304 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Lunch was taken by the stone happily opposite the Cross Keys Inn at
Thornwood Common. Here a small boy was discovered who informed the
party that another, and hitherto uncharted, stone might be found at Rose
Farm. The same small boy mentioned that the stones were very old,
adding, "They've been there ever since I can remember"!
An example of a stone moved from its original position was seen at
Mollmans Corner, and a splendid stone was observed in the base of Magdalen
Laver Church Tower, in an odour which was certainly not that of sanctity!
The startling mound on the Poll Lane site with its clump of trees filtering
the daylight on to rabbit skulls and Dogs Mercury, was next visited. Then
on to see the broken stone at Mr. Hodges farm by High Laver, with another
fine moated mound.
To pace the ground, if path there be or none,
While a fair region round the traveller lies.
WORDSWORTH.
A brief visit was paid to Beauchamp Roding to see the fallen stone in the
shadow of the church. The coach then turned for Fyfield, where an excellent
tea was taken.
In the late bright sunshine of the evening, some members made a short
inspection of Fyfield Church, and saw the sarsen stone embedded below the
south-west corner.
The party regained the coach, and after expressing hearty thanks to Dr.
and Mrs. Rudge for this original and interesting meeting, turned towards
home, perhaps feeling, as did Edmund Burke, "People will not look forward
to posterity, who never look backwards to their ancestors".
The Annual Meeting (919th Meeting)
SATURDAY, 25 MARCH 1950
This meeting was held at the Municipal College, Romford Road, Stratford,
E.15.
The President, Mr. L. S. Harley, B.Sc., M.I.E.E., was in the chair.
There was an attendance of thirty-three.
Election of new members:
Mr. C. C. Dilloway, of 275, Forest Road, Leytonstone, E.11.
Mr. D. L. Hill (junior member), of 15, Woodlands Gardens, Walthamstow,
E.17, and
Miss Edith E. Johnson, of 7, Links Road, Woodford Green, were elected
members of the Club.
Prints from the Pictorial Survey, depicting brick buildings, were shown
to illustrate the subject matter of the forthcoming Presidential Address.
Mr. S. Hazzledine Warren drew the attention of members to the fact of
there being a temporary exhibition at the Natural History Museum of the
Flint Industry at Clacton.
The business of the Annual General Meeting then followed. The Report
of the Council for the year 1949-50 was read by the Joint Hon. Secretary,
Mr. W. J. Foster.
The Hon. Treasurer presented a statement of the Club's accounts for 1949
in detail. He reported that £51 was shown against the Museum Maintenance
Fund, and pointed out that the present situation of the Essex Museum must
be borne in mind in any review of the Club's financial position. Further,
that although there was a debit balance of £50 19s. 0d., there were signs of
steady improvement over the year.