128 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 



programme Nature Parliament under the chairmanship of Derek McCulloch (Uncle 

 Mac). He wrote many popular books and articles on butterflies, moths and natural 

 history and an autobiography, Living with butterflies. He retired from the butterfly 

 farm in 1966. 



Mr E. H. Wild first joined the society in 1946 and was a member of the society's 

 council from 1949 to 1951. After a lapse in membership he rejoined the society in 1971 

 and was honorary secretary from 1978 to 1980. Starting out as a macrolepidopterist 

 he turned his attention to the microlepidoptera in the late 1970s and was able to record 

 a species new to Britain, Elachista littoricola. He published many entomological notes 

 and his great sense of humour led him to publish a short series in the Entomologist's 

 Record on "mothmanship" in 1989 and 1990. 



The year 1992 was the 121st of the society's existence and an annus mirabilis. For 

 the first time in its history the society has a permanent base for its library and 

 collections. Accommodation or, more correctly, its termination has always been a 

 worry to the society's council; we can now relax and plan ahead for the next 70 years. 

 It is inevitable that the society will change as a result, but change, properly managed, 

 is no bad thing. New traditions can now be set up and the best of the old retained. 

 To this end I have volunteered in my "retirement" to redraft the society's bye-laws 

 with particular reference to the section on membership. This is a very difficult society 

 to join! 



The first indications are that the move to Dinton Pastures has been a success. An 

 initial field meeting at an unpromising time in the autumn produced an above average 

 species list and the weekend openings are attracting a good attendance, including 

 members from further afield who we otherwise used only to see at the annual 

 exhibition. Both the librarian and curator are already complaining of lack of space; 

 with foresight a larger building would have been possible. Alas the roof space is taken 

 up with a problematic air conditioning plant which is still adding to the curator's 

 worries. As you will remember the building was made possible by a generous bequest 

 from our late member Edward Pelham-Clinton, 10th Duke of Newcastle. The building 

 will be named the Pelham-Clinton Building in his memory and a plaque will be 

 mounted inside to record his bequest and the several others that have helped to put 

 the society on a firm financial footing. 



Our thanks must go to our present treasurer and his predecessor, Col. D. H. Sterling, 

 for their excellent management of the society's finances and investments. As you will 

 have heard from the treasurer's report the society is now in a firm financial position. 

 When the council agonized over whether to proceed with the Pelham-Clinton building 

 some saw financial ruin ahead and all of us had our doubts. However the economic 

 depression, which has brought hardship to many, has benefited the society which 

 had a large sum of money to invest at a time when interest rates were high. A 

 consequence of this is that the society must now decide how best to use its surplus 

 funds for the benefit of entomology, something which, as a charity, we must consider 

 very seriously indeed. I hope that future councils will rise to this challenge. 



The society's journal under the stewardship of our editor, Richard Jones, who has 

 occasionally boldly dared to go where no Editor before him has gone, has become 

 an excellent publication. It remains our only link with many members and their 

 continuing membership is a sign of its value. It is also an excellent ambassador for 

 the society in the entomological world. I wish it and the society continuing success. 



