THE Haslemere Society has unveiled its first blue plaque, in honour of Sir Archibald Geikie a famous resident who was president of the Geological Society and one of the founder members of Haslemere Museum. Sir Archibald Geike, born in Edinburgh in 1835, moved to the town in 1913 and lived at Shepherd's Down, Hill Road, with his wife and daughters until his death in 1924. Guest of honour at the former home of Sir Archibald was palaeontologist Richard Fortey, president of The Geological Society and representing the president of The Royal Society, of which Mr Fortey is also a fellow. Over 30 people gathered at Shepherd's Down, now the home of Dick and Sally Akers for the ceremony and afterwards at Haslemere Museum where an exhibition of works and memorabilia of Sir Archibald was on display. The unveiling was hosted by Haslemere Society chairman David Smith, who welcomed guests and thanked Bernard Coe, president of Haslemere Educational Museum, which had sponsored the event. Haslemere Society committee member Chris Harrison, gave a brief history of blue plaque schemes. He explained the scheme in London is one of the oldest of its kind in the world and has been running for over 140 years. The Society of Arts (later Royal Society of Arts) founded an official plaques scheme for the capital and the first was erected, to the poet Lord Byron, in 1867. Today there are over 800 plaques in London. The London scheme is operated by English Heritage but most schemes in the country are run by local civic societies, and this is why the Haslemere Society decided to introduce one. There are 30 potential candidates for plaques in Haslemere, although not all meet the criteria, which is that candidate must: l have been dead for 20 years or have passed the centenary of their birth, whichever is the earlier. l be considered eminent by a majority of members of their own profession; have made an outstanding contribution to human welfare or happiness; have lived in the area for a significant period, in time or importance. l be recognisable to the well-informed passer-by, or deserve national recognition. l not be commemorated by the society with more than two plaques. Mr Coe presented a brief biography, explaining that December 28 was chosen as it was Sir Archibald's birthday. Lack of finance forced him to quit classics studies at Edinburgh University, but a keen amateur geologist, he joined the Scottish Geological Survey. His repuation grew rapidly and in 1861 – at just 25 – he was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and six years later, a fellow of the Royal Society. He became a director of the Geological Survey of the United Kingdom in 1881, president of the Geological Society in 1889, was knighted in 1891, and became Royal Society president in 1908. In 1913 he received the Order of Merit. After his retirement to Haslemere in 1913, he became chairman of Haslemere Educational Museum and played a signifiicant role in securing the museum's long term future. He headed a committee and raised £2,000, enough to keep the museum going during the First World War. He also helped find better premises, at its present site.
