THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 161
day." Halting before some dwarf Hollies, which had been eaten off to a
rounded outline by the deer, Mr. Buxton demonstrated how easily the
depredations of these forest animals could be controlled, and a "leader"
allowed to develop, by the simple expedient of thrusting a stout stick vertic-
ally into the centre of the bush, which served as a protection from these
browsing animals.
Crossing the golf links in "Thames Valley," the party made its way
to Epping Thicks, where two of the three larger unpollarded hornbeams
of this part of the Forest were inspected with interest, and their girths at
three feet from the ground taken, these being respectively, 5ft. 4m., and
5ft. 10in. These "spears," although of less girth than many of the surrounding
pollards, are well-shaped, and promise, after further clearing, to become
fine specimens; the opinion was expressed that they were probably 80 to
100 years old, and they have somehow escaped the almost universal pollard-
ing that has overtaken their neighbours.
A recent clearing, which gives a charming view from the Epping Road
down a stream-valley, into the heart of the woodland, was inspected and
pronounced to be a distinct improvement of the scenic beauties of the Forest.
Ambresbury Banks, the ancient British camp, was next visited. Mr.
Buxton informed us that modern Britons, in the persons of Boy Scouts,
still frequent the camp and engage in sham conflict with poles upon its
banks by night.
Rain now commenced to fall, and it was therefore deemed advisable to
cut quickly across the Forest to Birch Hall, where the visitors were hospitably
welcomed by Mrs. Buxton and tea was served in the Library.
After tea a short meeting of the Club was held, with the President in the
Chair.
The Hon. Secretary said that before the business of the meeting was
entered upon, he had to make the sorrowful announcement of the death of
Mr. William Cole, founder of the Club, which took place on the 27th June.
In the unavoidable absence of the President, Miss G. Lister, as a past-presi-
dent of the Club, had attended, with himself, the funeral at St. Osyth on the
preceding Saturday, and had deposited, in the name of the Club, a wreath
upon our Founder's coffin. The speaker said it seemed strange, before mem-
bers of the Club, to have to remind them of the work done in the past by
our deceased Founder, but he realised that 3 new generation had arisen
"which knew not Joseph," that some of them had been members for years
and yet had neither seen nor heard of William Cole except by seeing his name
bracketed with his own as a honorary secretary of the Club. He recalled
briefly some of the former activities of the deceased, and traced his gradual
breakdown in both bodily and mental health during the later years.
The President supplemented the former speaker's remarks, and asked
those present to signify their concurrence with the suggestion that a letter
of sincere condolence should be sent to the surviving brother of our deceased
Founder, Mr. Henry Cole, in the name of the Club. This was agreed to in
silence, the members standing.
The Hon. Secretary read a letter of thanks to the President and members
of the Club, from Mr. Councillor Hughes, of West Ham, for the co-operation
given in connection with the recent "Education Week" in that Borough.
The President proposed the thanks of the party to Mr. Gerald Buxton
L