SOME ACCOUNT OF THE "CHIP CHAP CLUB." 65
diately commenced his geological description of the Valley of the
Weald, took us through an ancient British Camp to two Neolithic
rock shelters, pointed out the water partings of several sources
of the Medway and many other important features of his
neighbourhood. He then very kindly provided a lunch at his
residence to which the party did ample justice, then showed
and explained his collection of Palaeolithic implements, after
which he gave us a further ramble on the hills, and placed us
again on the road to Sevenoaks. The party then expressed
their thanks individually and took their way and for the distance
of a mile waved their hats to each other till Mr. Harrison passed
out of sight in the wood. The club then pursued their way to
the residence of the gentleman who denominated himself 'Chip
Chap,' and arriving at Merle Wood were entertained and pro-
vided with a substantial meal of several courses, and after
some extremely pleasant chat on books, etc., departed at 7.30
for the train. The gentleman who had so far concealed his name
then revealed himself as James Buckingham Bevington Esq.1 at
which the party were agreeably surprised to know that they had
been so kindly received by a gentleman of note."
It is amusing to note that, at the next meeting of the Canning
Town Field Club, on the Wednesday following the Ightham
excursion, it was "resolved that the original name of the club
be rescinded and that in future the club should be known as the
'Chip Chap Club.'" It was "also resolved that the club should
remain closed to the admission of more members."
Worthington G. Smith seems to have been impressed by the
finds made by the five men for, at a second visit from them on
June 15, 1884, he suggested that an account of their discoveries
should be given before the Essex Field Club. Accordingly,
William H. Smith, as the best fitted for the purpose, was selected,
and, after a great deal of preparation and discussion, a paper,
entitled "River-drift Man in South-West Essex" was (after
having been submitted to, and criticised by, Worthington
Smith) duly read at the Essex Field Club's meeting on Oct. 25,
1884, when the collection made by the members of the "Chip
Chap Club" was exhibited, and is recorded to have consisted
of "twenty-five entire flint implements, three broken specimens,
1 He was senior partner in a large and well-known firm of leather manufacturers in South
East London.—Ed.