THE AGM preceded the April meeting and Professor Lawrenson welcomed all present. Apologies were taken, and minutes of the 34th AGM were read, proposed and seconded.

There being no matters arising the treasurer Mr Alan Chambers reported on a successful financial year, and proposed that no increases in the annual subscription of £15 would be necessary. Professor Lawrenson was pleased that membership had increased to 82 members despite losses due to health etc. The average attendance at meetings had been 50 with visitors made welcome. Speakers were regularly surprised at the number in the audience and the considerable effort to get good speakers had been worthwhile, but new ideas are always appreciated by the committee. The election of officers and committee was painless, with them being re elected en-block. They were thanked for their work throughout the year. There being no further business Mr Alan Humphries was introduced to speak and show slides on the Thackray Museum. He has worked as librarian for 20 years, and has catalogued the 16,000 books and 40,000 objects. He told how Charles Thackray set up a company with Henry Wainwright in surgical instruments behind the Town Hall in Leeds in the early 1900s. They expanded and moved to larger premises in Park Street and latterly to New Works, St Anthony’s Road in Beeston. His slides showed their wares ranging from new hip joints and saws used in amputation to sterilisers of all sizes. The company was sold in 1990 and Paul Thackray had been collecting objects prior to this, and they started looking for a building suitable for a museum. Leeds City Council offered them the old workhouse near St James’s Hospital and it was only 18 months until it was open to the public. They had a £3m grant from the Lottery, and it is self funding.

The 120 seat auditorium for conferences and payable admission keep it afloat. Since working at the museum, Mr Humpries has become interested in blue and white delft apothecary jars and he showed numerous slides, asking the audience to interpret latin words. No one guessed the earth worms or ground squirrel, which were used for various ailments. Professor Lawrenson thanked him for his interesting insight into the past but was pleased that the medical profession had moved forward. He wished everyone a good summer and looked forward to seeing them in October.