‘Ladies and Gentlemen,

‘We here today to celebrate the fruitful and happy collaboration between the City of London Archaeological Society and the Museum of London, in funding of the London Archaeological Archive and Research Centre.

‘COLAS was formed over 30 years ago as a voluntary arm of the Museum’s fledgling archaeological unit, and our members performed invaluable service on many important City excavations. The preservation and study of the finds from those digs was therefore a cause very dear to our hearts. We were dismayed to hear, during the 1990’s, of the Museum’s difficulties in maintaining its Archaeological Archive. This was followed by joy, when the new Director, Dr Simon Thurley, decided to grasp this awkward nettle and turn the Archive into a fully accessible research centre.

‘The COLAS Committee resolved, from an early stage, both to make a donation to the LAARC from our own modest reserves, and to encourage our members to make individual donations, with our own ‘COLAS LAARC Appeal’. By these means COLAS raised over £1000, which is a highly creditable sum for an organisation of our size.

‘We are small in numbers, but not in good-will, knowledge or enthusiasm. Typical of our members was Stuart Waller was a long-standing member of COLAS, a Committee member and most sadly missed after his sudden death in April 1997. A gentle and shy bachelor, he combined work as a local authority solicitor with a life-long love of history.

‘We were represented at this funeral and meet his sister, Mrs Sheila Gould, on that sad occasion. It was not until a year later that I heard from Mrs Gould that Stuart had died without leaving a will. However she was intending to make donations from his estate to organisations and causes in which he was involved.

‘Naturally the Archive Appeal sprang to mind, and I spoke to Mrs Gould about it.

Fortunately I had recently attended the Museum’s launch of the LAARC project and I had come away with copies of its comprehensive information pack, which I was able to send her. Nonetheless, words can hardly convey our delight and astonishment when Mrs Gould decided to donate £200,000 to the COLAS LAARC Appeal.

‘Even after 3 years I find it impossible to think of a more generous, unselfish and public spirited act. But it is one for which Mrs Gould refuses to take undue credit. She is certain this would have been Stuart’s wish, and says she is happy to give this money to somewhere her brother felt so much at home. Unfortunately she cannot be here today, but I am sure everyone will join me in once again thanking this most good-hearted and modest lady.

‘COLAS was conscious from the first that we had a duty both to ensure that the best use was made of this money, and that its very existence did not compromise any delicate negotiations the Museum was having with various funding bodies. Accordingly the COLAS Committee was sworn to secrecy, and I went to break the happy news to Simon Thurley.

‘It was a memorable meeting. After he had recovered the power of speech, we agreed that COLAS would invest this money in a tax-free account (which we were able to do as a Registered Charity), until such time as other sources of funding were used up. This is where the good investment advice of our Hon Auditor Denis Ballard, and the careful financial stewardship of Hon Treasurer David Harding came into play, with the result that an additional £30,000 has been added to Mrs Gould’s original gift.

‘Management of this wonderful donation has been a welcome but heavy burden for a small voluntary organisation. The principal workload has fallen on David Harding, and it is a duty he has fulfilled with great conscientiousness and good humour. We owe him our special thanks and appreciation on this happy occasion’