the Club's accounts for 1970. The Treasurer, Mr. Snelling,
was able to report that by adroit financial juggling of the
Club's investments, he had been able to make a small capital
profit and increase the Club's income from that source
during the year.
Following the official business, Mr. Ward exhibited
sprays of bloom of three common early-flowering shrubs.
Mr. Allen commented on a piece of calcite from Derbyshire,
and Mr. Pettifer showed some rare bryophytes he had
recently found,
Mr, Masefield took the chair, and invited the President
to give his address. This was in two parts, the first
tracing the history of the Club, from its start as a result
of a chance meeting in 1869 between a group of local
lepidopterists who formed the Club some 11 years later.
Mr. Glassborow paid tribute to some of the more notable
members in the Club's history, particularly Miss G-, Lister
and more recently Mr. Percy Thompson. Whereas these old
members were both specialists and general natural historians,
today there is an added emphasis on specialisation, which
the President felt was a regrettable trend. He suggested
that some of the more successful general meetings of the
past, such as a walk along the Broomway, Foulness, could
be repeated.
In the second part of his address, Mr. Glassborow
showed a British Transport Commission film "Journey into
Spring" which illustrated what can be seen in our country-
side and was well received by the meeting.
After thanking the President for his address and for
giving a background to the history of the Club, Mr.
Masefield adjourned the meeting for tea,
March 28th. Tollesbury Marshes and Sea Wall (Birds)
Fifty-four members, friends and three dogs, attended
this meeting. The day was fine, dry and not too cold.
Amongst interesting birds seen were: a female hen harrier,
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