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THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Man - members will remember his term of office as President of this Club
from 1936 to 1939 and only recently his advice as a member of our Council
during the Museum negotiations has been invaluable. The present occasion
affords an opportunity to recall some of his services to the science of botany
and, in particular, to that of the fungi in the taxonomy of which group he
is a leading authority.
Dr. Ramsbottom has held the post of Keeper of Botany in the British
Museum for the last twenty years and during this time he has done much to
popularise the study of fungi by his lectures and writings. During the first
world war he served with the Army in Greece and for his services was awarded
the O.B.E. in 1919. From 1923 to 1935 he was Botanical Secretary of the
Linnean Society and was President from 1938 to 1941. His services have
been recognised by election as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Horticultural
Society and as an Honorary Member of many societies including the British
Mycological Society, the Quekett Microscopical Club, the Edinburgh
Botanical Society, and our own Club.
Dr. Ramsbottom has written a popular book on the rose and his work on
the fungus enemies of this plant is well known. He collaborated in important
work on the raising of orchids from seed. His reputation overseas is indicated
by an imposing list of honours, including the Honorary Degree of Doctor
of Science of Coimbra University, and the Honorary Membership of the
Suisse Academie des Sciences and of the Societe Mycologique de France.