THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FORENSIC SCIENCE SOCIETY

On the evening of Friday, 30th October, 1959, about fifty scientists, patholo-
gists, police surgeons, lawyers and police officers attended a reception given by
the Lord Mayor and Corporation of the City of Nottingham. This was a
prelude to the meeting, held the following day, at Nottingham University,
which resulted in the founding of The Forensic Science Society.
The decision to call this meeting was the result of conversations between the
convener, Mr. S. S. Kind (Home Office Forensic Science Laboratory, Harrogate,
England) and other interested persons over a number of years. The purposes
of The Forensic Science Society are ably stated elsewhere in this issue by the
Chairman at the Inaugural Meeting, Dr. David Patterson (University of Leeds,
England) and need not be repeated here.
About seventy interested persons attended the morning and afternoon business
sessions. After a constitution (printed as an appendix to Dr. Patterson's
address) had been adopted, elections for the officers were held.
On the evening of Saturday, 31st October, the first function of the newly
constituted Society was to hold an informal dinner at which the President
took the Chair and the Guest of Honour was the Sheriff of Nottingham,
Councillor S. Hill.
The Society was fortunate in obtaining as Founder President, Dr. James
Brierley Firth, C.R.E., F.R.I.C., the eminent forensic chemist and arson
investigator. Dr. E. G. C. Clarke (Royal Veterinary College, London) was
elected Secretary. The names of the other members of the Committee are
listed on the back cover of this issue.
A wide field of investigation and progress awaits this new scientific society
and it is hoped that the initiative and enthusiasm of the founder members will
be transmitted in full to an active and swiftly increasing membership.