This article recalls some of the seminal contributions to astronomy made by Fred Hoyle. His ideas were thought to be unrealistic at the time they were proposed, but have now been assimilated into mainstream science. A general comment that emerges from such examples is that highly creative individuals who are far ahead of their times do not get the recognition they deserve once their ideas are rediscovered and accepted as standard: for, by the time this happens, they and their contributions are forgotten.