General Meeting Minutes for 1985

A General Meeting of the British Mathematical Colloquium was held in Lady Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Site, University of Cambridge at 2.00 p.m. on Wednesday, 3rd April 1985.

Dr Garling was in the chair and opened the meeting at 2.15 p.m.
  1. The minutes of the Bristol AGM were accepted without comment.
  2. Matters arising:
    On item 6, Dr Garling read out paragraph 6 of the Bristol Committee meeting's minutes. Dr Sproston proposed and Professor Cassels seconded that, as the committee recommended, there be no change in the rule regarding questions at evening lectures.
  3. The accounts of the 36th BMC were accepted unquestioningly.
  4. Future BMCs:
    Dr Johnson invited the BMC to Nottingham on the 3rd to the 7th of April 1989. This was accepted by and with acclamation.
    Dr G R Everest invited the BMC to East Anglia on the 2nd to the 6th of April 1990. This was similarly accepted.
  5. BMC Committee:
    The LMS representatives were nominated to be Dr A R Pears and Professor J S Pym.
    The EMS representatives were nominated to be Dr I T A C Adamson and Dr H R Dowson.
    Current serving members of the committee are Dr B Bollobás (Cambridge)(1), Dr D J H Garling (Cambridge)(1), Dr. C J Mulvey (Sussex)(3), Dr J O'Connor (St. Andrews)(1), Dr J P Sproston (Hull)(3). (Number of years' service in parentheses).
    Further nominations were made en bloc for Dr R C Mason (Cambridge), Dr F J Yeadon (Hull), Dr D Strauss (Hull), Professor P Vámos (Exeter), Dr D L Johnson (Nottingham).
    There were no further nominations, and the committee was approved nem.con. (There are thus 3 vacant places).
  6. Professor R Schwarzenberger of the LMS and Dr A C McBride of the EMS were re-elected as honorary auditors by acclamation.
  7. There were two items under Any Other Business.

    Professor Vámos noted the rapidly escalating costs, particularly with regard to meals at BMCs, and made the suggestion that a cheaper and lighter lunch was provided. There was some discussion concerning the high cost in Cambridge. It was observed by Dr Garling that Cambridge operated commercially as a conference centre, and that costs were known to be high many years ago. He assured the membership that all efforts would be made to keep the cost of future BMCs as low as possible. It was also pointed out that the food in Caius represented excellent value for money. No comment was made regarding Trinity College.

    Professor Rogers asked that, in view of the length of time being taken over meals and the subsequent journey to the Sidgwick site, that Thursday's splinter groups begin at 2.15 p.m., and Professor Hoare's talk begin at 8.45 p.m. on Thursday evening. Dr Mason agreed to implement this. Dr Garling encouraged members to attend Professor Hoare's talk, in spite of its proximity to Good Friday.
  8. The meeting thanked Dr. Mason and the rest of the Cambridge organisers for arranging such an enjoyable meeting. The meeting closed at 2.35 p.m.
Minutes signed by R C Mason (undated).