Record

Performance TitleRoyal Society Tercentenary Celebrations - Formal Opening by Her Majesty The Queen
Performance Date19 July 1960
Performance DayTuesday
Performance Time14:45
Main PerformersSir Cyril Hinshelwood OM - President,
Prof. D Graffi,
Prof. J Lecomte,
Sir John Eccles,
King Gustaf VI of Sweden,
HM Queen Elizabeth II - speakers,
Dr G Thalben-Ball - organ
Orchestra or BandRoyal Military School of Music Trumpeters and Band
ConductorsLt.-Colonel David McBain,
Sir Arthur Bliss (Master of the Queen's Musick)
Set ListProcession of Fellows,
'Welcome The Queen', Bliss (Thalben-Ball, Royal Military School of Music Band and Trumpeters),
Speech (King Gustaf VI Of Sweden)
Speech (HM Queen Elizabeth II),
Presentation of a silver bell to the Society's President,
Address (President),
'Salute to the Royal Society', Bliss, (Thalben-Ball, Royal Military School of Music Band and Trumpeters),
Congratulatory Address (delegates from Italy, France and Australia),
King Gustaf VI of Sweden formally admitted to the Society,
King Gustaf VI of Sweden signs Charter Book and speech of thanks,
'Overture from 'Giustino'', Handel,
'Fugue in E Flat' (St. Anne), J S Bach,
'Academic Festival Overture', Brahms,
'God Save The Queen', (National Anthem)
'Imperial March', Elgar,
'Crown Imperial', Walton
Royal PresenceHM Queen Elizabeth II,
HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh,
HM King Gustaf VI of Sweden,
HRH Queen Louise of Sweden
Performance NotesThe event was broadcast on BBC Television from 15:10-16:00.

Film footage of this event is available from British Pathe (Film ID 2970.25) running time 1min 51secs.
Associated Press Archives holds B&W British Movietone footage of the event (BM80719).

The event brought together scientists from over 50 Commonwealth and foreign countries. The event was recorded and broadcast by the BBC television with narrative by Richard Dimbleby at 15:10 and again at 22:45.

The Queen attended the event as Patron of the Royal Society and in her speech drew special attention to the increasing role of women in science.

The silver bell presented to the Society's President was cast in Edinburgh by Charles Creswick (a city silversmith and bronze founder), weighed 30 ounces and was seven inches high. The Queen had ordered the bell from the Scottish Craft Centre and took two months to create. On one side of the bell was the Royal cypher and on the other the dates 1660-1960. The handle was made of ivory and had the crest of the Society mounted on its top embossed and chased in silver. The Queen announced that it would allow the Society, '...to ring in the fourth century of your history'. The Society's President announced it would be rung at all future meetings.

Later in the day the Duke of Edinburgh introduced a special tercentenary programme for television recorded in Burlington House, London, recalling the advance of science over the past 300 years.

King Gustav of Sweden was formally admitted as an F.R.S. at the event for his archaeological work in Greece, Cyprus and Italy.

The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, Lt-Colonel the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Adeane, Mr James Orr and Lt-Commander Peter Campbell RN were in attendance.
Related Archival MaterialProgramme (RAHE/1/1960/79)
Catalogue
Reference NumberTitleDate
RAHE/1/1960/79Royal Society Tercentenary Celebrations - Formal Opening by Her Majesty The Queen19 July 1960
Work
Ref NoTitleNo of Performances
Ezazydoz_SeahRoyal Society Tercentenary Celebrations - Formal Opening by Her Majesty The Queen1
Performers
CodeName of Performer(s)
DS/UK/2597The Duke of Edinburgh; Prince Philip (1921-2021); British royal family member, consort to Queen Elizabeth II
DS/UK/3143Queen Elizabeth II; Queen; Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (21 April 1926-8 September 2022); Queen of the British Isles, Constitutional Monarch of the Commonwealth, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Defender of the Faith
DS/UK/2351Royal Military School of Music; Royal Military Band; c1857-; British military band
DS/UK/7050Bliss; Sir; Arthur (2 August 1891-27 March 1975); CH KCVO; English composer and conductor
DS/UK/1233Ball; Sir; George Thomas Thalben- (1896-1987); English organist, composer
DS/UK/12324McBain; David (fl 1950s-1960s); British conductor
DS/UK/12325Hinshelwood; Sir; Cyril Norman (1897-1967); OM PRS; English physical chemist
DS/UK/12327Eccles; Sir; John Carew (1903-1997); Australian neurophysiologist
DS/UK/12328King Gustaf VI; Oscar Fredrik Wilhelm Olaf Gustaf Adolf (1882-1973); Swedish King of Sweden
DS/UK/12329Mountbatten; Louise Alexandra Marie Irene (1889-1965); Swedish royal family member, consort to King Gustaf VI
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