The gloomy financial situation at the end of 1957 was fortunately reversed in 1958 with year-end accounts showing a surplus of £835.

The Institute’s advisory work both at home and overseas grew considerably between 1959 and 1963. Alan Sowden the new Chairman of the Board, noted that as the Institute was becoming more widely known they could look forward to an increase in all the services.

The close of the period brought to an end the “Dawson Era” with the great man retiring on 31st December 1963, after 34 years of service. From humble beginnings RBD saw the station acquire the status of a company limited by guarantee and regarded throughout the world as a leading authority on turf for sport.

On retirement he was made a Vice-President of the Institute.

Advisory Work

1958 Football drainage schemes were carried out for:

• Arsenal
• Southend Utd
• Everton

In each case all the soil was removed, the topsoil was replaced and a clinker ash layer was situated between the topsoil and existing drainage systems.

1960

• The Scientific Advisory Committee was reconstituted as a Panel of Honorary Scientific Consultants.
• The War Office sought advice on improvements and construction of sports grounds and private architects started to use the construction services for new landscape and building projects.
• To cope with the additional work, new advisers were appointed including Mr David Boocock in 1962.
• Overseas visits were also increasing, new visits included Portugal, Majorca and Monaco.

Research

1958 In 1958 Drew Smith left after 7 years to take up a new post as Assistant Mycologist at the Scottish College of Agriculture. He was replaced by Noel Jackson who was able to continue with the experiments laid down by Drew Smith.

Under pitch heating was installed at Everton football ground and at Murrayfield in 1959

1959 Interest was growing in the new varieties of grasses being introduced, many of them originating from The Netherlands.

Dr C Fairbairn was appointed as a Research Chemist to assist John Escritt.

1960 Experimental work was carried out on the effects of gang mowing.

The USGA Green Section proposed a new method of construction for golf greens.

1961 Investigations were carried out on pitch protection covers.

1962 The work on soil warming was completed in 1962. A number of systems were installed in bowling greens in Sydney, Australia, to combat winter dormancy in couch grass.

1963 Trials were carried out on porous materials used for running tracks and all-weather surfaces.

Frank Smith, Superintendent of Grounds retired after 26 years of service.

Education

1959 The first lady student attended the greenkeeper training course in Bingley.

1962 Since 1947 a total of 14,000 students had attended 56 courses held at the Institute.

Publications

1959 “Fungal Diseases of Turfgrasses” by Drew Smith was published. The first British book available on the subject, price 10s 6 pence.

1961 A Dutch translation of RBD ‘Lawns’ book was published by Penguin Books.

1962 “Identification of Grasses in Non-flowering Condition” was published price 6s, written by David Clouston.

Mark of Royal Recognition

1958 Sir Bracewell Smith was made an Honorary Vice President of the Institute. He was a Yorkshireman and former Lord Mayor of London and was current Chairman of Wembley Stadium and Arsenal Football Club.

1961 June 1961 H.R.H The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh conferred his Royal Patronage on the Institute.

Visits

1960

• Dr Frank Howard from the Pathology and Entomology Department at the University of Rhode Island.
• Dr Pietro Lapin, Department Director, Moscow, Botanical Gardens.
• Mr Edward Fax, Golf & Country Club, El Salvador.

The British Grassland Society held its summer meeting at Bingley – 200 visitors. A Field day was held for 100 groundsmen from the northern branch of the NAG.

1961 Nederlandse Sport Federatie visited on the 6th and 7th June plus a party of Dutch seedmen.