REPORTS OF MEETINGS 219
best to further the interests of the Club during his term of office. He then
called upon the retiring President to deliver his address,
Mr. Harley spoke on "Concerning the Age of Things" (see p. 129).
He touched on some traditional methods of fixing the age of archaeological
finds and then went on to deal with some recent developments in this
science. His remarks were illustrated with lantern slides and specimens
of some ancient timbers.
On the conclusion of the lecture the President thanked Mr. Harley for
his interesting address and the meeting adjourned for tea.
Visit to Galleywood and Woodham Walter Commons (959th Meeting)
SUNDAY, 19 APRIL, 1953
A motor-coach left Wanstead Station on this day of brilliant sunshine.
Nine members travelled by this means, and the party was eventually made
up to 21 by members who came from other parts by independent means of
transport.
Galleywood Common was first visited, and a halt was called to allow
members to see something of the Cryptogamic flora, which was the main
object of the day's excursion. Mr. Bernard Ward led the party throughout
the day, and he was able to point out many mosses and other plants which
he had recorded on previous visits. On this exposed common the sallows
were still in bloom, and in the bright sunshine Peacock butterflies were on
the wing.
The coach then proceeded to the outskirts of Danbury, and after turning
into a cul-de-sac, disembarked the party near Woodham Walter Common.
Here the woodland was entered, and, in a glade sheltered from the wind,
where primroses and wood anemones were flowering in profusion, a halt
was made for a picnic lunch. Many nests of wood-ants were noticed, and
the insects were very active in the sunshine, so that care was needed in
the selection of spots where one might sit without attracting the attentions
of the ants. The March Dagger moth (Chimabache fagella Fabr.), the beetle
Rhagium mordax and Brimstone butterflies were seen during the lunch
halt.'
After lunch, the walk was continued through the wood and on to the
Common, many cryptogams being pointed out by Mr. Ward on the way.
Continuing through the woodland, several ferns were pointed out in moist
northerly aspects. Notable amongst these were the Marsh fern (Lastrea
Thelypteris) and the Hard fern (Blechum spicant), neither of which was
easy to find, as the new growth was only just beginning. After the wood
had been traversed, a nursery of young trees was passed, and, judging by
the number of conifers being grown here, it seemed that ere long the nearby
woodlands would take on the aspect of coniferous plantations.
On reaching the road, the coach was re-entered, and the party was taken
to the Dainties Cafe in Danbury, where tea was soon being enjoyed. After
tea, a short formal meeting of the Club was held in the motor-coach, and
Miss M. E. Noel, of 32, Ventnor Gardens, Barking, was elected to member-
ship of the Club. Mr. Pratt called the attention of the members to the loss
sustained by the Club through the death on April 7th of Mr. Percy
Thompson, who was so largely responsible for bringing the Club to the
sound position it holds today. How he would have enjoyed such a day of
glorious spring sunshine in the lovely woodlands of his beloved Essex.
Mr. Bernard Ward commented on some of the more interesting botanica!
finds of the day, and Mr. Dyce had something to say regarding the ferns.
A vote of thanks having been recorded to Mr. Ward for bringing the