COUNCIL REPORTS FOR 1974 AND 1975 161
Report of the Council of the Essex Field Club—1975
Patron
Following the death of Field Marshal His Royal Highness the Duke of
Gloucester during 1974, Council is pleased to announce that the new Duke
of Gloucester has agreed to be the Club's new Patron.
Council
The Council of the Club met six times during the year and are pleased to
record a year of varied activity and many popular meetings. At the Annual
General Meeting in April held at the County Education Centre, Broom-
field, Mrs Boardmen and Mr K. Byrne retired from Council, their places
being taken by Mr F. Smith and Dr P. Allen. Mr E. B. Pinniger retired as
Editor of the Essex Naturalist, his place being taken by Dr D. Corke.
Membership
On the 9th January 1976 membership stood at 326, a decrease on last
year. T. Bartrop (Vice-President) died in April, a sad loss.
Meetings
40 meetings were held during the year, including 10 general and 30
informal meetings as follows.
General Meetings at West Ham 2, at Broomfield (including the AGM) 3,
with 5 being held in the field.
Informal Meetings were held as follows Mammals 5, General 3, birds 5,
Photographic competition 1, Botany 8, Amphibians and reptiles 1, Geology
4, and 3 group annual general meetings. In addition the Geology Group
held an Annual Dinner.
Many of these meetings were extremely well attended and while reports
are in the Bulletin the following deserve mention. A pond dipping meeting
for reptiles and amphibians arranged by the Mammal Group attracted
some 56 members. 50 people took part in the all night mammal watching
meeting when badgers, foxes, deer and other smaller mammals were seen.
Bird Meetings were as usual very popular with 66 members attending a
meeting at South Weald. Nightingales were a feature of the President's
Meeting at Mill Green attended by 56 members. Similar numbers enjoyed
the two fungus forays, the meeting to Fryerning producing many new
records for the area. We were very pleased to welcome so many children
to our meetings and Council wish to emphasise that children are especially
welcome at meetings.
Exhibitions
Our displays at the Dagenham Town Show, Ingatestone Show and the