Re Arthur Hayward collection.
Here at Bristol's City Museum & Art Gallery we do not consider any of our collections lost but actually being held and cared for in the public interest. By publishing information on our holdings (as per the document by Sam Trebilcock (now Sam Hallett)) we aim to draw attention to the collections which not only provide voucher specimens (vouching for the original identification should it be challenged) but also are an excellent resource for assisting identification by allowing comparison with accurately identified material.
Members of SMG may be interested that several local collections have been added to Bristol's holdings in the last 20 years notably those of Stephen Blathwayt (Weston-super-Mare, 1930s-1980s), John Hadley (Weston-super-Mare and Teignmouth) and most recently Ken Poole's (Weston-super-Mare) following his death last year.
The collections are available to view by appointment with the curator (currently, Acting Curator is Rhian Rowson whilst Sam is on maternity leave (tel: 0117-9223598)). Recent visitors have included Paul Chapman to view the Blathwayt collection and Roy McCormick to see the Hadley material from Devon. I have also recently been in e-mail correspondence over the Hayward collection with James McGill.
I would suggest to anyone who does retain specimens themselves that they should consider arranging to deposit the material with a local museum, if not immediately then consider leaving it to a museum in your will. So often interesting material (not just specimens but notebooks etc) is really lost to future generations by their future care being overlooked.
Finally I would add that the "Moths of the Bristol Region" is only a few months off being ready to send to the printers and this will include information on not only moths but collectors and collections from the North Somerset/Bath & NE Somerset area (as well as Bristol and South Gloucestershire).
Ray Barnett, Collections Manager, Bristol's Museums, Galleries & Archives