One has only to glance down the list of past presidents, which includes Sylvester, Whitehead, Nunn, Hardy and Eddington, to be acutely conscious of the honour of occupying this chair. It would be pleasant to be able to sing, with the King of Barataria, that “the duties are delightful and the privileges great.” The chief duty appears to be the delivery of a presidential address—hardly a pleasure even for the deliverer—and privileges there are none. I notice, however, that I am the fiftieth president of this Association, and that if the A.I.G.T. is included I represent the 57th variety. I am only the third former member of Her Majesty's Inspectorate (which is much older than this Association) to hold office, the others being Mr. W. C. Fletcher and Miss L. D. Adams, in 1939 and 1960 respectively.