On: He wrote the future: On Arthur C. Clarke's centena...

[at-fates-hands]

>> and now chief engineer of the Rolls Royce Rocket Division

Did I read that right? Rolls Royce had/has a rocket division?

[arethuza → at-fates-hands]

Turns that Val Cleaver was quite an interesting chap:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Cleaver

"he became general manager and chief engineer of the Rolls Royce's rocket departments, where he was responsible for the engines which powered the Blue Streak missile and Black Arrow launch vehicle"

Sadly the UK did have our own launch capability - but we only ever launched one satellite - Prospero:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospero_(satellite)