story identification - A series of books about a teenager that went to the moon to fight mould

I read a series of books, probably around 1962 - 1970, about some young kid (a teenager) whose name I think was Chris.

There was a problem with the Moon, it was being invaded by a mould (mold) which was some sort of threat to the Earth.

For some reason, only a single person could go in a spacecraft to deal with this threat, and Chris was chosen.

He had a few mentors, there was a friendly one, and a "harsh" one, who Chris thought hated him.

In one of the books, his rocket ship became disabled, and one of the adults had to fly up to save him. He naturally thought it would be the "friendly mentor" but it turned out to be the "harsh mentor" who actually had a high regard for Chris, but couldn't let on, because that would endanger the mission or something.

I think it was set in England.

In one of the books Chris was heading towards the space training centre, when he was set upon by some "Teddy Boys" who forced him to lick their shoes (or something similar). One of his mentors came upon this scene and was initially disturbed that Chris was a coward, but he revealed that being beaten up just before flying to the moon would have not helped the mission.

Does anyone recognise these?

Answer

This is the Chris Godfrey of U.N.E.X.A. series by Hugh Walters. The mould actually shows up in Expedition Venus; A space probe returns to Earth from Venus, and lets loose a mould which quickly spreads. Chris and his friends have to journey to Venus to find an antidote.

"Chris Godfrey of U.N.E.X.A."

Blast Off at Woomera (1957)

aka Blast Off at 0300

The Domes of Pico (1958)
aka Menace from the Moon

Operation Columbus (1959)
aka First on the Moon

Moon Base One (1961)
aka Outpost on the Moon

Expedition Venus (1962)

Destination Mars (1963)

Terror by Satellite (1964)

Journey to Jupiter (1965)

Mission to Mercury (1965)

Spaceship to Saturn (1967)

The Mohole Mystery (1968)
aka The Mohole Menace

Nearly Neptune (1968)
aka Neptune One is Missing

First Contact? (1971)

Passage to Pluto (1973)

Tony Hale, Space Detective (1973)

Murder on Mars (1975)

The Caves of Drach (1977)

The Last Disaster (1978)

The Blue Aura (1979)

The Dark Triangle (1981)

Boy Astronaut

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