The National Institute for Research in Nuclear Science was established by Royal Charter in March 1957 under the Chairmanship of Lord Bridges. The first page of the charter document has been framed for display. Text from point 4 onwards has been taken from a copy of the Charter dated 23rd June 1958.
ELIZABETH THE SECOND
By the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING!
WHEREAS The Lord President of Our Council and the Chancellor of Our Exchequer has elected certain persons to be the Chairman and the other Members of an Institute for the furtherance of research in nuclear science and matters connected therewith to be known as The National Institute for Research in Nuclear Science:
AND WHEREAS it has been represented to Us that for the purpose of carrying out the objectives of said Institute in relation to nuclear research and with a view to facilitating the holding of and dealing with property both real and personal it is expedient that the Institute should be incorporated:
NOW THEREFORE KNOW YE that We, by virtue of Our Royal Prerogative and of all other powers enabling Us in that behalf, of Our especial grace, certain knowledge and mere motion have granted, willed, directed, ordained, constituted and declared and do by these Presents for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, grant, will, direct, ordain, constitute and declare as follows:
1. THE persons now the Chairman and the other Members of the National Institute for Research in Nuclear Science as aforesaid (whose names are set out in the Schedule hereto) and all such persons as may hereafter become the Chairman and other Members of the body corporate hereby constituted, shall for ever hereafter be one body corporate under the name of "The National Institute for Research in Nuclear Science" (hereinafter referred to as "the Institute"), and by the same name shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to break, alter and make anew the said seal from time to time at their will and pleasure, and by the same name shall and may sue and be sued in all courts and in all manner of actions and suits, and shall have power to do all other matters and things incidental or appertaining to a body corporate.
2. WE do for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, notwithstanding the Statutes of Mortmain, license, authorise and for ever hereafter enable the Institute to purchase, take on lease or otherwise acquire any lands, tenements or hereditaments within Our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland not exceeding in the whole the annual value of £250,000 to be determined according to the value thereof at the time when the same are respectively acquired and to hold all or any lands, tenements or hereditaments, or interest therein, in perpetuity or on lease or otherwise and from time to time to grant, demise, let, alienate, mortgage, charge or otherwise dispose of the same or any part thereof.
3. AND WE do hereby also for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, give and grant Our licence to any person or persons and any body politic or corporate to assure in perpetuity or otherwise, or to demise or let to or for the benefit of the Institute and lands, tenements or hereditaments whatsoever within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland within the limits of value aforesaid, hereby nevertheless declaring that it shall not be incumbent upon any such person or persons or body to inquire as to the annual value of the property which may have been previously acquired by the Institute.
The following note was added by hand:
Council of the 14th May, 1965, the surrender of this Charter was accepted and the Charter revoked and annulled.
Clerk of the Council
14th May, 1965.
See also:
•
Nature, Volume 179 Issue 4556, February 23rd 1957
Announcing the formation on February 14th of the National Institute for Research in Nuclear Science.
Original source:
https://www.nature.com/articles/179400a0.pdf
• Background to NIRNS briefing paper and statement to Trade Union representatives, December 1960
•
Orbit, August 1962
pp. 2 and 3. Dr Willis, Secretary of the National Institute, takes us through the Royal Charter
in this article bringing out especially the "objects" for which the institute exists.
•
Hansard, Tuesday 23 February 1965
A debate concerning expenses, accounts etc. of Research Councils. It emphasises the close working relationships between Harwell and Rutherford, and Rutherford and university scientists. Lord Bridges does not like the acronym NIRNS however, calling it "horrid."
NIRNS was dissolved in May 1965.
As a result of the Trend Committee enquiry into the organisation of civil science in the UK, NIRNS was dissolved in 1965 to be replaced by four new councils: the Science Research Council (SRC), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) plus one pre-existing one: the Medical Research Council (MRC). The SRC was renamed the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) in 1981 to reflect the increased emphasis on engineering. SERC was reorganised in 1994 into three councils: the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
See also:
•
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_Engineering_Research_Council
•
Science Research Council Charter (1965)
