114 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Report of Council for 1952
With the accession of two more societies, viz., The Local Studies
Group of Sir George Monoux Grammar School and Brentwood School
Field Club, the number of societies now affiliated to the Club is seven. The
total number of individual members at the end of the year was 219, This
includes five honorary members and fifteen junior members.
It is with great regret that We have to record the loss of the following
six members by death: Mr. W. T. Calman, C.B., D.Sc., F.E.S., an
honorary member; Mr. W. E. Glegg, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., one of our per-
manent Vice-Presidents; Miss E. A. Greaves, recently elected an honorary
member after many years of membership and faithful service to the Club,
including a long period as assistant to the Honorary Secretary; Mr. Alfred
Hills, who joined in 1910: Mr. F. J. Lushey, a member since 1918; Mrs.
Thompson, wife of our respected former Honorary Secretary and honorary
member, Mr. Percy Thompson.
During the year there occurred the death of His Majesty King George
VI. A letter of sympathy was sent on behalf of the members to our Patron,
H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester, from whom a gracious reply was received.
During the year 1951 it was decided that, as a memorial to the lives and
work of Gulielma Lister, David Scourfield and Hugh Main, a prize of ten
guineas should be offered for a paper on a subject of field study having
special reference to Essex. Details were circulated to colleges and others
likely to be interested, and three entries were received. The papers were
read by the President, by Professor F. W. Jane and by the Editor, and.
on their recommendation, the Council awarded the prize to Miss Jean E.
Myers, of 76, Highland Boulevard, Leigh-on-Sea, for a paper entitled "A
Survey and Comparison of the Natural and Inned Salt-Marshes at Leigh-
on-Sea, Essex". This paper will be read at a meeting of the Club in 1953
and will be printed in The Essex Naturalist in 1951.
With regard to the Essex Museum at Stratford, we are pleased to report
that the Corporation of West Ham undertook the redecoration of the in-
terior of the building. It will be seen by visitors to the Museum that the
work was carried out in a most pleasing manner. On our Honorary Curator.
Mr. S. Waller, fell the responsibility of making preparation for the painters
and the subsequent replacing of exhibits, cases and pictures. This was no
light task, and the Council desires to express its thanks to Mr. Waller, to
Miss Conway, the cleaner, and to others who co-operated.
Mr. B. T. Ward, Honorary Curator at Epping Forest, Museum, Chingford,
reports that the maintenance and revision work has progressed steadily
during the year. A meeting of the Verderers of Epping Forest was attended
by the Curator with a view to the revision of the exhibits to conform to
the professed object of the institution, i.e., to illustrate the history, geology
and natural history of the Forest. A draft scheme was prepared and awaits
the approval of the Epping Forest Committee. In order that hooliganism
in the building might be more easily controlled, the Committee decided to
impose a small charge for admission, and this is now operative, with pro-
vision for the admission of members of the Club, educational parties, Boy
Scout and Girl Guide parties, etc., free of charge. Mr. Boss has kindly
continued his work of providing the exhibit of fresh flowering plants, and
this has called forth much favourable comment from visitors. In addition,
the Museum has provided exhibits at the Roman Essex Exhibition arranged
by Dagenham Borough Council, and similar arrangements are being made
to loan exhibits to the same authority for the forthcoming Saxon Essex
Exhibition. A special visit to the Museum was that of a party of members
of the East Midlands Federation of the Museums Association, when the
Curator briefly explained the history of the building and its contents.