268 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Report of Council for 1954
During the past year the Club has not experienced any marked
variation of its customary rhythm.
Fifteen new members were enrolled, while losses amounted to twenty-
eight. Of these, six are deceased, thirteen resigned and nine were removed
owing to non-payment of subscriptions.
The membership at (he end of the year stands at 197. It is noticeable
that members who remain for more than two years usually stay for a
long time.
Much work has been done in the Library by Miss English, Mr. Hall
Crouch and the Borough Librarian's staff.
The Passmore Edwards Museum has been in a constant state of
rearrangement, overhaul and improvement. The Museum Working Party
system has clearly demonstrated its value, but the members of the party
would be the first to admit that they cannot be regarded as an adequate
substitute for a professional Curator and staff. Mr. Robinson, the Museum
attendant kindly provided by Messrs. Tate & Lyle, has carried out his
duties in an enthusiastic manner, and, as the only full-time worker in the
Museum, has been of inestimable help to the part-time workers and to
the visiting public.
The Club's relations with the Corporation of West Ham in Museum
matters are most cordial and have led to much mutual help in many
directions. The establishment of a new permanent agreement is looked
forward to with every confidence. The great assistance and goodwill of
the Chief Education Officer of West Ham and his Deputy is of immense
value, and the Principal of the West Ham College of Technology, Dr.
E. A. Rudge, spares no effort to further the success of the Museum.
The Epping Forest Museum, under the care of our Honorary Curator,
Mr. Bernard Ward, has had a successful year, and Mr. Joseph Ross has
continued to exercise a keen and valuable interest in this museum.
Both museums have been well patronised by the public. Fifteen thousand
visitors have been to the Epping Forest Museum during the year, while
the Passmore Edwards Museum has a fairly steady figure of three hundred
per week. Many of these visitors are children. An active museum of
natural history can introduce the young to a living world which will give
them a life-long interest and satisfaction.
The. field meetings, which are so important a feature of our activities,
have been spread over a wide area. Six meetings w"ere held, and they
ranged over such varied territory as the forests, the river valleys and the
coastal sands of the county.
Once again it is necessary to emphasise that in a Club like ours the
members get what they deserve—sometimes rather more. The work of
planning and leading all field meetings cannot be left to a few hard-working
members. The Club must stand or fall on the quality and popularity of
its meetings in the field, and we appeal to all members to help in this
respect. The Field Meetings Secretary is always glad to receive suggestions
for meetings.
Our journal. The Essex Naturalist, under the firm hand of the Honorary
Editor, Mr. C. Bignell Pratt, enhanced its reputation for scientific accuracy