 friends put on.

The background of the plaque is an iPhone wallpaper showing the Monolith from Sir Arthur’s book 2001: A Space Odyssey.

“It reflects Arthur C Clarke’s life-long interest in space travel, his genius as one of the best science fiction writers of all time, and his groundbreaking proposal for a geostationary communications satellite in 1945,” said Anthony’s father Paul.

The plaque was made by Fine Memorials of Bridgwater, who generously donated the polished black granite slate free of charge.

Anthony is pictured with mayor Cllr Jean Parbrook at Tuesday’s unveiling.