May 1947

SCIENCE EXHIBITION A Science Exhibition was held on Friday and Saturday, 21st and 22nd March, 1947. The object was two-fold: to enable parents and friends to see the type of work done in Science in the normal School course, and to bring to the notice of boys and parents alike applications of science which cannot normally be shown in School.

The opening ceremony was performed by Sir Francis W. Terry, J.P., who, on touching a switch, set off a flash and unveiled a delightfully executed display representing the chief branches of science— physics, chemistry, biology, and geography. Sir Francis said he was amazed at the comprehensive nature of the exhibition, and assured the boys that work in the scientific field is without doubt contributing to the production so urgently needed by the country at the present time. The Headmaster added that the exhibition provided definite proof that the School had settled down again to its ordinary routine after the disturbances and improvisations forced upon us by the war.

The exhibition was distributed throughout twenty rooms in the Science block and main building. About eighty boys were engaged on 100 experiments, exhibits, or demonstrations. More than 300 people signed the Visitors' Book, but many came who did not leave us their signatures. Announcements were transmitted throughout the buildings by means of loudspeakers.

It is impossible here to indicate the range covered by the numerous experiments and difficult to pick out even the most outstanding.

Among the most popular items were in physics : liquid oxygen, high voltage experiments, colour and fluorescence, and the Wimshurst machine; in biology: the very effective display of tropical and cold water aquaria and the beating heart. The Chemistry Lab., with its interesting range of experiments from the water conjurer to explosives and artificial silk, was always crowded, whilst in the geography section much interest was shown in the voyages of S.S. "Mountpark," a ship "adopted" by the School.

We are greatly indebted to friends of the School and firms in York who helped us, in particular for the exhibits concerned with the manufacture of a newspaper, railway signalling, fluorescence, plastics, paints and varnishes, and for a sound recording unit. Many people took the opportunity of making gramophone records of their voices.

The exhibition received wide publicity. It was mentioned in five northern newspapers, two of which printed photographs. Reference was also made to it in the B.B.C. broadcast feature "News of the North," on the Friday evening. We can rightly claim that the exhibition was very successful.

5