June 1951

THE SCIENCE EXHIBITION On Friday, 4th May, the Seventh Science Exhibition, which had had to be postponed from the end of the Easter term, was formally declared open by E. Wilfrid Taylor, Esq., C.B.E. These exhibitions, which had originated under the inspiration of Mr. C. R. Featherstone in 1924, were held triennially until 1939, with one break in 1936. In 1947 they were revived under the Chairmanship of Mr. E. K. Robinson. For the original Exhibition in 1924 it was the proud boast in the report in "The Peterite" that it had occupied all eight rooms in the Science Block. That this present Exhibition should occupy not only every available inch in the Science Block but also every room in the Main building, as well as many `outposts', is clear proof of the widening scope of the Exhibition and of the increase in the Scientific interests of the School.

At the Opening Ceremony, when the Headmaster, in introducing Mr. Taylor, had referred to his great scientific ability and his practical services to Science, Mr. Taylor after defining Science as "systematised knowledge" proceeded briefly to trace the development of Scientific thought from the time when all natural manifestations were put down to the supernatural until the present. After pointing out the great work done by Englishmen in scientific development, Mr. Taylor referred to the impossibility at the present day of living without the help of Science. Mr. Taylor then formally opened the Exhibition by unveiling a previously veiled exhibit, which symbolised Science in all its branches, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography, encircling a moving solar system and a metronome, to symbolise Space and Time.

Meteorology was sufficiently and persistently represented by the weather outside, as it rained continuously throughout the Exhibition.

It had been intended immediately after the opening to release six hydrogen-filled balloons, carrying messages in three languages and an international stamp, but this ceremony had to be postponed until the weather was rather less unkind.

Into details of all the Exhibits it is impossible to go, so vast was the scope of the Exhibition. To get anything like a comprehensive idea of all there was to see the full two days of the Exhibition were necessary, and even then there was only time for a cursory glance at many of the exhibits. Every taste, however catholic, was catered for.

Some were most impressed by the model of the Atomic Pile `Gleep', skilfully built by Everitt, or the Atomic Bomb, made by Holt. Some were attracted by the entertainment value of the Wimshurst Machine, demonstrated by Ibberson and Grainger; others thought most of the various light and radiation experiments. In the Chemistry department Smithson's exposition of Colloids was impressive, while Goodburn's demonstration of Catalysis was, at times, distincly exciting. To the unscientific mind the demonstration of Glass Blowing, by Potter and 20