Attention is called to the infinite possibilities of obtaining the Einstein equation for the orbit of a planet by using Newtonian mechanics with an extended potential function. The merits of the other two "crucial phenomena" as such are discussed from this point of view. It is implied that, observational tests being equally satisfied, Einstein's theory is to be preferred on account of its extensive unity and the spontaneity of its results.

Mr J Combridge (B.A. 1921) has been appointed Demonstrator in Mathematics at the City and Guilds (Engineering) College, South Kensington.

Mr J T Combridge (B.A. 1921) has been appointed an assistant lecturer in mathematics at King's College, London.

John Combridge (1897-1986), whom Jeffery had supervised at King's for a MSc degree, was appointed as an assistant lecturer in 1926. Before the mid thirties only the senior members of the mathematics department had much time for research and junior members like Combridge carried a heavy teaching load. After completing his MSc, and while he was at The Royal College of Science, he published three papers on relativity but after coming to King's little more. However Combridge remained interested in the subject and corresponded extensively with Eddington, an association begun when Combridge was an undergraduate at Cambridge.

John Theodore Combridge (B.A. 1921), lecturer in mathematics at King's College, London, to Norah Elizabeth Charlwood, of Redhill - on December 30th, 1926, at Galeed Chapel, Brighton.

A member of the Mathematical Association since 1930, he was Chairman of the Teaching Committee from 1950 to 1956, President 1961-62, and for some years afterwards Chairman of the Standing Committee of Council. But also he was instrumental in the formation of the Joint Mathematical Council, and from 1964 until a professional team was appointed he undertook a major part of the administration of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. To cite only a few other activities, there was the work of the Schools and Industry Committee of the Association, forward-looking and seminal, and led so effectively by J T Combridge. A splendid conspectus 'Count me in' edited by him, grasped the problems of numeracy, or the lack of it, and a history of the Mathematical Association owes much to his spade.

In his introductory survey, Mr Combridge displays that happy knack of his, so familiar to members of the Association, of picking out the right nails and hitting them hard; his team drives the points home. Here we have ten authoritative essays which take the theme from the primary school to the Sixth form, to the problems of teacher training and adult education, and out into the fields of commerce and industry. I admire the insight and wisdom of the contributors, which, if space allowed, could be exemplified by quotation of penetrating and informative remarks from every page of the book. The case for numeracy, the ends envisaged, the means whereby those ends may be attained, all these are described in good, simple English by people who know what they are talking about; if occasionally an axe is ground, sincere enthusiasm rather than fanaticism is responsible. Mr Combridge would like the book to be read by four classes of people: parents who want to know what this "new mathematics" is doing for their children; teachers, particularly those who may be called upon to teach mathematics on a somewhat slender qualification; managers in commerce and industry who have a vague feeling that modern mathematics may have something to offer them; the ordinary citizen who, as Sir John Newsom says in his foreword, has to live "in a world whose situations and problems cannot even be described (not to say understood and tackled) without both numeracy and literacy". In other words, it is a book for all of us.

He played a leading part in managing the college's wartime precautions, including the evacuation to Bristol (1939-43). In 1947 he was appointed registrar - a new position - alongside a new secretary. This division of labour, and his administrative skill, helped him also to pursue with vigour and growing influence his wider interests in the post-war development of mathematics education.

It is certain that he felt confident that he would succeed Shovelton as Secretary, a post which the divided constitution of the King's of the time made particularly important, since the Principal had no jurisdiction over the Theological Faculty and the Dean none outside it, leaving the Secretary as the critical link. Financial considerations were perhaps not wholly absent but much more important was undoubtedly his loyalty to the college and the feeling that he could do the job well. And he entertained hopes 'of being able to keep up my mathematical reading'. No sooner had he begun, with characteristic thoroughness, to learn his new job than he had to prepare plans for the college departments to be evacuated to Bristol and Birmingham in the event of war, and then to implement these plans. ... In the event Combridge was disappointed (twice) over the Secretary's post but this was never allowed to affect for a moment his loyalty to the college or his energetic service.

Combridge determined from the beginning to pursue a scholarly course of action and read deeply in the literature of general relativity. This reading had two outcomes. Firstly, there are three bound volumes, entitled 'Notes on Relativity' which he presented to the college archives. They contain his very careful notes, abstracts and reviews, usually about two quarto pages, of one hundred published papers on relativity and supporting parts of pure mathematics. Ninety of these constitute an extensive survey of the important literature with papers each year from 1921 to 1936, with a peak in numbers between 1930 and 1933. Secondly, he compiled a more extensive bibliography of some 1,700 titles of papers in general relativity over the same period in the form of a card index, with pithy comments.

... a teacher of great distinction, [she] had joined the Association in 1934. From 1952 to 1962 she was Honorary Secretary and only those most closely involved with the administration of the Mathematical Association could realise how much time, effort and expertise she gave to that post. Later, however, her zeal and energy had another outlet when she served as Secretary of the Centenary Appeal.

Combridge was widely respected both at King's College and in the Mathematical Association, not only for his administrative skill but also for his unswerving loyalty, integrity, inspiring leadership, and sympathetic support for all sectors of the teaching profession. His very sharp but kind sense of humour helped to enliven many committee meetings and social gatherings.