Joseph Banks Society News Spring 2019

SIR JOSEPH“Traces of you are to be found in every corner” BANKS Society Magazine Spring/Summer 2019 Chairman’s Letter Welcome to the Spring Edition of the Sir Joseph Banks Society Magazine – Society Chairman, Bob Wayne pictured at the Royal Geographical Society much has changed since you received Special Collections inspecting Joseph Banks’ personal travel cooking equipment. the last edition. The Society has a new chairman; for those of you who don’t know me, I have been involved from the earliest days of the creation of the Society. I always say that my interest in Banks is geographical; firstly because my father was a New Zealander – as many members of my family still are. Secondly, I am the immediate neighbour of the Banks Centre in Horncastle and am the man who has held the spare key and changed the lightbulbs over many years. I have also served as Editor of this magazine. Sadly, for health and personal reasons, we have lost our long serving Secretary Pearl Wheatley MBE. Then for similar reasons her successor Patrick Cordingley and our Treasurer Chrissie Chapman have resigned. We have also lost our recent past Chairman Jean Shaftoe who has a book project urgently needing completion. The Society is deeply grateful for their service. The loss of these Trustees could have been crippling but happily Richard Locke-Wheaton has stepped into the Treasurer’s role and Paul Scott, who has an unrivalled knowledge of Banks has rejoined the Trustees. We have also been joined by Sue Sargeant whose organisational skills will be very valuable. Last – but no means least – we now have or own in-house digital technology expert, Trevor Olsson. We are still however looking for our next Secretary! Bob Wayne Inside this issue... All aboard the Banks’ Love Lincs Cosmetics from ‘Boston Belle’ Mushroom Plants Botanics Page 2 Page 2 Page 3 Pages 4 Sir Joseph Banks and Professor The Lane-Claypon Book Review the North West Passage Libby John Sisters King of all Balloons Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8

Events: All aboard the ‘Boston Belle’ Members have a wonderful opportunity The expedition will involve trips ashore exactly the kind of leisure activity that to follow in Sir Joseph Banks’ wake up to collect plant specimens to add to the Sir Joseph himself relished. the river Witham this summer. Herbarium Project, a talk linking Sir Joseph’s plant-hunting activities Keep an eye on the events page of the The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust in with the plant collecting carried out for Sir Joseph Banks Society’s website for conjunction with the Sir Joseph Banks the Love Lincolnshire Plants Project – further details. Society is organising a plant-hunting and food and fellowship. trip which involves sailing up the River Witham as far as Anton’s Gowt. The aim of the trip is to replicate Banks’ An unseasonable occurrence in the cellar of the late Mushroom Sir Joseph Banks may be acceptable in the mention, and excite particular sympathy in persons who re-create with the The secondhand book sellers in Horncastle have juice of the vine: as a fact it may tend to elucidate the origin now grown accustomed to my insatiable and nature of vegetable fungi, particularly of that species appetite for all things Joseph Banks, and will termed mushroom. The worthy baronet had a cask of wine willingly throw any scraps they find over to me. rather too sweet for immediate use; he therefore directed that it should be placed in a cellar, in order that the saccharine However, even I was surprised when Rachel matter it contained might be more perfectly decomposed Martin who owns and runs Hemingway’s by age. At the end of three years, he directed his butler to Collectable & Antiquarian Books contacted me ascertain the state of the wine, when, on attempting to open about the Banks mushroom. Rachel has recently the cellar door, he could not effect it, in consequence of some been infected by the Banks bug, and often scans powerful obstacle. The door was cut down, and the cellar indices of suitably aged books for any references found to be completely filled with a firm fungous vegetable to Joseph Banks. The snippet opposite was production – so firm that it was necessary to use the axe contained within a 19th Century day/year book for its removal. This appeared to have grown from, or have which was published a few years after been nourished by, the decomposed particles of wine: the his death. cask was empty, and carried up to the ceiling, where it was supported by the surface of the fungus. This sinister and almost ‘Orwellian’ fungus must have been huge and is perhaps indicative of the strength of the brew contained within the Banks cellars. There is no clue which cellar the story relates to, perhaps Revesby, or Overton Hall, are the best contenders, being only visited by Banks once a year. Pardon the pun, but if anyone can throw any further light over this mushroom story we would be delighted to hear from them. Paul Scott 2 SIR JOSEPH BANKS Society

#LoveLincsPlants The Love Lincolnshire Plants Project, undertaken Love Lincs Plants in partnership with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Lincolnshire Herbarium Trust, the University of Lincoln, London’s Alisma plantago-aquatica L. Natural History Museum and the Lincolnshire Naturalists’ Union, has Water-plantain reached an exciting stage in its development. www.joseph-banks.org.uk 3 The aim of the project is to collect and preserve plant specimens growing in Lincolnshire today. The specimens will be stored in an environment-controlled herbarium and housed in special cabinets at the Sir Joseph Banks Centre in Bridge Street, Horncastle. Recent trustee meetings have been focused on the practical problems caused by installing contemporary storage cabinets in an eighteenth- century building! The cabinets were installed, after squeezing through the doorways, and have started to fill up with specimens as you receive your Spring/ Summer Magazine and Membership Renewal Notice. Scanned images, updates and project notes can be found on the Society’s website: www.joseph-banks.org.uk click on “Botany’. The project has involved scores of volunteers spending hundreds of hours in the painstaking process of obtaining specimens, drying and mounting them on archival paper, and recording the botanical details and collection locations. All the partners are devoting significant resources to the three-year project, but the bulk of the funding has been contributed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Stuart Crooks

fCroosmmetics Botanics SJB Society members lead the way In December 2018 Dr Simon Jackson, deep and lifelong interest in plants with Closer to home, the Society’s most founder of Modern Botany contacted the potential to benefit humankind. recent Trustee, Sue Sargeant is pictured Society Membership Secretary, Stuart His studies have been sustained and above at the Sir Joseph Banks Centre Crooks thanking him for his welcome extensive. in Horncastle where she and her fellow pack and introducing himself and his SJB Ltd colleagues are stocking several business: “I am a big fan of Joseph Dr Jackson explains the distinguishing ranges of botanically-inspired products Banks, my career has followed a similar quality of his cosmetic range is that that are definitely SJB appropriate! path in botany. I worked at Kew and his focus is on ‘personal care rather now live in rural Ireland making natural than beauty/cosmetic products and we Heather Slater products. See my website: want to highlight the importance of skin www.modernbotany.com” health’. Modern Botany is introducing a new line of products available online this Intrigued, I did research his business year which is promised to be innovative online. Dr Jackson clearly has had a and 100% natural. Field distillation in Zimbabwe 4 SIR JOSEPH BANKS Society

Sir Joseph Banks and the North West Passage “Wide as the world is, traces of you are to be found in every corner of it” Robert Hobart, 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire - 1791 Once again, on our travels, this time William Scoresby Jnr in Arctic Canada, we discovered just how true that quotation is, depicted 1789-1857 most beautifully in Lincoln Cathedral’s memorial and used as a strapline on Whitby Museum the Joseph Banks webpage. On this occasion, we found the spur to serious the NWP would shave 2,500 miles off a the time of year) wind and ice conditions scientific Arctic exploration came from voyage from Europe to South Asia and rendered the regular passageway Sir Joseph, not surprisingly in his role as prevent that long and dangerous haul entirely blocked, mainly with old ice President of the Royal Society. So how round Cape Horn. heading down from the North Pole.  did that “giant step for mankind” come about?  Therefore, after Sir Joseph’s However, forecasts continue to intervention and personal indicate the Arctic ice is receding year Arctic whaling ship Captains had encouragement, based upon William on year, as verified by NASA satellite been recording changes in sea ice Scoresby’s reports, the Royal Navy images, so Canada endeavours to conditions since 1790 and in 1817, launched numerous Arctic expeditions, maintain sovereignty over the land the most successful whaler of them initially under Captains Ross and territories and waters right up to all, William Scoresby Jnr from Whitby Buchan, with varying degrees of the North Pole, where fish, oil and published his “Arctic Whaling Journals success. The rest, as they say, is history. gas deposits are rich. The USA and 1811-1813”. Sir Joseph met Scoresby Russia contest their jurisdiction in London and was very impressed with  Man had been trying to locate however, maintaining the waters are what he had to say. Scoresby asked if a fabled NWP since times of the “international”. he could approach the Royal Society for Norsemen and the supposed benefits to some of the extensive resources at their commerce apply equally today – oil from Sir Joseph’s utopian vision about disposal to be invested in further Arctic Alaska and Canadian minerals would be Arctic exploration can be forgiven, exploration. delivered more speedily and at less cost. written from a comfortable armchair, Aah, if only that were true. but Scoresby had spent his life in the Consultation of the Minutes of the Arctic; he had served from age 11 years Royal Society Council for 20 November  The number of ships that actually as cabin boy on his father’s whalers 1817 reveals that a motion was passed make the transit, during a very narrow so he knew only too well the harsh and to contact Sir John Barrow (1764-1848) window of opportunity, is very small unforgiving environment of the region, Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty, a and often the services of a Canadian where many men were sent and never role Sir John Barrow held for 40 years. Coastguard Icebreaker is required, so returned. The uncharted areas are still The missive from Sir Joseph to the any cost differentiation must be slight.  undergoing mapping to aid shipping Admiralty concludes.... and commerce but at the end of the Indeed, in September 2018 with all day, Mother Nature of course has the “Voyages of exploration high tech equipment on board, our last word. to the uncharted Norwegian vessel MV Fram could not Arctic Seas will lead actually take us right through: we could Christine Chapman to the advancement of only stand and stare as the (unusual for science and the future intercourse of mankind and the commerce of distant nations”.  The Admiralty seized Sir Joseph’s proposals with relish for multiple reasons: the Napoleonic wars were over and the Royal Navy had a lot of surplus ships and surplus crews. Furthermore, locating the elusive North West Passage (NWP) from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, would bring prestige to the British Empire and enhance commerce: www.joseph-banks.org.uk 5

Women Scientists lead and intrigue the Sir Joseph Banks Society known but very significant early C20th of breast feeding and the causes of still epidemiologist , Janet Lane-Claypon. birth and breast cancer. Lane- Claypon Miss Lane-Claypon was the sister of pioneered the use of cohort studies in Mrs May Cheales, the botanical artist. epidemiology and left medicine to join See Stuart Crooks’ article opposite for the Civil Service to advise on health more background on this fascinating policy . pair of sisters. In questioning why Lane-Claypon Janet Lane-Claypon’s Building is wasn’t recognised for her stellar sited alongside laboratories named contribution to the development after other eminent, and much better- of public health studies Professor known, Lincolnshire scientists – Isaac John concludes that this was almost Newton and Joseph Banks. certainly because she was a woman Professor John has lectured at studying women’s health issues. The the Women in Science Technology fact that she retired early wouldn’t Professor Libby John Engineering and Mathematics have helped her secure recognition. The Society’s president is Professor conference held at Lincoln University The naming of the undergraduate Libby John. Professor John is Pro Vice- on the importance of giving a strong studies laboratory building on the Chancellor and Head of Science and message in celebrating women Brayford Campus after Janet Lane- Engineering at Lincoln University. She scientists’ achievements by naming Claypon showed absolutely that is determined that women not only be buildings after them. In her lecture women scientists were capable of encouraged to engage in science but Professor John outlines Lane- excelling and just as importantly also that their achievements should Claypon’s brilliant and pioneering that we all were finally capable of be properly acknowledged. To this end career. She qualified in medicine with recognising that potential. a first-class degree and concentrated Watch Professor John’s lecture in full Professor John successfully lobbied her scientific research on reproductive online: https//www.tedxbrayfordpool. to have a new laboratory complex at Lincoln University named after a little- physiology topics including the value com/tedxwomen Heather Slater “ The balloon might be greater than anything since the invention of shipping” Sir Joseph Banks On March 2nd Mark Davies author of King of all Balloons The Adventurous Life of James Sadler, the First English Aeronaut, gave a lecture on the life and career of James Sadler an Oxford pastry cook who pioneered ballooning in England. Mark, pictured opposite signing copies of the book following the lecture tailored his lecture to the Sir Joseph Banks Society by explaining how Banks progressed from his initially rapturous response to his final assessment that ballooning was never going to be any more than a mere entertainment. The book is reviewed on page 8. 6 SIR JOSEPH BANKS Society

The Lane-Claypon Sisters Janet Lane-Claypon church there are around a dozen of Joan Gibbons, includes historical notes her accomplished biblical paintings. about many Lincolnshire botanists, In the Spring/Summer 2018 edition of Parishioners were recruited as models, among whom are Sir Jospeh Banks the Society’s Magazine we reported and some local people can identify who, she says, “should be the most the discovery of a series of botanical the faces of their relatives in the many important botanist of the county”, and watercolours by May Lane-Claypon that luminous figures in these paintings. On Miss E M Lane-Claypon “a keen young had languished in a cloth bag for over the vestry screen and around the altar of L.N.U. member in the 1980s, painting 100 years. Since then we have held two the Lady Chapel there are paintings of flowers and fungi with great skill”. After exhibitions of her work and discovered angels in the style of Fra Angelico, with her husband’s death she attended some more about her life and family. faces also modelled on local people. L.N.U. meetings and “was pleased to These are finely painted and are set off talk of wild flowers up to her death, at After May married the Rev Cheales by gold paint for the backgrounds. And the age of 91 in 1964, and remembered of Friskney in 1905 she gave up her the church owns portraits painted by where she had found them”. Whilst we botanical work and devoted her life to May of her husband and the organist, now have her wildflower paintings – the church and parish life. But she did Henry Russell. over 800 studies in all – it would be not entirely abandon her artistic pursuits. good to know what happened to her Hanging on the walls of Friskney In 1980 Brother Kenneth of the fungi paintings. Community of the Glorious Ascension published his second volume More A little more of May’s family Saints of the Twentieth Century which background has emerged. Her father includes a chapter about May. He had was a wealthy banker (and first-class advertised in local newspapers for cricketer) and in 1878 bought Tytton information about her life and work, Hall in Wyberton near Boston. Here and the notes he assembled are now May and her siblings grew up. She had in the care of Lincoln Central Library. two brothers – Joseph who published The story he paints is one of a devout lepidoptera records in his youth and and hard-working vicar’s wife who did became a Lieutenant in the Lincolnshire much to foster community life in the Regiment and later a solicitor, and parish of Friskney, including founding Edward who trained as a priest and later and running Scouts, Guides, and Cubs became a market gardener. But it was and Brownies. He draws attention to her sister Janet who became the most her paintings in the church, to the war famous, being an eminent physician memorial in the churchyard which she and a pioneer of epidemiology. The designed, and to the memorial erected University of Lincoln has recently named over the grave of her husband. Yet one their buildings after her which there is no mention of her botanical houses laboratories of the School of Life works of which he seems to have been Sciences. unaware. May appears to have put her wildflower interest behind her when she The University celebrates in the names became Mrs Cheales, yet we know she of its buildings many notable figures of did not altogether forget the pastime Lincolnshire’s scientific and cultural elite, which occupied many of her teen years including Alfred Lord Tennyson, Isaac and early twenties, for we know that Newton, George Boole and of course she carefully stored her best paintings Sir Joseph Banks. It is good that Janet and after her husband’s death in 1948 Lane-Claypon is included in this array of donated them to the Lincolnshire talent. Perhaps we should look for some Naturalists’ Union. In the Flora of recognition too for her sister and for this Lincolnshire published in 1975 its author, remarkable Lincolnshire family. Stuart Crooks Janet Lane-Claypon Building www.joseph-banks.org.uk 7

Banks Taking an indirect route to show leadership of Aidan Neary demonstrated Explored the present day Revesby Abby and the preparation of specimens for the surrounding parkland the coach then 21st Century Herbarium housed in On Wednesday 20th March over 50 arrived at St Benedict’s church at the Centre. ‘explorers’ from Lincolnshire and Scrivelsby, the adjoining estate village. Nottinghamshire made up a coach party Scrivelsby is the ancestral home of the The Banks connection with the final entitled ‘Explore the Explorers’ hosted by Marmion / Dymoke families who since church, St Margaret’s at Thimbleby, is Explore Churches. Norman times have been successive a bit more tenuous but the similarity monarch’s champions. The current between the construction of the still The explorer in question was of course owner Francis Dymoke told the visitors standing 16thC mud and stud cottages Sir Joseph Banks and so the tour of that the Banks and Dymoke families and those built by the original settlers local churches started at the church of would have known each other well in Jamestown USA certainly indicates St Lawrence on the picturesque village indeed they co-operated in the building the presence of a Lincolnshire craftsman green at Revesby. The church was built of the Horncastle Canal which ran amongst the early settlers. in late 19thC decorative style by the through Scrivelsby land. Stanhope family, kinsmen to Sir Joseph, St Lawrence Church, Revesby to replace the earlier church built in The next church was St Mary’s, 1733 by Sir Joseph’s great grandfather Horncastle where the Rector Charles Joseph Banks. Patrick said the church has had a long association with Banks, Sir Joseph was The Rector Andrew Roberts gave a Lord of the Manor of Horncastle and talk about the Banks family and pointed there are ledger stones of his forbears in out the various Banks-related treasures the chancel. in the church to be followed by the present owner of the Revesby Estate After a fine lunch of Lincolnshire fare Gavin Wiggins-Davies who described the party divided to look round the how the estate works. town; many opted to visit the Banks Centre where volunteers from the Love Lincolnshire Plants Project under the Book Review King of all Balloons This book was right up my alley, as they known aeronaut onto the page. The say – I’ve found balloon flight endlessly book has plenty of detail and a pace fascinating since, as a child of 7, my that crackles along – H. G. Wells or Jules brother received an enormous Easter Verne could easily have manufactured egg in the guise of the Montgolfier this story but as they say, truth is Brothers balloon, complete with a write- stranger than fiction. up about their wonderful flight. Probably another cliche’d occasion when the Christine Chapman children preferred playing with the box rather than the contents! Anyone who Published 2015 Amberley Publishing has spent time in a library or archive, ISBN 978 I 4456 5308 2 (hardback) will understand just how much research ISBN 978 I 4456 5309 9 (ebook) Mark has carried out to bring this little Patrons: Sir David Attenborough and The Rt Hon The Lord Waldegrave of North Hill President: Professor Libby John Sir Joseph Banks Society Trustees: Bob Wayne (Chairman), Jim Hopkins MBE Stuart Crooks (VIce-Chairman and Membership Secretary), Richard Locke-Wheaton (Treasurer), Hon Secretary - Position Vacant, Sad news of the death of Sir Joseph Heather Slater, Lady Sally Bruce-Gardyne (Garden Supervisor), Banks Society’s founding Treasurer Trevor Olsson (Website), Sue Sargeant and Paul Scott was received as this magazine Contacts went to press. An obituary will be published in the Autumn edition. Magazine Editor: Heather Slater Letters to the editor and proposals for articles are always welcome. Email: [email protected] Sir Joseph Banks Centre – Headquarters and Shop 9-13 Bridge Street, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, LN9 5HZ • Shop: 01507 526065 Email: [email protected] • Website: www.joseph-banks.org.uk Registered Charity Number: 1127728 The masthead image on the front cover is of Joseph Banks, age 29, on his return from the Endeavour voyage. It was painted by Benjamin West in 1772, and shows him wearing a Maori flax cloak. Courtesy Lincolnshire County Council Designed and Printed by Cupit Print, Horncastle • www.cupitprint.co.uk