Stortford, together with the adjoining house. Cecil John Rhodes, who was the son of the vicar, was born at Netteswell House on 5th July 1853 and was educated at the Grammar School in Bishop's Stortford. The money for converting the houses into a Museum was provided by the British South Africa Company, De Beers and Consolidated Goldfields. In 1963 it was decided to redecorate, re-arrange and extend the Museum for the purpose of providing the first Commonwealth Centre to exist in a provincial town in Britain, and this was opened on 5th December 1963 by His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, MC, Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations. The capital needed for this extension was met largely by a public appeal launched locally and overseas; by donations from Rhodes Scholars throughout the world; by the generosity of mining companies associated with Cecil Rhodes in his lifetime; by donations from several Commonwealth countries; and by the support of the Bishop's Stortford Urban District Council. The Museum is open from 10.0 a.m. to 4.0 p.m. except on Sundays and Public Holidays on which days it may be possible to obtain admission on application to the caretaker (Mrs A. Forth). Admission is free, a charge being made only in those cases where parties require a special guide. THE ROYAL AFRICAN SOCIETY 18 Northumberland Avenue, London W.C.2 (01-930 6733) President: Sir Charles Ponsonby, Bt, TD, DL The Royal African Society, a non-political organisation, was founded in 1901 in memory of Mary Kingsley, African explorer and writer, to foster and encourage interest in Africa, particularly in territories which form part of the Commonwealth; to form a link between those who are, or have been, concerned with Africa and to assist the study of African affairs in Britain. To further these aims, the Society publishes a quarterly journal African Affairs (which is sent free to all members of the Society and can also be purchased separately), arranges monthly lectures, conferences on Africa, social functions and provides access to a reference library and reading room. While maintaining a scientific outlook, the Society aims specially at keeping the human interest in the forefront. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF THE COMMONWEALTH 17 Devonshire Street, London WIN 2BQ President: H.R.H. The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT, OM, GBE Honorary Treasurer: John Everall The Society, which is in effect a federation of the national agricultural societies within the Commonwealth, came into being at a meeting of representatives of ‘Royal' agricultural societies held at the English Royal Show in 1957, and presided over by the Duke of Edinburgh. It was then agreed that the principal object of the Society should be 'to encourage and arrange the interchange of knowledge and experience in the practice and science of agriculture, with a view to improving methods of both crop production and the breeding of livestock, to improving the efficiency of agricultural implements and machinery, and to encouraging the exchange and settlement of young farmers within the Commonwealth.' In 1968 membership comprised four societies in Africa, seven in Australia, one in New Zealand, one in Canada, one in New Guinea, the four national societies in the United Kingdom representing England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Royal Smithfield Club and the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers. The first Conference was held at Sydney in April 1963, the second at Cambridge in 1965, the third at Toronto in 1967 and the fourth at Nairobi in September 1969. An important facet of the Society's work has become the exchange of ideas and information on new techniques, with special reference to agricultural shows, exhibitions, and the needs of the agricultural community. It is now usual for each conference to have as a theme some subject of topical interest and importance, e.g. Animal Health—"Foot and Mouth Disease" and "Brucellosis" in 1969. Printed reports of the conferences are prepared for member-societies and others interested. It has become evident that many of the problems confronting show organisers throughout the world are identical, e.g. the need to make known new breeding techniques for livestocks, the requirements of trade exhibitors and the need to present the right image of modern agriculture to the rapidly expanding urban populations. ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY 56 Queen Anne Street, London W1M 9LA (01-935 8944) President: Professor C. F. Beckingham Director: J. G. Burton-Page The Royal Asiatic Society was founded in 1823 for the study of the history, sociology, institutions, manners, customs, languages, art, archaeology and literature of Asia. The Society's Library contains about 10,000 books, with Sanskrit, Pali, Hindi, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Malay, Javanese, Tibetan, Sinhalese, Burmese and Siamese manuscripts. It operates several trust funds for the publication of books on Oriental subjects, and publishes a Journal. ROYAL BOTANIC GARdens, kew Director: Sir George Taylor During its span of over 200 years, Kew has been closely associated with the development of Commonwealth countries. From a small start in 1759 as the botanic garden of Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales and mother of King George III, the Royal Gardens at Kew soon became famed for the unrivalled variety of plants collected from many lands. In 1841 control of the Gardens was assumed by the State and increasingly from that time, under successive Directors, Y Kew supplied the Commonwealth with plants of economic value and with men trained in horticulture. Kew is renowned as an institution for the study of plants and especially their identification and classification. A large scientific staff is able to avail itself of a herbarium which is without equal in the richness of its collection of preserved plants and its fine botanical library. In addition there is the collection of living plants, some 25,000 species and botanical varieties, which forms the part of the establishment familiarly known to the public as Kew Gardens. An important task, which has been steadily prosecuted since 1856, has been the compilation of floras of different parts of the Commonwealth. Regional floras now in preparation include those of Tropical East Africa, southern Central Africa, Iraq and Cyprus, while a revision of the Flora of West Tropical Africa is nearing completion. The identification and classification of plants is aided by a study of their anatomy, cytology, and physiology, and work of this kind is done in the Jodrell Laboratory, a building which was rebuilt and enlarged in 1963-64. Special interest has always been taken at Kew in the plants of use to man, and much information on the economic properties of plants has been accumulated. Kew has played a notable part in the distribution of useful plants to Commonwealth countries, and this work continues in a modified form to the present. To reduce the risk of carrying harmful pests or disease during the exchange of economic plants, there has been built at Kew a plant quarantine house, financed by Colonial Development and Welfare funds, in which plants in transit from one part of the Commonwealth to another can be grown under supervision for a period of quarantine. The training of gardeners is a function of Kew and, although most of the students are recruited in this country, some places are taken by men from other parts of the Commonwealth. Men trained at Kew continue to fill a number of posts overseas. THE ROYAL CENTRAL ASIAN SOCIETY 42 Devonshire Street, London W.1 (01-580 5728) President: The Earl of Selkirk, PC, GCMG, GBE, AFC The Royal Central Asian Society, founded in 1901, seeks to maintain in Britain a centre for the collection and diffusion of up-to-date information concerning the culture and current affairs of the whole of Asia, and to promote friendship between the peoples of the Commonwealth and the peoples of Asia. The Society has a world-wide membership, and provides a centre in London through which information can be circulated on all aspects of life in those areas, including modern developments. The Journal includes reports on the Society's lectures, discussions and papers, and also reviews of books dealing with Asia. A library of 5,000 books, periodicals etc. is available to members. THE ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY Patrons: Her Majesty The Queen Grand President: H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester, KG H.R.H. Princess Alexandra The Hon. Mrs Angus Ogilvy, GCVO B. F. Macdona, CBE; Sir Ridgeby Foster The Royal Commonwealth Society is the oldest of the voluntary organisations concerned with Commonwealth affairs. For one hundred and one years its object has been to promote knowledge and understanding among the peoples of the Commonwealth. Membership is open to all citizens of the Commonwealth who believe in the aims and objects of the Society. It receives no subsidy; it has no politics; its members are of all ages, and of any colour, race or creed. The Headquarters in Northumberland Avenue provides excellent club, residential and catering facilities, and acts as a central meeting place for the 29,000 members from all parts of Britain and the world. It is also the centre of this learned Society's varied cultural and educational activities, and possesses a Library, much used for research, with a unique collection of approximately 400,000 books, pamphlets and other material on the Commonwealth. Its regular activities include lunch-time meetings, conferences, discussion groups, etc., and the issue of a bi-monthly Commonwealth Journal. Much is also done to interest the youth of today in Commonwealth affairs, in particular by study conferences and essay competitions; and there is a special section of the Society for those under twenty-five years of age. Through its scheme of Commonwealth Interchange Study Group Operations called CISGO, the Society arranges goodwill study visits between Commonwealth countries, of groups of specially selected young business and professional executives. The Society has Branches and Honorary Representatives in the following overseas Commonwealth countries: Bath: *Bristol: BRANCHES AND HONORARY REPRESENTATIVES UNITED KINGDOM President: Colonel C. T. Mitford-Slade; Chairman: Sir Cecil Ames. Secretary: Peter N. McWilliam, The Royal Commonwealth Society, Cambridgeshire: President and Chairman: Dr E. R. Robinson Edinburgh: *Hants and Dorset •Liverpool: Hon. Sec.: Mrs Doreen M. Bennett, Arncliffe, Harlton, Cambridge Hon. Sec.: Miss A. B. Kerr, 11 Ramsay Garden, Edinburgh 1 President: Sir Swinton Paterson, KBE, CMG; Chairman: Captain Hon. Sec.: Cmdr. W. R. Fenton, The Royal Commonwealth Society, President: J. D. R. T. Tilney, TD, JP, MP; Chairman: David N. Grindley *Branches which have buildings, premises or offices. Oxford: •Sussex: President: Professor Sir Harry Champion, CIE; Chairman: A. D. C, Hon. Sec.: J. R. Stebbing, OBE, Fair Beeches, Burcot, Nr. Abingdon, President: Colonel Sir Tufton Beamish, MC, MP; Chairman: Edward G. Sec.: Mrs F. E. Koens, The Royal Commonwealth Society, Boyle House. HONORARY REPRESENTATIVES *KENYA NIGERIA †RHODESIA Salisbury: SOUTH AFRICA Port Elizabeth: BIRMINGHAM: Brigadier N. L. Cariss, OBE, TD; NEWCASTLE: H. J. M. AFRICA Chairman: James Foster Sec.: Mrs I. O. O'Meara, Royal Commonwealth Society, K.C.S. House, Chairman: Chief the Hon. Sir Kofo Abayomi Hon. Sec.: O. Okunrinboye, Royal Commonwealth Society, P.O. Box President and Chairman: Gavin McColm Hon. Sec.: Mrs J. E. McColm, P. Bag 52L, Bulawayo Hon. Sec.: R. G. Kerswell, P.O. Box 1499, Salisbury President and Chairman: H. F. O'B. Reeve; Hon. Sec.: N. J. Carter, HONORARY REPRESENTATIVES ETHIOPIA: GAMBIA: GHANA: LESOTHO: MALAWI: MAURITIUS: SEYCHELLES: SIERRA LEONE: SOUTH AFRICA: SWAZILAND: J. W. Farnsworth, OBE, Addis Ababa C. L. Carayol, Bathurst K. B. Ayensu, Accra R. F. Thompson, мBE, Maseru BLANTYRE: Frederick M. Withers, MBE ZOMBA: H. W. Foot Major Guy Desmarais IBADAN: James Packman KADUNA: M. I. Smaila Douglas Bailey, OBE, Mahé Mrs J. W. B. Chenery, Freetown JOHANNESBURG: Mrs H. C. Rheinallt-Jones PIETERMARITZBURG: Ian M. Fraser PRETORIA: David Smith WELKOM, O.F.S.: K. A. B. Jackson F. W. Sutton, Mbabane ARUSHA: Lt.-Colonel H. S. Weston, OBE TANGA: A. L. Le Maitre, OBE KAMPALA: Rev. K. H. Sharpe Hon. Sec.: Mrs L. Bubenzer, P.O. Box 577, Hamilton, Bermuda Branches which have buildings, premises or offices. † See Rhodesia chapter in Part V of this Year Book |