Anniversary Dinner 1967

Abstract

Speech by Sir Kenneth Wheare at the Anniversary Dinner, The Dorchester, 30 November 1967 It is a particular personal pleasure for me tonight to be allowed to propose the toast of the Royal Society, and for this reason—I work in Oxford, the leading British Scientific University, and working there, I have for many years rubbed shoulders with many Fellows of the Royal Society and I can claim that even today after a recent period as Vice-Chancellor I am still on speaking terms with a considerable number of the Fellows—some three or four I think at the last count, a very high record. Now, as you know, an Oxford man and an Australian—and I am both—never boasts. They are almost pathologically modest, and it would therefore be entirely out of character for me tonight to remind you, Mr President, that three out of your four immediate predecessors were Oxford professors. I pass the subject by. Could I just for one moment refer to one of them, a friend of us all, Sir Cyril Hinshelwood, with whom for many years I was associated as colleague and friend. His recent and sudden death was a great loss to us all and I would like to say here tonight how deeply we all regret his passing from us.