YN KES TOP SE FO L 5» 0 C Tak TY Ho SP 0 RY (Founded April 4th, 1868) * NATMRAL oo we ack ae eer oe a) eee ar) “ + ed ~ > nt NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY FOLKESTONE Founded April 4th, 1868 Corresponding Society of the British Association. Affiliated to S. E. Union of Scientific Societies, 1954 President: MR. T, W. BIRCH, M.Sc., M.Ed., Vice-Presidents: MR. J. L. DUNK MR, A, M, MORLEY, M.A., 0.B.E, MR. W. S, NEVIN, M.3.0, DE. &.,scorr, D5, 6, MRS, M, WALTON MR. B. C, S. WARREN, F.R.E.S. , F.R.E.S. U. General Secretary: MISS VERA F, P, DAY, N.D.H., F.R.HS. 18, Wear Bay Crescent, Folkestone. Assistant Secretary: MISS A, J, WRIGHT, F.R.G.S. 22, St. John's Street, Folkestone, Hon, Treasurer: MR, J. T. DREW 35, Turketel Road, Folkestone. Hon, Auditor: MR, J. R. PARKES Committee: MR. Re R. ALLISON MR, G, COOPER MR. H. A. MAYNARD, M.Sc., D.S.0. MISS M, HOLMES, B.Sc. MR. G. W, MERRYWEATHER, M.P.S. MISS R. B. ROY, F.R.G.S. MR, G E. MANSER MR, J. PEACH MR. G. R. SHANNON, L.D.S., M.B.0.U. together with the President and Secretary of any Constituent Section, Published March, 1958. y hr A ‘ J P 4 s res | rai - ‘vf 4 . pare $s ' : J h ” ‘ ' “ay nda a ex ila ite A . Or Ae uae re loom erent oR Aa) : by Hi Baliye: ay re ai re ry ve, Ma AAS ES ate a ete ey et ies Ly RAG he apo L pra Bei ff ar ae ae nee eal Ya SY Sak ea \ Agere Wes! Shs “oy tne Deiat A fapar hes BW ae ek ek Wh a ok aah tage” Sane err bid rs , ; f od ro ti ao | 4 ‘ ue Fe ; ‘ 4 hye < . ye hi et i BS) D r : y Las i" 4 ti TUL a ee pes Pee a naa Tea aes a ee ky (ee mae ‘ Mime, ACA & shy) ; . ’ as fy BOT ‘ aia ‘ee? bate 5 tA. a Piha oe its is (ay Seka Yanan eae Oe a "Oe wiven es ne . ry ie : i i) ; ri ots ATK , LEROTE. ities ‘ Bh At 4 : % oa ‘ ; 4 ae a a) Wiha “Lene . - 4 J "une rere bg en a att a“? caytl } ; f a ales : i , Bie Na en coer, Ae ih RAI ety WE NB, ic Pad | h - 4( = . ‘ “3 Ht) | h Seca em ie en clare a Cr Ai Pesala tie Ob bh peas ary fee Lee 2 be a, ay ‘ ee ta a, a sth ma an es ee f os ng Oat aCe ante NAS tee ci pote ae utr ms 2 tiie Ria eens ae Mi Mab ae Ah vo ae xf Be * ae ae] Py a ‘ a, Roe conta “Sak febetudh at a aN GENERAL NOTES Hilo) eho Wd | We were fortunate last season in having several lectures of unusual character, notably "Spore Dispersal in Some Common Fungi", by Professor C,T, Ingold, B.Sc, — the number of spores released is astronomical; "The Sun's Influence on the Earth", by Dr, PA, Wayman, M.A., from the Royal Greenwick Observatory; and "The Work of the Trinity House Pilots" by Mr, Williams of Dover, himself a Trinity House Pilot, Mr, John Sankey's descriptions of camouflage in insects were illustrated by some remarkable coloured slides; and two fine films were Colonel Comyn's "Bird Studies", and "Animals of the Kruger National Park" shown by Mr. J.G. Marshall, Perhaps the outstanding occasion was a film on "Birds in Spain", taken by Mr, G.R. Shannon, M.B.0.U., during an expedition to the Cote Donana in South West Spain, with such well-known personalities as James Fisher, Eric Hosking and Viscount Alanbrooke, These pictures were also shown on television, and others appeared in The Times and that National Geographic Magazine of America, At the joint meeting with the Historical Association, with Miss Anne Roper in the chair, Miss Blumstein of Maidstone, and now of the Guildhall Museum, London, brought together "The Archaeologist and the Historian" in a very attractive talk, All the lectures were well attended with the exception of that on Hop Growing, illustrated with beautiful Kentish areas in colour, by Miss C,L, Jary, Hops Advisory Officer: this most unfortunately clashed with an important concert in the town, We are glad to report an increase in membership, and especially are we pleased at the good attendance of several schools' affiliated societies, The girls of Brampton Down played a prominent part at the Annual Conversazione, in staging a pictorial geological chart of Life through the Ages, in operating a geiger counter, and in acting as waitresses, Their co-operation was much appreciated, The early season enabled us to make the tea room attractive with many vases of flowers, in contrast to last year when all that was available were coltsfoots and a few late snowdrops with leaves of alexanders, We wish to thank all who provided cakes and sandwiches and helped with the catering. Another good school exhibit was a display of various forms of silicon in nature, including straw and bamboo, and the Public Parks provided specimens of recent developments in hybrid polyanthuses, some with enormous flowers, Mr. Maynard's: microscopes were a great attraction; crowds were round them all the afternoon looking at living pond life,and slides of chromosomes, Brockhill school staged an attractive display of stoWe plants. In addition to his usual film programme, Mr. Peach played a . curious record of American bird noises, lent by Miss Fellows, In a classroom he had arranged an admirable children's exhibition that was particularly informative and well displayed, Staging was made much easier owing to all intending exhibitors arriving in good time in the morning to set up their stands, On several occasions’ in the past it has been very disturbing when the arrival of late-comers has meant a re- arrangement of stands already completed, There were fewer exhibits than usual as local traders were not represented this year, they having found it difficult to stage satisfactory exhibits on Saturday, their busiest day, but there were more visitors than ever. A pleasant event was the mrriage of two of our members, Miss J, Halls and Mr, E, Brisley, who met on the Botanical Rambles, The Society presented them with a gift token at the Annual General Meeting and wished them every happiness in their new home at Deal, ) | The Society suffered a grievous loss in the death of Mr. L. Bushby in a car accident, The Entomological Section has suffered the loss of three more of their members, Mr, C. Guamer, Mr, W. Fawthrop and Mr, N. Pope, Obituary notices will be found elsewhere, We have also lost Mr, F, Gilliatt and Mr, J. Tranter, ee At the Harvey Mercentenary celebrations in April, several of our members attended the Harvey Memorial lectures at the Leas Cliff Hall, Some of us were thus able to hear and meet some famour British and foreign doctors, Dr. W.A.M. Smart of Golders Green, asked for a specimen of Scurvy Grass, Living and pressed specimens of Cochlearia danica LL, were sent, and in his letter of thanks he stated that they have been put in the hospital museum in an upright panel alongside a facsimile of the front page of Lord's book on Scorbutus (175). | At the Folkestone Flower Show we were awarded a bronze medal; this was all the more gratifying as, owing to the prolonged drought, material was very difficult to obtain, and further we were allotted an awkward shaped stand, We aiso exhibited at the Kent Produce Show at the. Marine Gardens Pavilion in september, where we were able to stage a more varied and colourful show than in the summer, A basket of native everlastings attracted a good deal of attention, and the wild originals of garden vegetables made an amusing contrast to the giant celery, outsize cabbages and yard long parsnips staged Hearoy, We received a letter of appreciation ror the very efficient work of the stewards, At the same show our President wes awarded the E.R, Buggé Challenge Trophy for nine varieties of hardy fruit from trees planted as a result of one of our Society's lectures, Miss G Fellows, with the help of Mrs, Walton, has maintained the Cheriton exhibit, which has been much appreciated, A notice of thanks to those responsible for the wild flower exhibits has been received from the town, Charles Rowlands, of Dover, has painted the Kentish orchids and presented the paintings te the Library, An eventful year, Vera_F.P. Day pecretary, BOTANICAL SECTION The first two meetings of the session were well attended, but after Christmas only very small numbers were present. We do hope more members interested in this Section will endeavour to come, as it is an opportunity for each to contribute, and the value of the Section's work is based on the individual's efforts, On October 8th, 1956, Miss Meetens pave a very delightful talk on wild flowers she had found during two periods spent in Italy, and also a vivid description of the wonderful flowers brought into the local markets. On December 10th a joint meeting was held with the Ornithological Section at which Miss Roy, F.R.G.S., described a holiday she had spent at the Oriolton Nature Reserve run by Mr. Lockley. Miss Roy outlined the many branches of Nature Study which could be followed there, and described an artificial rabbit burrow which had been made for observation purposes, Mr, Nevin, M.B.0.U., followed with his observation of birds at Siimbridge with details of the findings of the staff there. He mentioned that many wild birds, especially duck, were X-rayed and found to have shot in their bodies, On January 14th, 1957, Miss Day read extracts from the Diary of John Re@by, Schoolmaster of Lydd, over 100 years ago, with special reference to the weather conditions, Miss Day had also made lists of occurrences of gales, snow and frosts at very varied dates through the years, Only one white Christmas was recorded, The resulting picture was comforting as showing that present day weather is no worse, February 11th was Members night. Miss Fellows gave a very interesting talk on wild flowers she had seen in Canada illustrated by photographs and pictures, Mrs, Standford brought in a spray of blackberry in blossom, BOTANICAL WALKS 1957 The average number on each walk was twelve. On the whole the weather was favourable, Only one walk, that of September 2lst to Mersham, had to be cancelled on account of rain, a ape On April 13th the walk was to Burmarsh, but although it was an early season after the mild winter and there were plenty of flowers in the woods, conditions on the marsh were cold, and there was very little except Lady's Smock (Cardamine pratensis) and a number of willows in flower, goat, white and crack willow, We also saw a family of rabbits under some stacks of timber, evidently living above ground, On May 11th walking from Swingfield to Elham we found a patch of silver weed (Potentilla anserina) in flower at that early date, One wood was carpeted with Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia), many with five and seven leaves, Lady Orchids (0. purpurea) were already Over. On June ist the walk was from Elham to Wheelbarrow Town, Cow wheat (ifelampyrum pratense), wall lettuce (Lactuca muralis), yellow pimpernal (lysimachia nemorosu), common speedwell (Veronica officinalis) and grass vetchling (lethyrus nissolia) were found, The walk on June 29th at the height of the heat wave was an endurance test but those who came enjoyed it, and we were well led by Mr. and Mrs, Wilberforce of Lydden, They had been over the ground in advance and chosen shady lanes past Chalksole Farm to Ewell Minnis, We collected spindle (Euonymus curopaeus), enchanter's nightshade (Circaea lutetiana) and dyer's greenweed (Genista tinctoria) among other things, and there was a profusion of wild roses (Rosa canina) and honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymaum), — One Bee orchid (Ophrys apifera) was found near South Alkam, Mr, and Mrs, Coveney entertained us to a most refreshing tea on our return to Folkestone, The last walk of the season on October 5th was from Hawkinge to Paddlesworth, Although so late and following a period of bad weather there were a great many flowers in bloom including much honeysuckle, In the valley below Winteridge Farm we found a small patch of Wood Smallreed (Calamagrostis epigeos). On the lovely evening of May 29th the second stage of the excursion took us to Hothfield, The Botanical enthusiasts led by Dr. Scott and Miss Day found the following, some on Hothfield Common and some by the roadside near the Woolpack: - Buck bean (Menyanthes trifoliata) L. in a marsh on the Common Slender leaved vetch (Vicia gracilis) B. Dutch clover (Trifolium repens) Le Slender clover (Trifolium filiforme) L. Subterranean clover (Trifoliw2 subterrencun) L, Bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) L. Bird's foot (Ornithopus perspusillus) L, Less er stitchwort (Stellaria graminea) L, Mouse-eared chickweed (Cerastium vulgatum) L, Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) L. White campion (Lychnis alba) Mill, Termentil (Potentilla erecta) Hamp. Round-leaved mint(Mentha rotundifolia) Dove's-foot crane's bill (Geranium molle) L. Fumitory (Fumria officinalis) L. Miss Day also found in the yard of the Woolpack some Fool's parsley (Aethusa cynapium) L, G, Fellows, ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION Form the section the Summer of 1957 twas clouded.by the loss oF no less than four members, C. Gummer, LC. Bushby, C.N,. Pope and RW, Fawthrop. Obituary notices are included in this number, In most respects the season has been disappointing, January and February were mild and rainy, March springlike and dry, perhaps the earliest spring that most of us remember with mid- month temperatures in the 60's, The small white butterfly was seen at Westwell on March 20th, There followed cold and drought with a short heat wave at the end of June, the rain beginning in July and continuing thereafter, This weather sequence adversely - 6» affected insects and plants alike, Members attended meetings of the South London Entomological Society at Ham Street on June 8th and others at Wrotham and Sevenoaks, The Kent Field Club met at Chilham, Hothfield and Yoolwichwood and all happened to be on fine days, At Hothfield on July 6th the temperature reached 87°F, and there were a lot.of insects on the wing, The section meeting was at Westwood on June 19th at the beginning of the heat wave, Everything was very dried up: there were a lot of moths on the Wing mostly in poor condition, very difficult to catch in the Cigteor pphe trees, .buttert lies were generally searce, .Westwell appears to have lost at least six species = the Chalk Hill, Adonis, Silver-studded and Small Blues, the Brown Hairstreak and the Dark Green Fritillary, In view of agricultural encroachment their retum is unlikely. The Speckled Wood is now widely distributed, For the rest the Red Admiral and the Comma had a good innings in the Autum, The Painted Lady appeared rarely in Singles, I have heard of only two Clouded Yellows, one at Dungeness in September and another (a Worn 9) at Egerton in October, The very rare migrant, the Longtailed Blue was taken at Folkestone Downs on September 8th by F, Knight. It was a fresh and is new to the local list, There were no outstanding migrations of moths in 1957. The Silver Y¥.was generally common and continued late into early November, The Humming Bird Hawkmoth was very scarce, Mr. P. Cue took a fresh ? Bedstraw Hawk Celerio galii Rott in his garden in Ashford on July 24th and Mr. W,L. Rudland trapped a Convolvulus Hawk in his garden at Willesborough in September, The highlights of the season were a night at Iydd-on-sea on June 28th in which Canon Edwards and 8S, Wakely were kept up until 4,0 a.m, and a night in the Blean Woods on June 29th when three of our members took a memorable catch which is still being sorted out, The three spent the whole of the next day setting their captures and failed to parade for "washing up" duties. These nights occurred during the heat wave which favoured the emergence of many insects retarded by the previous cold. Worthy of special mention is the - 7+ capture at Lydd-on-sea of Laspeyresia prunivorana (Ragont) a Tortrix new to the British list. Canon Edwards and S, jJakely recorded many other interesting moths from their stay at Dungeness including the Kent Black Arches, Nola albula Htibn and the very rare Scarce Black Arches Celama aerugula Htibn, The local Aplasta ononaria (Fuess1) turned up long expected in the area and an unexpected arrival the Wormwood Cucullia Absinthii Linn, This moth occurs rarely in the west of England and may well have been a migrant, Captain Dudley Marsh has discovered what is likely to be a colony of the Pyralid moth Heterographis oblitella Zell, The record is one in 1955, three in 1956 and one in 1957 all taken at light at Littlebourne, This moth almost unknown in Great Britain was encountered in numbers at a meeting of the South London Entomological Society last year on a rubbish dump at Benfleet in Essex on May 5th. Mr. Gif. Youden took a strange ‘micro’ in his ivep at Dover on July 2th, This has been identified as Coltophora clypeiferella Hof and is the second specimen taken in Britain, the first having been taken by S. Wakely at Camberwell in 1955, For the rest I have failed to find records of either are Clifden Nonpareil Catacald fraxini Linn or the Iunar Double Stripe Minucia Lunaris (Schiff) which are threatened with extinction, Calophasia lunula (Hufn) Hydraecia Lucherardi Mabille and Hadena Compta (Schiff) are extending their range, Euphyia luctuata and Colobochyla ‘salicalis (Schiff) are locally common in the woods the latter being confined to one area, There was an unfortunate fire in Lydd station yard which has threatened the Headquarters of the beautiful species of microlepidoptera Ethmia sexpunctella and E,. bipunctella, the larvae of which feed on Vipers bugloss, Evidence is forthcoming however that they survive elsewhere in the neighbourhood, It is noteworthy that Mr, Rudland takes an occasional Bipunctella in his trap at Willsborough, Finally as an ecological factor rabbits are making a slow return but myxomatosis has reappeared at Tenterden, It is expected that some of these interesting moths will be exhibited at the sections annual exhibition on January 11th, 1958. . - h, pCoth. a ORNITHOLOGICAL SECTION - HYTHE AREA Nesting success was perhaps the outstanding feature of the 1957 bird year, A young Greater Spotted Woodpecker, just out of the nest, was seen in High Street on 22nd February; a clutch of Blackbirds left their nest on 23rd March; the whole tit family - after a very mild winter in which their casualties were Pegligible — increased beyond belief; at least five pairs. of Wrynecks raised broods to the flying stage, and two pairs of fieuse Martins were stilt feeding young in nests on,12th October, owifts too had a good season; the last one of the year passed over our house on the 16th November, The year opened well: 55 Snow Buntings were at the Wicks and 51 Swans at the Midrips on 1st January; a Robin sang loudly through the night of 4th January in Killacoona garden; 2 Waxwings visited Lympne on 20th February and 8 stopped in a Cliff Road garden for three days from 9th November, A Hoopoe visited Bidington on. ord April, and 2 visited West Hythe on 24th June, Cranes put in several appearances in the Burmarsh and Lydd areas, Bog phe wine] record may be the best news of all: a Bugsard has been in the woods north of Saltwood for the past three weeks, I saw it on 21st December and I talked to another observer there who had seen two of the birds together on the previous day, W.S. Nevin, BOTANICAL NOTES — FOLKESTONE DISTRICT The New Year came in with a gale and a wet spell, but the weather became drier and milder so that unusually mild and sunny conditions prevailed throughout the winter months: the first four months were the driest for 3/7 years. Geraniums survived out of doors in Warren Road, with no protection: many spring bulbs were in bloom in January, and leaves of flowering shrubs were unfolding: Roses bloomed through the | winter; I picked the last scented bud in ifarch, and the first flower of the next season opened on April 30th, I cut the first Asparagus from the open on March 18th, On March 16th Horse Chestnuts were in leaf, and these plants were in bloom:-Blackthorn (Primus spinosa L.) Stichwort (Stellaria holostea L.) Hedce Garlic (Alliaria Officinalis Bieb.) and White Dead Nettle (Lamium album L,), Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale Scop,), usually later flowering, By March 30th very many species were in bloom, but strangely, there was very little red dead nettle (Lamiun purpureum L.) usually so abundant, Very cola winds persisted until about the first week in June, but in spite of this Hawthorn was in flower before the end of April. Cold dry conditions retarded farm and garden crops, and prevented bees from flying, so that plun blossom especially was not Yertilized and other fruit crops were light. Bluebelis and Celandines opening in March were still in bloom in May. Tway Blades (Listera ovata Br:) and Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia L,) were remarkably abundant, Bee and Spider Orchids were very scarce, The reappearance of the Monkey Orchids (Orchis Simia P,) in Kent is exciting; but whether it will remain, now that rabbits are reappearing in quantity, is very doubtful. Dr, Scott reports albino forms of Luzula pilosa Willd, and Melica uniflora Retz, from Larkey Valley and Challock estate respectively. The Great Broomrape (Orobanche major L,) has reappeared along the old railway line at Hythe. Dilys and Charles Rowlands report Bastard Balm (Melittis melissophyllum L.) and Shaggy Soldier (Galinsoga ciliata cav.) from St. Mary's Churchyard, Dover; and the Common Butterbur (Petasites mybridus L.) was found near Ottinge, "Flaming June" lived up to its name, and after an uusually hot spell the summer flowers were very short lived, especially - 10 + the small ephemerals and shingle plants like the Stonecrops, which had dried up and disappeared by mid July, The shingle at Dungeness looked like a desert except for quantities of Dodder (cuscuta epithymum L,) whose masses of smll pink flowers were colourful and scented. Vipers Bugloss (Zchium vulgare L,) was intensely blue. The hot weather was favourable to the growth of Thorn Apple (Datura stramonium L.) which was reported from all over the country. A visitor reported Milk Vetch (Astralagus glycyphyllos H.) from Copt Point - this was a very unlikely location, and the plant in question proved to be the white form of Galega officinalis L. (Goat's Rue) which has escaped from the gardens on East Cliff, We shall probably hear that 1957 was "a bad summer" because the holiday months, from mid July to mid September, were cold and wet with some savage gales in August. Some lovely summery weather followed in late September and October, but came too late to save the potato crop, which was badly blighted. The wet weather and sunny autumn induced all manner of plants to make secondary growth and remain in flower, so that the wild flower collection in October was colourful and summer like, Autumn fruits were scarce, except for blackberries and field roses (Rosa arvensis Huds,) which produced abundant hips: elderberries were very few, A number of uncommon grasses were found:- Purple Smallreed (Calamazrostis canescens Gmel,) in some quantity at Dungeness; Wood Smallreed (Bush grass, Calamagrostis epigeios Roth)near Acrise and elsewhere, Great Brome (Bromus maximus Deaf.) and Tall Brome (Bromus giganteus L.) in a number of places; Upright Brome (Bromus erectus Huds.) in “oolage Woods, A visitor from Broadstairs left a specimen of Finger Grass (Panicum (Digitaria) sanguinale), We should like to know where this wes found, During the last two years an unusual number of seedling forms of Broad leaved Helleborines (Epipactis latifolia All.) and Violet Helleborines (Epipactis violaceae) have occurred, These seedlings are very diverse in form and colour. Some very fine specimens of Leopard Orchid (Orchis pardalina L.) were seen at Hothfield, Winter came in early; fine weather at the beginning of November soon turned to bitter winds and gales, and snow fell inland, Vera F.P. Dayo A STRANGE FORM OF PLANT LIFE Last August I found a curious Algae at Sunbreck, near Ulverston on an outcrop of "the clints", This is a flat limestone formation peculiar to parts of the North country; the bare grey rock is almost as level as a pavement, but in places cracks occur, sometimes less than 6 inches wide but many feet deep, where little ferns establish themselves, and small depressions are dissolved out on the surface by water, In the prevailing damp climate the deeper holes are kept permanently filled with rain water, One of these puddles was nearly full of loose vegetable objects, varying in size from radish seeds to about half an inch across, and superficially rather like sultanas, They were dark olive green, firm an) texture -— rather like the, pbiladders..of» the brown seaweeds — with a thickened rim and slightly flattened in the middle on both sides, the flattened area being slightly translucent and covered with sml1l dots, presumably spore bearing organs. Most of them were round, but some were irregular, with smaller bodies attached to the rims, having apparently budded off, The water in the puddle was nearly a foot deep, and perfectly clear, with no other plants in it. As I was with a party I had no time to search very far, but 1 found no more of these strange objects in any of the adjacent puddles, w 12 mo I brought away a handful and dried them to bring home; they shrivelled up to tiny black scales, but when put in water a fortnight later they swelled up to their original size evidently unaffected by drying, They were identified by the British Museum as Nostoe pruniforme Ag, a widespread but not very common inhabitant of lakes and ponds, and can grow to about the size of a hen's egg, Were. BoP Daw SEALS NEAR FAVERSHAM On September 7th, the Kent Field Club, to which several of our members belong, met at Faversham to visit the salt marshes, After crossing the high stone sea walls, newly erected since the disastrous floods of 1953, one of the party, while watching birds through his binoculars, saw a seal on a partly submerged sandbank in the channel between the Isle of Sheppey and the mainland, Presently three others swam up; we supposed that they were a family, father, mother and two pups, as two were much smaller than the others. (Or two mothers with pups? Does father go along with the family? Ed.) We took turns at the binoculars, but could not see the seals in much detail, as they were fully a mile out in the channel, It was low tide, and no boats were about; the seals were still there when we left an hour later, Although seals are occasionally reported near Dungeness, Tx am told that within living memory no seals have been seen so far up the Estuary. Vera VoPsiays he ne EXCURSIONS 195 Three excursions were arranged for the summer of 1957, the first being to Ashford Locomotive Works which started in 1846 when the Directors of the South Eastern Railway purchased 185 acres of land in the area, The next step was houses for the men; also workshops in which the first locomotive was started in 1848 and the industrial prosperity of Ashford founded, Members were welcomed by a guide, who conducted the party through fourteen shops in each of which some work connected with the repair of locomotives or the manufacture of component parts was in hand, Processes were explained and questions answered, Each year about fifteen hundred boiler tubes are de~-scaled and re-conditioned in the Tube shop, Locomotives are stripped in the Erecting shop and parts sent to various shops to be renewed, cleaned and repaired before being returned for erection. In this shop and in the Boiler shop ame overhead travelling cranes capable of lifting from thirty to fifty tons. In each shop men were employed on skilled but dirty work - work absolutely necessary to keep transport of people and goods safely in motion, After tea in Ashford members rode to Hothfield Common, Here under the leadership of Miss V, Day and Dr, Scott they wandered in search of rare plants for which the Common is famous, an hour's ramble ended, potanists With specimens returned to the Woolpack to partake of coffee before returning to Folkestone via Ashford By-Pass, SISSINGHURST Sissinghurst visited on June 22nd lies in the centre of the Weald and is noted for the Castle built by Sir John Baker from the fortune he made by persecuting the Protestants during the Marian Persecution, He held high offices in the State, became a Protestant when Elizabeth ascended the throne, married a daughter of Thomas Sackville and was created Earl of Dorset, aa Te In 1930, the place, practically a ruin, was purchased by Sir Harold Nicholson - a contemporary critic and essayist - and Lady Nicholson, the poetess and authoress Vita Sackville-—West a descendant of Thomas Sackville, The work of restoration has swept away all evil perpetrated by the original builder and whether walking through the gardens of the two interior courtyards or beside the moat with its profusion of briars from Persia, moss roses and irises, the visitor is conscious of an on SDC Gr Meetee Tad contleness. Fortunately we met Lady Nicholson on her return from opening an exhibition at Biddenden, through which we should pass, Here a halt was made so that members could view the historical exhibits, SMARDEN In early September a visit was paid to the Church Farm Vintage Cider Factory. We were met by Lt.Col. White, who before starting his interesting talk offered each guest a glass of cider, Quantities of apples were seen, The Colonel descriped the many processes through which the apples pass before the juice is bottled as cider, the first being washing to remove all dirt, We were conducted through many rooms, saw the machinery used in the manufacture of:cider wtil finally it was bottled and Commed ready ifor sale, Six bottles of cider, a gift to the Society were presented to holders of lucky number tickets, Ine1954..we visited one of the 14th century cloth halls, which was then being modernised by Captain Noel of Everest fame, By accident Miss Day met the Captain, who invited members to view the hall now the work was completed. The invitation was accepted, two parties formed, one to view the modernised cloth hall, the other to visit the Church of St. Michael, known as the "Barn of Kent" owing to the nature of the roof and the width of the nave. Features of the two last excursions were the unplanned visits to the exhibition and to the cloth hall, Mess A.J, Wright. Sim OBITUARY L.C.E. BUSHBY The untimely death of Leonard Charles Edwin Bushby at the age of 61, in an accident on May 2nd when his car fell into Rye Harbour was a great shock, After leaving school he started work at a Bank but joined the forces for the last year of the First World War, On demobilisation he followed his natural inclination and took a course in Entomology at the Imperial College. He succeeded Miss E, Cheeseman as Curator of insects at the London Zoo and worked there until retirement in 1955 when he bought a bungalow at Challock Lees near Ashford in the centre of much varied and interesting country. Leonard Bushby was an enthusiastic Field Naturalist, A great lover of all wild life his knowledge was wide rather than profound and specialised, Insects formed his principal study, The Coleoptera of which he made a good collection, came first but he was also greatly interested in Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Hemoptera, and other orders, He was an active member of the newly formed Kent Field Club and Honorary Secretary of the Entomological Section of the Folkestone Natural History Society. A lovable personality he is greatly missed by many friends, He was a bachelor, RONALD W, FAWTHROP Ronald W, Fawthrop was formerly in business as a chemist at Mitcham coming to live in Folkestone on his retirement in 1951. Intensely interested in entomology, he soon joined the Natural History Society, but being temporarily engaged on some work at Deal he was at first unable to attend the meetings of the Entomological Section, As soon as his Saturdays were free he attended with regularity and enthusiasm, In three seasons and part of a fourth he worked a mercury-vapour light trap at his - 16 house on the east side of Radnor Park and in this way collected many interesting moths not a few of which represented additions eo the Local-lists, His. interesting collection of Alpine butterflies and moths was made during visits to Switzerland and the Tirol, and it was during a visit to Pontresina in the present year that he died with tragic suddeness on July the 18th after climbing a mountain, We shall miss him in our section and we extend our sympathy to his widow and daughter and son, CECIL M, GUMMER Cecil M. Gummer, of 14 Manor Road, Deal, joined our Society soon after the war and travelled regularly by train to its meetings including those of the Entomological section, Keenly interested in Natural History he had a considerable knowledge of butterflies before he began to collect them in 1942, Iater on he collected moths as well, In this way he acquired many interesting specimens as well as useful information about the Lepidoptera of his district With which he was able to assist Messrs Embry and Youden in the preparation of their book "The Butterflies and Moths found in the Dover and Deal District of Kent" published in 1949, Unfortunately atter 1951 i11 health prevented him from playing an active part in the life of the Society but in 1955 members were delighted when he appeared at the Congress of the South Eastern Union of Scientific Societies, He attended the Conversazione of 1956, but in 1957 he was absent and Mrs, Gummer told us, to our regret, that he was prayvely i121, It was not long after this that he died, A quiet and modest man, he was a veined member of our Society, and our sympathy goes out to his widow, C.N, POPE Charles Norman Pope died in Willesborough Hospital on August 13th at the early age of 52, He lived nearly all his life at Willesborough where he attended school until he was 14, He subsequently helped in the family business of baking until 1935 when he developed a debilitating disease which greatly limited his physical activity. His last illness which lasted for five weeks was due to an unusual incurable complication. Norman Pope had a very active mind and a passion for knowledge. He largely taught himself by reading. His chief interests were botany, «rchaeology and photography. He was a valued member of the Kent Field Club, the Natural History Society and its Entomological Section, the Ashford Archaeological Society and the Ashford Branch of the BeE.N.A. His clear mind enabled him to impart knowledge to others and he was in demand as a lecturer on Biology to adult classes throughout the winter months, He will be greatly missed by us all, He was a bachelor, FOLKESTONE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY BALANCE SHEET 1956-57 ‘RECEIPTS PAYMENTS £& Se. d Balance brt fwd 1:10:56 65, 2, 0 Lecture Fees Oo, en Subscriptions Printing & Stationery 30, lies 195556 TOg)-0 4956-57 O20 S06 Secretarial Expenses 45013— & Fora Sales Weegee Lantern Expenses BP ane Pa Donations | Per e.: 6 Hire of Rooms Fr sO Box Sy18, 5 Conversazione Expenses Cea) eee Conversazione TOE 4 Insurance 1<¢ Se | Flower Show 18,41 S.E, Scientific Society PENS Sundries 6. @ Sundries ene Bank Interest iu by ohce Bank Charges Vo Donation Le ioe Balance in hand Bank current a/c 8 8 8 deposit a/c 82,11. 0 cash De Oy O 95.798 8 SA io ape i. ee me F RLS. 3 Mite foe a cee tant Shh | | / Senpebt er’ tics hanes" ad 7) er j ‘ er eae rr, oe Pry | autos &, ar >: aprset™ pony Se wnebars I oe aie at ssliai oot” < wa) cum < ae vd sae pel be BP rey nen eeirnat trigayy te rs t= aioe si. io Nei —. has a atin Aeeieeo- . Me cece, Pea nt By: cheers A: be | PEE