A passage in Wildlife Crisis (reviewed on Page 21),
written by H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh, struck me as being
appropriate. ". .. . from my own point of view the most
satisfactory part (of his associations with the natural
history movement) ... has been meeting the true naturalists
and experts.... Like all enthusiasms, it cuts across the
conventional barriers of occupation, nationality, class or
anything else.
"Indeed, natural history forms one of the main bridges
between science and the humanities.....Even lack of
knowledge is no barrier. Enthusiasm is recognised and
encouraged by the experts, and I have yet to meet one who
felt it below his dignity to help and explain to the
beginner. The brotherhood of naturalists is very real and
membership in it is immensely rewarding".
How well those words reflect the spirit that keeps the
Essex Field Club going! As a very ordinary amateur
naturalist myself, I know how accurately H.R.H. has perceived
the situation and I know that if ever this helpful attitude
of expert to beginner breaks down, the Club will fold up.
A final word before I sign off: Please let me have your
material for the next Bulletin by the beginning of July, so
that the issue may be ready by August. And — meeting
leaders, don't forget to send in your reports as soon as
possible after the meetings, — write while the details are
fresh in your minds. And now, a very good season of
meetings to you all.
Roy Masefield
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Notice to Contributors: A limited number of line
illustrations can be accepted along with articles. To keep
down the cost of litho plates, illustrations may be reduced in
size and grouped together on pages without text. In this
issue the illustrations are on the centre pages.
**********
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