Twenty-One Years of the ACS

artistically on a board or scroll and a small number of names could be added annually from among both living and dead statisticians with the former also receiving a suitably inscribed certificate. Heald's own suggestions for the first three deceased candidates would be Arthur Haygarth, Cecil Spiegelhalter and F.S.Ashley-Cooper but he points out that in time all dead statisticians worthy ofthe honour would be listed. Everyone will have their own ideas on those who should be honoured. It is a solemn thought in passing that in its first 21 years the ACS has already suffered the loss of such distinguished names - in alphabetical order - as Bowen, Carman, Fielding, Fordham, Heesom, Newnham,Scheele, Sichel, Tratalos and Wagg,which represents a heavy toll. Heald first suggested the idea ofa Roll at the 1977 AGM as an alternative to a committee recommendation that the ACS should elect a president annually. It was to be seen as a reward for distinguished services to statistical research and Leslie Fielding accepted nomination. In what is recalled as one of the more embarrassing AGM events - even by ACS standards at that time - the plan for a president was first strongly criticised and eventually rejected,though only by an 18-17 margin. Members always seemed to be on their guard - positively bolshy in fact - against committee innovations during this period and a year later a proposal to introduce ' ^ ' honorary life membership for deserving individuals was also turned down. Eight years later proposals to have a president and honorary life members sailed through a general meeting without Ficiding, of course, and he was the Brian Heald first to suggest finally at the 1977 meeting that the idea of a president should be dropped. Heald (born 1938)added to what had always been a strong Yorkshire representation on the committee when he joined it in 1988. A civil servant in the Customs and Excise department,he has lived in Essex for many years but has seldom missed a Scarborough festival during the past 45 seasons and he also remains an avid supporter of Hull Kingston Rovers rugby league club. Other hobbies include transport systems, especially trains and buses, and he enjoys most kinds of music, especially 1930's Delta Blues. In addition to more than 3,500 cricket books, he has a collection of over 600 cricket ties. Among his ACS work has been an important contribution to the Indian guide and in recent years he has