Iviii. president's address. 



South Kensington (now the Victoria and Albert) Museum, 

 acquired by him when he was Director of that Institution, 

 and which it would now be impossible to get together, as well 

 as for many other acts done by him in his public capacities. 

 He has enriched our Dorset Museum with a valuable collection 

 of Roman glass, an almost unique fossil turtle's head, and 

 other gifts. Some years ago I had much wished to make 

 him a Vice-President, but he asked to be excused, as he felt 

 that at his age he could not do much for the Club. It is in 

 connection with the Dorset County Museum even more than 

 the Field Club that the work of Mr. W. Albert Bankes, who 

 joined us in 1887, the same year as myself, will be remembered. 

 In its early days, it was he who, as Hon. Secretary, was the 

 moving spirit of it, and worked hard and continuously in 

 conjunction with Mr. Henry Moule, its Curator, to build it up 

 towards its present state of excellence, in which it takes a 

 high rank amongst local Museums of its class. Besides this, 

 Mr. Bankes was always ready to help on any good work that 

 was on hand, whether it were Charminster Church restoration, 

 or Arts and Crafts, in which he took a special interest, and 

 always endeavoured to promote amongst the working classes. 

 When a few months ago IMr. Henry Stilwell gave up the 

 Editorship of the Dorset Rainfall Returns, I little thought 

 that he would be with us for so short a time. The full and 

 accurate Rainfall Reports since 1903, during which period 

 the number of stations has increased from 50 to 66, bear 

 witness to the excellent work he has done for the Club. He 

 was a frequent attendant at our Meetings, and will be missed 

 in other ways besides his special work. He became a 

 Member in 1903. Mr. Walter John Fletcher was one of the 

 very few remaining original Members of our Club, and has 

 contributed to our Proceedings and taken part in our Meetings 

 when he could spare the time from his duties as County 

 Surveyor, which post he has held for about 40 years, and 

 from his numerous engagements as Architect, to his attain- 

 ments in which profession there remain many existing 

 monuments. He also interested himself in various local 



