The Trinity Mathematical Society, abbreviated TMS, was founded in Trinity College, Cambridge

Trinity College, Cambridge

Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...

 in 1919 by G. H. Hardy

G. H. Hardy

Godfrey Harold “G. H.” Hardy FRS was a prominent English mathematician, known for his achievements in number theory and mathematical analysis....

 to "promote the discussion of subjects of mathematical interest". It is the oldest mathematical university society

University society

In colleges and universities, societies are organizations founded and ran by students to practice and propagate a certain professional hobby or cause, or to promote professional development....

 in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 and is believed to be the oldest existing subject society at any British university.

Today, the society is one of the largest societies in Trinity College, with over 300 members, and each year holds an extensive range of talks, together with social events including an annual cricket match against the Adams Society of St John's College, Cambridge.

The logo of the society is the minimal perfect squared square.

Significance of the apple

For historical reasons, the apple is very important symbolically to the society. An apple is dropped at the end of meetings to signify that the meeting is now social; the President bowls an apple as the first 'ball' at the annual cricket match; and, as outlined in the society's Standing Orders, an apple is part of the design of the Society tie, though sadly not currently available.