Walking Club

In this way stresses in structural engineering were demonstrated by a model of the footbridge over Clifton, and principles of electronics by an ear-piercing embryo electronic organ. The chemistry of photography and the principle of the telephone were two more exhibits of interest, even to someone with no knowledge whatever of science. Perhaps the most topical demonstration of all came in the oil industry exhibit, where the recent Torrey Canyon disaster gave an immediate relevance to the oil disposal methods demonstrated there, while the prize for the most spectacular exhibit would surely be given, by those lucky enough to see it, to the display of auto-destructive vacuum flasks in the liquid oxygen demonstrations.

The exhibitors demonstrating "neat" science did a difficult job well, and often made up for the complexities of their subjects by their enthusiasm, which quality made even such unpromising material as periodic tables interesting. Mention must be made of the School Research Project, sponsored by the Royal Society, "Orientation in Aromatic Substitution", an advanced cycle of experiments explained superlatively well by the demonstrators.

It was not always the most advanced demonstrations that were the most absorbing, however, for Fifth Form experiments in Gas Chromatography and Mendelean inheritance were interesting because of the willingness of the demonstrator to give more information than the bare essentials for the understanding of the experiment. This same knowledge of the subject and willingness to explain fully made the Bernonilli principle and 3 cm. wave experiments two of the most fascinating in the exhibition.

As has been shown here, it was to a large extent the attitude and knowledge of the demonstrators rather than the complexities of the demonstrations that made the exhibition a success, for it was a success, not on the superficial level of spectacular pseudo-science, but on the deeper level of sound scientific achievement in the School.

The weather this term has been remarkably mild, but unfortunately this meant being robbed of the pleasure of "snow walks"—one of the attractions of walking in the Easter Term.

We started the term with some new faces, and some veterans from the Christmas Term. The fact that the Walking Club now runs for three terms a year makes walking the most major sport of the School!

The area of our walks was more constrained than last term, ranging from Burton Leonard to Bedale (this always seems to be a popular request walk), Rosedale to Hawnly. However, this triangle was well-explored, and the variety of walks included numerous woods, rivers and streams. Many enjoyments, exhibitions and pleasures were exercised on the walks, including notably someone showing his prowess as a mountaineer on the Rosedale Railway.

This term we lost Mr. Riley as chauffeur for a few walks, but we are indebted to both him and Mr. Coulthard for their assistance and perseverance, for although the number of back-seat drivers has not increased, the volume has!

The members of the Club were : Les, Macleod, Q. Gray, McKay, Plaits, Fairclough, Fairhurst, Howat, Little, Wilks, Dingwall, Cawood, Pick, and we welcomed back Skerrett for some walks.