212 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
With his wide knowledge of animals and plants, of geology and antiquities
and of books, Thompson was the almost ideal curator for a small local
museum, more particularly for one concerned primarily with Essex, for he
loved that county, past and present. It is largely due to him that there is
an excellent library in the Museum, for much of it was acquired during
his term of office. Perhaps, however, his best memorial will be the Pictorial
Survey of Essex, that extensive collection of photographs, pictures, prints
and maps which furnishes a pictorial record of Essex, past and present.
And with his name in this connection must be associated that of the late
Miss Elsie Greaves, his colleague for many years in the task of building
up the library and the Pictorial Survey.
Thompson acted as Editor of the Essex Naturalist for a number of years,
and under his editorship this journal reached a high standard. He was a
frequent contributor of short articles and notes to its pages, while among
the longer ones, one recalls his paper on bird pellets, of which, incidentally,
he built up a valuable collection at the Museum.
The last war hit the Club hard. With its officers depleted, many members
on active service or evacuated, and its territory the seene of much enemy
action, the Club's position was a parlous one. But Thompson carried on,
even to the extent of taking on the additional duties of Treasurer, a task
which he found uncongenial and relinquished gladly when peace returned.
He even managed to publish parts, if slim ones, of the Essex Naturalist,
largely, as he told me, by himself contributing the bulk of the material for
each part.
Soon after the war, Thompson retired from active participation in the
Club's affairs, and, in recognition of his services, was made an Honorary
member. He declined to accept office as President, to the regret of a
number of his friends, who felt that occupation of the President's chair
would be a fitting termination to a long and fruitful term of office, and of
devoted service, to the Essex Field Club, of which he was a member for
47 years.
He died at the age of 86, on April 7th, 1953. F.W.J.
Miss Edith Prince
With the passing of miss edith prince on 9th September, 1953, the
Club has lost a member who was accorded the highest honour it can
bestow—that of Honorary Membership. Miss Prince, who was born in
September, 1877, commenced her education at Godwin Road School, Forest
Gate, proceeded to Stratford High School, and thence to Bishop's Stortford
Training College. It was at Bishop's Stortford that she began the botanical
studies which, in various ways, occupied a great deal of her attention.
After commencing work as a teacher, she attended evening classes at
what is now called the West Ham College of Technology, where, under
the tuition of Miss Alice Hibbert Ware, herself a member of the Field Club,
her enthusiasm for Nature Study was fired by the zeal of the instructress.
It was in 1916 that Miss Prince joined the Club, where, under the
continued guidance of Miss Hibbert Ware, together with the assistance of
Miss G. Lister and Mr. and Mrs. Percy Thompson, she continued her
studies, attaining a high standard of proficiency in botany. It was under