351
Report of Council for 1955
To dispose first of the statistical side of the report, it may be stated
that with the accession of 20 new members, the loss by resignation of
eight and the further diminution of four by death, we are left at the end
of 1955 with a membership of '205. This is a small increase on the figure
of the previous year.
The Club is essentially a field club, and once again the Field Meetings
during the year have afforded an opportunity for study in a variety of
subjects, including Oyster Research, on which a demonstration was given
in the laboratory at Burnham and on another occasion from the oyster boats
over the breeding grounds. A total of eight meetings was held, which
were well attended and covered a wide range of the county from forest to
tidal creek.
Our indoor meetings have also provided for a variety of interests. De-
tailed reports of both field and indoor meetings are to be found in other
pages of this issue of our journal.
The Passmore Edwards Museum at Stratford is still being administered
under the terms of the temporary agreement with the West Ham Cor-
poration, and during the year the Working Party has continued the
rearrangement of some of the exhibits. In this work, Mr. Paul Smart
and the Caretaker, Mr. Robinson, have given much assistance. Mr. George
Tite, a member of the Essex Art Club, has very kindly re-painted the back
cloth of the large case depicting a scene in Epping Forest, and we are
grateful to him for the many hours which he has spent in giving a new
lease of life to the seene which has for so many years been a great attrac-
tion especially to the youthful visitors to the Museum. The glass simulating
the pond has been replaced and the specimens renewed where necessary.
Three small fresh-water tanks have been arranged and are being kept sup-
plied with native species of fish and other forms of pond life. It has also
proved possible once again to have wild flowers on show during the
summer months, and it is hoped to continue this popular feature.
In December the Museum was invited to be the challenger in the B.B.C.
Television programme "Animal, Vegetable and Mineral". A number of"
specimens were selected, and the resulting programme, which was unusual
in being mainly natural history in character, was considered to be very
successfully entertaining and instructive.
Mr. Syms has dealt with a number of enquiries from the British Museum
and others.
Early in the year the Education Committee of West Ham Corporation
authorised the appointment to its staff of a suitable person to act as Curator
of the Museum, subject to the conclusion of a satisfactory agreement with
the Club. The Club's representatives are in complete agreement with the
Chief Education Officer of West Ham on the future of the Museum, but
it has not yet been found possible to embody the proposals in a legal form
acceptable to both parties. Agreement in principle, however, is so whole-
hearted on both sides that the final settlement can hardly be long delayed.
The Museum Library has undergone a very full reorganisation. Some
books have been sold, and from the proceeds it has been possible to bring
the binding of the periodicals right up to date. A number of new books
have been purchased, and the whole collection is now arranged, thanks
to the Borough Librarian and his staff, in accordance with modern ideas.
Our Hon. Assistant Librarian, Miss E. E. English, has continued to keep
in order the frequent accessions of periodicals taken by the Library.