A Brief History of Section 'C'

A Brief History of Section 'C'

History
Section 'C' - Past and Present (photoarchive)

In the early 19th century there was a nationwide impetus to form natural history and philosophical societies. The reasons for this are sociological as much as scientific. It was at that time that influential people realised that they could augment their status by sponsoring the development of organisations for the public good. However, they were limited in what they could choose as the focus for these societies, because the big topics of the day, religion and politics, were extremely polarised and intruded into so much of everyday life. Thus, they had to select non-controversial areas where people from different backgrounds could come together without conflict. Philosophy, literature (non-political and non-sectarian of course) and natural history were obvious choices, and just to make absolutely sure than the twin evils didn’t intrude, the founders of the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society, like many others, actually made a rule that religion and politics could not be discussed at society meetings.

The LLPS was founded in 1835 and for 14 years pursued a rather random course wherein a broad range of topics were lectured upon and discussed. In 1849, it was decided to formalise the interests of the diverse group of members, who had clearly shown their preferences for different specialities, and a number of different ‘sections’ were created under the umbrella of the parent body. Following the lead of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, these sections were lettered alphabetically, and the LLPS even allocated the same letters to the same subjects as the Association. Thus, the Geology Section became Section ‘C’ and it has remained so ever since, the only section of the LLPS to survive unchanged from its original designation and intent. Sadly, these days Section C is one of only two still in existence, the other being the Natural History Section ‘E’. The evolution of the Section hasn’t always been smooth and there were inevitable disruptions during two world wars. We also survived a very rocky spell in the early 1950’s, but right now, in 2003, we are a happy and healthy organisation with a thriving membership of around 128 persons. We offer summer and winter programmes which stand favourable comparison with any in the country, and exceed most in quantity and quality. We hold most of our meetings in the Department of Geology at Leicester University, which offers fine facilities, but we retain our historical connection with Leicester’s New Walk Museum and have three winter meetings there. We celebrated our 150th anniversary in 1999, with a formal dinner in the Museum, surrounded by the ghosts of our Victorian forerunners. We are proud of our long history and traditions, but are also a forward looking society, keen to make use of the new technological tools of the 21st century.

Section 'C' - Past and Present

1882 - A full LLPS field meeting at the Hemlock Stone, Bramcote, Nottinghamshire.

The LLPS annual report for 1882 provides an account of the excursion: "The Annual Excursion took place on Thursday, the 15th of June, to Nottingham, in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Midland Union of Natural History Societies. The weather, which had been very stormy and unsettled for some time previous, continued so up to the Wednesday evening, and probably from this cause the excursion was very scantily attended. Only 17 persons left Leicester by the 9.10 train. Carriages from Nottingham met the party at Beeston Station, and a pleasant rural drive of half an hour brought them to the Hemlock Stone, near Bramcote. Here Mr. Teale, M.A., met them and gave an interesting address upon the nature and origin of the Stone, followed by Mr. James Plant, F.G.S., who supplied some further particulars and gave his own views concerning it. The Stone itself is a very remarkable object, about 30 feet high, 20 feet long and 10 broad, consisting of a mass of pebbly sandstone traversed by many joints and fissures, the upper half being different from the lower both in structure and colour. The rock is considered to belong to the Keuper Basement Beds, and stands on the side of a hill consisting of similar strata. Several photographs were taken by Mr. J. W. Burton, and the party then drove on to Nottingham Castle, and after lunching in the Refreshment Room, followed their individual inclinations for the rest of the day. Some spent an hour or two in the fine Art Galleries of the Castle, others went into the town. The Society's delegates attended the Annual Meeting of the Union, at three o'clock, and the Soiree in the evening. The Members returned by various evening trains at their own pleasure. The excursion was much enjoyed by the few who composed the party, the weather proving finer than was expected."

2002 - British Association field excursion to Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire.

LLPS members, and other delegates at the British Association 2002 Festival of Science, at Bradgate Park, Leicester. The field meeting was organised as a prelude to a series of lectures examining new insights in Precambrian palaeontology, and formed part of the BA conference programme hosted by the University of Leicester over 9-13 September 2002. The excursion was led by Prof. Roger Mason (front row, seated on the left) and examined a number of horizons in the Charnian sequence during the day. (Picture © 2002 Andrew Swift)