bulletin 125 jan 2019 v1 - keele universitythe talk. thursday 14 march 2019 @ 19:00 : agm &...

NSGGA Dates for Your Diary Thursday 24 January @ 19:30 Lecture: ‘The Geomorphological and Geological

Impacts of Glaciers: Recent Insights from Modern-Day Glacial Landsystems’ by Richard Waller (Keele).

Thursday 7 February @ 19:30 Lecture: 'BGS collections: over 200 years in the making' by Michael Howe (BGS).

Thursday 14 March @ 19:00 AGM and Chairman's Address by Stuart Egan, (Keele): ‘The formation and evolution of mountains and basins: insights from the modelling of geological processes’

Saturday 27 April @ 10:30 Field Trip: Mam Tor & Treak Cliff Cavern Sunday 14 July Field Trip: Clee Hill Weekend 20-22 September Field Weekend: Mid-Wales Sunday 20 October Field Trip: Apedale as part of GA Conference Winter Lecture Programme 2018/19 Lectures are held in room WS0.06 in the William Smith Building, Keele University Thursday 24 January 2019 @ 19:30 The Geomorphological & Geological Impacts of Glaciers: recent insights of modern-day glacial landsystems Dr Richard Waller (Keele University) Ongoing research on modern and ancient glaciers and ice sheets have

demonstrated their ability to create a range of landforms, landscapes and sediment sequences that are far more diverse than the classic "textbook" suggestions would suggest. This talk will provide an introduction to the diverse geomorphological and geological impacts of glaciers in the context of the "glacial landsystems" they produce and will highlight some of the key factors that are

Bulletin of the North Staffordshire Group of the Geologists’ Association

Number 125 : January 2019

Image: Richard Waller

Bulletin of the North Staffordshire Group of the Geologists’ Association Number 125

January 2019

responsible for this diversity. We will initially explore the active temperate landsystems of southern Iceland and the distinctive geomorphological signatures of surges and glacier outburst events before examining the glacial landsystems of the Eastern Canadian Arctic and the role played by climate and thermal regime. Thursday 7 February 2019 @ 19:30 BGS collections: over 200 years in the making Dr Mike Howe (British Geological Survey) The National Geological Repository Collection (part of BGS) is the largest collection of British geological materials and holds most of the contents of the former Museum of Practical Geology (Jermyn Street, London 1851-1935) and Geological Museum, South Kensington (1935-1985), although its origins go back even further to the Museum of Economic Geology, and the Geological Society of London Museum. It holds major collections of British type and figured/cited fossils and petrological thin sections, as well as systematic locality based fossil and rock collections. It also holds the national borehole and hydrocarbon well archives, an invaluable resource for the energy & minerals industries. Since 2000 there have been major advances in providing online access to the collections. The petrology, rock & mineral, and borehole databases are all online, and high resolution images of over 160,000 thin sections are available - http://www.bgs.ac.uk/data/britrocks.html, as are high resolution images of all offshore hydrocarbon well cores - http://www.bgs.ac.uk/data/offshoreWells/wells.cfc?method=searchWells. Type fossils are available through the GB3D portal, which also includes stereo-anaglyphs and over 2000 downloadable digital models. All will be demonstrated in the talk. Thursday 14 March 2019 @ 19:00 : AGM & 19:30 : Chair’s Address The formation and evolution of mountains and basins: insights from the modelling of geological processes Dr Stuart Egan (Keele University) Mountain belts represent major geological features on the surface of the planet. They form mainly from compressional stresses generated by plate tectonics and plate motions that can cause uplift of the crust to several kilometres in height and over a lateral extent of 100s of kilometres. These regions of uplift are also dynamically linked to subsidence of the crust forming sedimentary basins that are

Image: British Geological Survey


January 2019

located immediately adjacent to the mountain belt. The formation of mountain belts, and their adjacent basins, is controlled by a variety of processes that occur at lithosphere scale, including crustal faulting, thermal and pressure effects, and isostasy, as well as surface processes such as erosion. The main aim of this talk will be to explain how mountain-basin couplets form in a variety of tectonic settings and how numerical and computer models, combined with the acquisition of geological data, have enhanced our understanding of mountain-forming processes. The talk will touch upon the evolution of several mountain belts in the geological record, including the Laramide and Basin and Range provinces in the western USA. There will also be coverage of orogenic collapse, which is a topical subject that investigates the processes that destroy mountain belts over geological time.

Summer Field Programme 2019 Each person attending field meetings does so at their own risk. The NSGGA has public liability insurance through a GA insurance policy that also carries limited personal accident cover for members attending meetings or field trips. Non-members pay £2 to cover temporary membership giving them insurance cover. A field fee of £2 per head is normally charged for members and non-members to cover the leader’s expenses. Hard hats & hi-vis jackets should be taken on all fieldtrips. Saturday 27th April 2019 @ 10:30 at Mam Tor Road, below Treak Cliff. Mam Tour and Treak Cliff Cavern Steve Alcock and Stuart Curry Park at the base of Treak Cliff (SK136833). The visit will cover about 6kms along footpaths including some uphill walking. The visit will also look at Carboniferous outcrops and the Mam Tor landslip. We will visit the show cave at the end of our fieldtrip (approx. 4.00pm.) The cavern shows Blue John veins in-situ as well as excellent cave formations. Warm & waterproof clothing, boots and a packed lunch. There is a gift shop, displays and refreshments at the Cavern. Cost £12 which include entrance to the Treak Cliff Cavern and the field fee. Can you please return the booking form at the end of the bulletin by April 12, 2019 to Steve Alcock at [email protected] or send to Longfields, Park Lane, Cheddleton, Leek, Staffs. ST137JS. Any queries please e-mail or call on 07711501028 or 01538 360431.

Image: Stuart Egan


January 2019

GA Annual Conference: Manchester 2019 – Advance Notice Geological Resources of North West England: Past, Present and Future Friday 18 to Sunday 20 October 2019 University of Manchester The meeting will be jointly hosted by the Manchester, Liverpool, Lancashire, North Staffordshire and North Wales GA groups and will be held on campus at the University of Manchester. The theme of the meeting is ‘Geological Resources of North West England: Past, Present and Future’. As usual, there will be a programme of talks on the Saturday followed by a variety of field visits on the Sunday, one of which may be to Apedale. The Conference Dinner will be held on Saturday evening. Further details will be available in due course. NSGGA 70th Anniversary Celebrations At the Christmas Social in December the NSGGA celebrated its 70th Anniversary. Thanks to Peter Jones for these photographs.

Stuart Egan (NSGGA Chair) and Nick Pierpoint (GA President) welcome members to the Social.

Members of the audience discuss mineral samples obtained from the deep ocean with Andrew Bloodworth (left) following his talk.


January 2019

Annual GA Local Groups Meeting and Festival of Geology Local Groups Meeting, Burlington House, London. 2nd November 2018

Janet and David Osborn represented the group at GA Local Groups meeting held annually at Burlington House. The new president of the GA Nick Pierpoint welcomed everyone to the meeting. This is an opportunity for local groups to hear about what is going on within the GA and to raise subjects from within their local group. These are some of the points that may be of interest. The concept of Geo-villages, a project started in the village of Martley being developed by the Teme Valley Geological Society. Other local groups are encouraged to participate including Ashover in Derbyshire and the Wenlock area in Shropshire. A Geo-village is a community that has distinctive

geology within its bounds and has a policy of locally managed geological discovery and conservation. On 17th May 2019 the third GA Symposium will take place at Burlington House. Although well attended in the past, the presence of local group members would be welcomed. There is an opportunity to speak to the students afterwards informally and an excellent way to discover future speakers for local group meetings. Keynote speech by Professor Iain Stewart. Next year’s Annual Conference will be held in Manchester. The 2018 conference in Birmingham was well attended. The Festival of Geology to take place on 3rd November 2018 includes four lectures as well as many activities. School Rocks! promoted by Haydon Bailey was reported to be doing well. It is hoped that local groups can become involved liaising with local schools and possibly as a way of advertising local activities. Geolab: Five have run so far with one due to take place in Reading in March 2019. Publications: PGA - new contract with Elsevier for four years. Earth Heritage magazine produced twice yearly on line. The next issue due mid-November 2018. Geology Today still edited by Peter Doyle, jointly owned by GA and Wiley. GA Guides: several in progress including Yorkshire Coast, Bristol, Isle of Wight, Shropshire & Old Red Sandstone. GA Calendars for 2019 available. GA Field Trips: GA are improving protocol on who is doing what. The much-discussed issue of insurance came up regarding insurance cover for non-GA members. Making them a temporary member for the day is one solution. This is an


January 2019

approach adopted by the North Staffordshire Group. The GA does not have a standard form for this but are working on one. Hope to have GA Field Trip protocols form ready for early 2019. Geoconservation: a lot of work being done by local groups. The GA recognised the work of wardens at Wren’s Nest. Work is underway to for the GA for a new award to recognise special geoconservation efforts, being led by Colin Prosser as the

Geoconservation Officer. Future Meetings: Festival of Geology 1-2 November 2019, Local groups meeting 1st November 2019, GA Conference Manchester 19-20 October 2019, Earth Science Week 12-20th October 2019. Curry Fund: This a fund which is available to local groups and applications can be made for help with such things as publications, support meetings, conservation, information boards, web

sites, etc. NSGGA 70th Anniversary: Nick Pierpoint, GA President, will be attending our Christmas Social and 70th Anniversary Celebrations in December 2018. Festival of Geology, University College London, 3rd November 2018 Held Annually at UCL, this is a free entry festival and this year’s festival was the biggest yet! Highlights included Moon Rocks. NASA Moon Rock discs and meteorites were on loan from the Science and Technology Facilities Council. There were presentations and short talks throughout the day.

There were a series of talks. we attended one of these given by Dr Ana Ferreira: What lies beneath? A tour of the Earth’s deep interior including recent advances in big global

seismic data, high-performance computing and novel laboratory facilities are enabling an increasingly detailed understanding of deep Earth processes.


January 2019

There were a variety of stands displaying fossil and minerals, stone craft, books, maps, geological equipment, etc. We were able to meet up with other societies who had stands there. The GA runs an annual photographic competition and entries were on display. The winner was announced.

Janet and David Osborn

Visit to The Natural History Museum Whilst dining with Dr Tom White prior to the lecture in October he said should anybody visit The Natural History Museum he would be delighted to show them around the ‘behind the scenes’ area of his department. Janet Osborn, who was sitting next to him said that we would be coming down for the GA Local Groups Meeting in November and we would love to take up his offer. After exchanging emails, we were given an appointment to meet him at the side entrance reception desk on the Monday following the meeting. Having met us he took us across the Museum to the far side and we descended into the basement area where he proceeded to show us around. Tom’s speciality is molluscs and we did wonder how exciting this might be, but we need not have worried. There were many very interesting examples of the diversity of the phylum.

We started by looking in some of the storage cupboards and one amazing sample was the photograph to the left of Kuphus, which is a ship worm. It still has vestigial valves to the base. The photo to the right is Brechites Giganteus from Japan, another bivalve worm.


January 2019

Probably the most amazing specimen was of a giant squid (pictured right.). It was over 20 feet long and preserved in formaldehyde. The photo shows just the body section, the tentacles stretching much further. Tom took us through different sections showing us further storage areas, preparation areas and also the old ledger system where all of the specimens were entered up by hand as they arrived. One area we passed was the isolation area. They have to be very

careful to ensure that they do not introduce anything that might contaminate the collection and possibly destroy the specimens. The warning notice on the entrance to the quarantine area shown on the right. Finally, we looked at a selection of sponges some of which were looked at recently by Sir David Attenborough.

All too quickly the tour was over so we must say a big thank you to Tom for making us so welcome, being so informative and a fascinating view of life below stairs at The Natural History Museum. Again, many thanks Tom for a wonderful morning.

David and Janet Osborn


January 2019

Field Trip Report Churnet Valley, Staffordshire Saturday 15th September 2018 Leader: Dr Ian Stimpson This field trip was a joint venture between the NSGGA and the East Midlands Geological Society. Members from both organisations, plus two visitors, met the leader in the car park at Froghall Wharf (SK 0268 4785) on an extremely pleasant autumn morning. From here, the trip would involve an 8 km walk over a variety of Carboniferous rocks in a scenic post-industrial valley which contains evidence of former coal and ironstone mining, copper smelting, lime burning and other anthropogenic activity. Despite this intensive industrial past, the modern environment soon revealed signs of having been transformed to a haven for wildlife and pleasant countryside walks. Ian started the proceedings by outlining the geology, geomorphology and industrial history of the area. Aspects of Pleistocene landscape evolution, including valley incisions and stream diversions by glacial meltwaters, were also mentioned. This introduction was accompanied by reference to maps and the provision of an informative itinerary. It was emphasised that during the 18th and 19th centuries, Froghall was a thriving industrial centre with a well-developed network of road, canal and rail communications. Some of the industrial features could be seen at the start of the walk, including the impressive lime kilns (Figure 1) and the Caldon Canal. We then set off south westwards along the canal towpath to view the remains of Froghall copper works, once connected with the copper mines at Ecton. The factory buildings were demolished in 2011 but the original chimney still remains (Figure 2).

Had we been so inclined, we could have continued walking alongside the canal all the way to Stoke-on-Trent. However, we retraced our steps to Froghall Wharf (Figure 3) before proceeding northwards along a deeply incised valley through Moseymoor Wood. This took us along the route of an old mineral tramway (coal and ironstone) from which we obtained a clear appreciation of the former industrial

Figure 1: Ian introducing the field trip in front of the entrance to a disused lime kiln at Froghall Wharf.

Figure 2: Caldon Canal with the chimney of the former copper works at Froghall in the background.


January 2019

landscape which is now gradually returning to nature (Figures 4 & 5). At several locations Ian stopped to point out features such as mineral spoil (being incised by the stream), a thin coal exposure, former bell pits, areas of unstable ground, prominent rock outcrops (e.g. the Woodhead Hill Sandstone), a spring resulting from mine drainage and accumulations of iron hydroxide caused by the decomposition of iron pyrites.

We climbed out of the tributary valley near Cloughhead and proceeded SSE across green fields towards the village of Foxt. En route we saw the remains of further workings, a large spoil heap (Figure 6) and a prominent break of slope which marked the position of a N-S trending fault. Lunch was taken at the edge of the village from where we were afforded spectacular views over the surrounding countryside.

The afternoon session of the field trip commenced with a walk through Foxt noting the widespread use of natural stone in the buildings. Ian traced out for us in the local landscape the outcrops of significant Upper Carboniferous deltaic sandstones (Rough Rock, Chatsworth Grit, Roaches Grit and Ipstones Sandstone) and outlined their lithological characteristics and the palaeoenvironmental conditions under which they formed. From Foxt we descended a steep slope into the valley of Shirley Brook. Here we encountered the Roaches Grit in the stream bank and a degraded outcrop of

Figure 3: The field group on the SE side of Caldon Canal with the steeper valley side seen rising towards the NW.

Figure 4: Small exposure of Westphalian mudstones and a thin coal seam in Moseymoor Wood.

Figure 5: Group discussion at a stream crossing in Moseymoor Wood

Figure 6: Section through a former spoil heap in an otherwise rural landscape


January 2019

shale from the Morridge Formation in a minor tributary nearby. In the same general area, we saw the remains of several mineral tramways dating back to 1778 and we also examined what is supposed to be the oldest official railway bridge in the world. A quarry in Chatsworth Grit which was used to supply stone to construct a large embankment for a tramway dating from 1847 revealed a number of interesting geological features. One aspect which generated significant discussion was the localised bleaching of the rock in the vicinity of fractures. It was suggested that the discolouration might be due to a chemical reaction caused by hydrocarbon-enriched fluids derived from the underlying over-pressurised mudstones and forced upwards though the sandstone. Overall, the field trip provided a fascinating glimpse of the strong influence of geology and topography on industrial development in the local area during the 18th and 19th centuries. This particular case study also demonstrated how quickly nature can take over a former industrial landscape after resource exploitation has ceased. It brought into focus the need for careful environmental management to help conserve significant aspects of our geological and industrial heritage. With these thoughts in mind, the group returned to Froghall Wharf by following a former mineral tramway through the now tranquil surroundings of Harston Wood. A vote of thanks was proposed to Ian for providing a most interesting and informative trip during which we had benefited from his detailed knowledge of the area. Several group members then rounded off the day with tea and cake at Hetty's Tea Shop conveniently located in a pleasant setting close to the car park (Figure 7). Note: For anyone who would like to discover more about the geology and industrial heritage of this area, an extended version of the itinerary has been published by GeoConservation Staffordshire (2008) in the form of an attractively illustrated brochure entitled 'The Churnet Valley Geotrail: true grits and ghosts of a great industrial past'. This brochure covers a much wider area than the trip described in this report. It is available free on-line via the following link: srigs.staffs-ecology.org.uk/Geotrails/Churnet/index.html

Peter Jones

Figure 7: Hetty's Tea Shop in a present-day tranquil setting at Froghall Wharf. (All Images by Peter Jones)


January 2019

The Founding of the North Staffs Group of the Geologist’s Association A Celebration of its 70th Anniversary The 70th Anniversary of the founding of the North Staffs Group of the Geologists’ Association by the late John Myers was celebrated at the Christmas Social on 6th December 2018. A selection of papers, books, photographs, maps and files spanning the years were on display, together with a rolling on-screen display of images of field events and key documents. Reproduced below from Bulletin No 5, 1988, Appendix 2 “A Personal Account of the Formation of the NSGGA”, by our founding father, John Myers. This is followed by results of research of the early days, including the names of the 24 people from North Staffs encouraged by John Myers to join the parent Geologists’ Association towards the end of 1948, [not 1947 as John states]. Bulletin of the North Staffs. Group of the G.A. no.5 1988 A2 The Beginnings: A Personal Account of the Formation of the NSGGA by John Myers It is just possible that our Local Group might not have come into existence but for a chance suggestion by my Headmaster. It a1l began a long time ago. It was 1920 when I had been offered a place at King's College, London for a four-year course, the fourth year being in the Education Department. My intention was to teach Chemistry. At that time, in the first year, it was necessary to study four subjects. I had Pure Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, and it was at this point my Headmaster made a prophetic suggestion that I should take Geology as my fourth subject. However, it was the influence of A.K. Wells in that first year that shifted my interest from the Chemistry to the Geology Honours course. So, with an Honours Degree in Geology I began to train, in my fourth year, as a teacher of Geography. It was not until 1944 that my Geology really came into use when the Headmaster of Wolstanton County Grammar School (formerly known as the Orme Boys' School) asked me if I would establish an Advanced Course in Geology for what was then known as the Higher School Certificate Examination. It was a challenge, for the problems were many, especially with text books, specimens and equipment. One example will suffice. I decided that I wanted a petrological microscope but, as it was war time, we had to apply to the Ministry of Supply for a permit to buy one. How that course developed is quite another story. About this time I was also concerned with evening classes in Geology at what was then popularly called "Stoke Tech", as well as in Longton for the W.E.A. (Workers Educational


January 2019

Association). It was these W.E.A. classes which paved the way for the formation of our G.A. Group. I cannot exactly recall what gave me the idea for a local group, but when I made the suggestion to the class members they promised me their support. The next move was to call a meeting for anyone interested in the project. More people came than I had expected. I remember that the late Tom Purcell offered his services as Secretary of the Group, an office he held continuously until ill-health forced him to resign. For his long service for the Group he received, some time later, the Foulerton Award. It was Tom who used to bring his own 35mm projector for the convenience of lecturers. Towards the end of 1947 I forwarded 24 application forms to London for membership. I was told later that as the names for new members were read out, with address after address in the Stoke-on-Trent area, the first ten created some interest, but when the numbers exceeded 20, and finally reached 24 there was quite a stir. So the birth of a new group came about. After this meeting official recognition quickly followed and the North Staffordshire Group began life in 1948. There was an interesting offshoot to all this. I wrote to the District Secretary of the W.E.A. asking why Geology was not included in the W.E.A. Summer School at Oxford University. The idea was promptly taken up and for the first two years I was invited to be one of the tutors. It was the support of the Longton Geology Class that helped to make the Oxford Summer School Geology a success. Schools soon took advantage of the new Group and many Sixth Form geologists became student members. In this way school geology was broadened not only with lectures by distinguished geologists, but also by excursions to areas well beyond the local region. The Group, from about 1950, developed close links with the new University College of North Staffordshire (later Keele University), links which still continue. Professor Cope was a good friend to the Group. In addition to lectures he took the Group to areas as far apart as Wenlock Edge, Millersdale and the Astbury Inlier. The late Mr. J.T. Wattison led many field excursions, often to Shropshire, including Sheinton, Shelve, Chern's Dingle and the Onny River. His wife, although blind, came an many of these early excursions. Quite early the Committee decided to offer a field weekend to North Staffordshire to G.A. Headquarters and this took place at Whitsun in 1950. Other excursions covered a wide area as you will see from the following list:- the Lias of the Cheltenham area (D.O. Thomas), Wroxdon Ironstone workings, near Banbury (J. Myers), Oxford Area (J.C. Parrack), Whitby (J.C. Parrack), Charnwood Forest (Dr. W.W. Black), North Cotswolds (D.O. Thomas & J. Myers), Fauld


January 2019

Alabaster Mine (J. Myers), Ashover (T.S. Jones) and the Manifold Valley (J.E. Prentice). I well remember the Manifold Excursion as it took place on an exceptionally hot July Sunday. On the Saturday afternoon of the Cotswold excursion, on a narrow road we were looking for ammonites in the downwash from the steep slope above. A man, unsteady on his feet after a session at the local, paused, watched us for a few minutes, then quite seriously asked, "Have you found any with heads on yet?" After we told him we had not, he lost interest and lurched away homewards. From time to time we had lectures by people of distinction. These included S.H. Straw (Evolution), T. Eastwood (Uses of Geology), Professor W.G. Fearnsides (N.C.B. Exploration in North Staffordshire), Professor F.W. Shotton (Geology and geologists in World War II), Professor J.F. Kirkaldy (History of Geological Research in the Weald), K.P. Oakley (New Light on Early Man), and Professor L.R. Moore (Coal and Oil Shales). Professor Shotton, I recall, told us that before Montgomery and the 8th. Army made each move forwards, geologists (Prof. Shotton was one of them) had to go ahead to locate adequate sources of water. Once they had been located Montgomery made his next move forward. This reminds me of a Careers Master telling a pupil that geology was no use to anybody. Some time later there developed a close link with the North East Lancashire Group and joint excursions became a regular feature. Looking back now to 1948 few of us little realised how successfully the Group was to develop. I recall how enthusiastic all members were and so full of ideas. No wonder then that, at times, seating accommodation at the Newcastle Arts Centre became quite a problem.

The Founding Members of the NSGGA Business of the monthly meetings of the Geologists’ Association is recorded and published in the GA Circular. Here the names and addresses of new members proposed for election are listed in advance, read out at the meeting, then subsequently reported as having been elected. The original Local Groups Rule 28 reads: “At the request of Members residing at a distance from London, the Council may, at its discretion, recognise Local Groups of at least twelve members of the Association who organise their own meetings”. The first Local Group was the North-East Lancashire in 1922, with the St Helens District Group forming in 1929 and the Midland Group in 1937. The North Staffordshire Group was recognised in 1949. Only the NE Lancs and North Staffs Groups continue today. [from page 17, The Geologists’ Association 1858 – 1958 – A history of the first hundred years, Ed G. S. Sweeting, Benham & Co 1958].


January 2019

GA Circular 507, 25th November 1948, lists 24 proposals from North Staffs for election at the meeting on 3rd December 1948, out of a total of 92 that month. Their election on that date was announced in Circular 508, 18th December 1948. John Myers (1923) and Dr F Wolverson Cope (1932) were already GA members of long-standing. At least 13 more members from North Staffs were elected in 1949. The founding of the North Staffs Group was announced in Circular 510, 21st February 1949.

It appears that not all 39 paid the Local Group Subscription. The earliest NSGGA Accounts are not available. Existing ones begin with C. Newton paying 3/6 in “Spring 1950”, with a further 40 paying between 12th October 1950 and 8th February 1951. One of these was a student, G. R. Eabry, who paid 2/-. 23 of the 40 were full GA Members. The Group was clearly attracting its own membership, several of whom later joined the parent GA. Like John Myers, five were already members of the North Staffs Field Club, with four more joining that organisation soon afterwards. The tables below are summaries of findings from GA Circulars, extant NSGGA Accounts & North Staffs Field Club lists. Note the number of High School teachers, a group which John Myers successfully encouraged to persuade their students to become Members. Table 1. The Founding Fathers. John Myers was the Founding Father and first Chairman of the Group. Dr. F Wolverson Cope was the second Chairman.

Name Address Local Group Subs paid mid-1950 - Oct 1953

North Staffs Field Club connections

Elected to GA 1923 John Myers BSc FGS

Newcastle. Wolstanton Grammar School

3/6 1951 Jan 3/6 1952 May 3/6 1953 Jan

NSFC 1927. 1947 Geography Section Chair 1949 Geology Section Chair

Elected to GA 1936 F Wolverson Cope DSc, MI Min G, FGS

To 1950 BGS. From 1950 Keele University Geology Dept.

3/6 1951 Jan 3/6 1952 Dec

& Mrs Cope, NSFC 1951


January 2019

Table 2. The 24 new GA Members from North Staffs, elected on 3rd December 1948, based on GA Circulars 507 & 508 NSGGA Accounts before mid-50 are not available and it is possible that those listed below as “Local Group Subs Not paid” had paid the year before.


Joined North Staffs Field Club

William John Adams [FGS]

Birches Head 3/6 1951 Jan 3/6 1952 May 3/6 1953 Jan

NSFC 1952

Theodore Robert Barnard BSc, AMIMinE

Barlaston 3/6 1951 Jan 3/6 1953 Jan

B Bentley Normacot 3/6, 3/6, 3/6 1950, 51 1952 Apr

NSFC 1939

Hubert Whalley Bland Stone Not paid Austin Brain Trent Vale Not paid Edward Dale BA

Blythe Bridge Not paid NSFC 1947

John Thomas Gleaves BA

Hanley 3/6 1951 Jan 3/6 1951 Feb 3/6 1952 Jan 3/6 1953 Mar

George Roger (R F) Goodwin

Birches Head 3/6 1951 Oct 3/6 1952 May 3/6 1953 Jan

A Hammersley BA

Longton & Hanley High School

Not paid NSFC 1947

Timothy T Hinchin BA

St Joseph’s College, Trent Vale

3/6 53[2] Mar 3/6 1951 3/6 1953 Mar

John Wentworth Holmes Weston Coyney Not paid William Hudson Longton 3/6 1951 Jan Francis Thomas Jones Newcastle 3/6 1951 Jan

3/6 1952 May 3/6 1953 Feb

Alfred Ashley Leeming Newcastle 3/6 1952 Feb 3/6 1953 Mar

Ernest Mason Shelton 7/- 1951 Jan & 1952 J. Myatt Weston Coyney Not paid C. Newton Weston Coyney 3/6 1950 Spring

3/6 1951 Apr 3/6 1952 May 3/6 1953 Feb

Thomas Nixon Mow Cop Not paid Miss Mary W. O’Malley [First Treasurer]

Hartshill & St Dominic’s High School

3/6 1951 Jan 3/6 1952 Feb 3/6 1953 Jan

Herbert Daniel John Price Shelton 3/6 1951 Apr Thomas Samuel Purcell BSc [First Secretary]

Hartshill & Longton High School

14/- 49, 50, 51 1952 Apr 1953 Apr

Derrick Shaw Hanley Not paid Miss Dora Sylvester Tunstall 3/6 1951 Jan

3/6 1952 Jan 3/6 1953 Apr

NSFC 1951 Life Member

David O. Thomas Alsager’s Bank 3/6 1951 Jan 3/6 1953 Apr & 7/- 1950 + Mrs Thomas


January 2019

Table 3. A further 12 new GA Members from North Staffs, elected January to June 1949, based on GA Circulars 508 – 514 NSGGA Accounts before mid-50 are not available and it is possible that those listed below as “Local Group Subs Not paid” had paid the year before.


Joined NS Field Club

Philip Brayford Cross Heath 3/6 1951 Jan 3/6 1953 May

Miss Agnes Elizabeth Bamber MSc FGS

Penkhull & Thistley Hough High School - head

Not paid

Fred Moore Normacot Not paid Walter Clews Newcastle-under-Lyme Not paid Andrew Miller Fairlie Newcastle-under-Lyme 3/6 1951 Feb James Gregg Newcastle-under-Lyme Not paid George Harry Edward Hornbrook

Stone Not paid

John Thomas Wattison Shrewsbury 3/6 1951 Jan 3/6 1952 Jan 3/6 1953 May

NSFC 1923

Arthur Clive Bishop Newcastle-under-Lyme Not paid Herbert Joseph Monro Clarke

Leek Not paid

Thomas Morley Cobern Wolstanton & St Dominic’s High School

3/6 1951 Jan 11 3/6 1952 May 1 3/6 1953 Apr 23

NSFC 1922

Gerard George Cole Oakhill Not paid Table 4. NSGGA Members elected to parent GA, July 1949 – 1953 As GA Circulars have not been checked, there could be others.

Year elected & Name Address Local Group Subs paid mid-1950 - Oct 1953

Joined NS Field Club

1949 John Charles (Jack) Parrack BSc FRGS

Leek High School 3/6 1951 Jan 3/6 1952 May 7/- 1953 May + Mrs Parrack

1953 Edward A Watkin FGS

Westlands, Newcastle-under-Lyme

3/6 1950 Oct 3/6 1951 Jan 3/6 1952 Feb 3/6 1953 Mar

NSFC 1953

1953 Trevor (Terry) S Jones FGS

Moorland Road High School, Burslem

3/6 1952 May 3/6 1953 Apr + Mrs Jones, May

1953 Colin Exley MA, Ph D, FGS

Geology Dept. Keele University

3/6 1952 Jan 3/6 1953 Jan

Table 5. NSGGA Membership in the early years to end of 1953. This table lists the year of first recorded payment of Local Group subscriptions by individual Members. Accounts for 1948/49/50 are not available and it is likely that many members actually joined earlier than listed. Some may already have been full GA Members before Dec 1948 or joined later, like those listed in Table 4. In July 1951 the Secretary mailed out 73 monthly circulars, increasing to 83 in May 1952. Monthly circulars were replaced by annual membership cards in 1953. At the end of the 1953 year there were 57 paid-up Members. Non-payment or late payment of subs is not new!


January 2019

Year of joining NSGGA

NSGGA Members who were Full GA Members by end 1949 [*1953]

NSGGA Member. 3/6

Student NSGGA member. 2/- or *2/6

1949/50

TS Purcell 49 back-dated C Newton 50 Spring *EA Watkin 50 Oct B Bentley 50

GB Turner 1950 Nov Miss N Butler 1950 Dec

GR Eabry 50 Oct

1951 J Myers Jan FW Cope Jan WJ Adams Jan TR Barnard Jan JT Gleaves Jan W Hudson Jan FT Jones Jan E Mason Jan Miss MW O’Malley Jan Miss D Sylvester Jan DO Thomas Jan P Brayford Jan JT Wattisson Jan TM Cobern Jan JC Parrack Jan AM Fairlie Feb HDJ Price Apr GR Goodwin Oct TT Hinchin

WH Deane Jan F Kenworthy Jan J Tottendell Jan S Malpass Jan PS Keeling Jan HJM Clarke Jan MJR Matthew Feb FL Williams Feb W Warwick Feb R Belfield May WG Edwards May R Barrass Oct J Armstrong

D Alcock Feb JR Dix Mar Miss J Crompton Mar Miss R Statham Mar DC Yates

1952 *CS Exley Jan AA Leeming Feb *TS Jones May

FT Yorke May Miss EM Proctor May LG Ramsey Jul Mrs J Armstrong Nov JH Chapman Jul AE Bloor Dec

D Osborne Jan K Jones Jan *BW Bennett Oct *PS Goodfellow Oct

1953

LE Holloway Jan JL/FL Williams Jan GR Matthews Mar LS Kelly Apr Rev W J McGrath Apr LS Peake Apr E Berner Mar F Spencer Mar Miss I Cottier Apr AB Malkin Apr D Salt Sep

JG Wheeldon Jan PS Rhodes Apr JG Hemmings Jan, K Jones Jan WM Churchill Apr MB Clarke Apr P Martin Apr P Sheldon Apr . Lindop Sep . Myers Sep . Power Sep

First NSGGA Field Meetings The first NSGGA Field Meetings were announced in Circular 514, 24th June 1949:


January 2019

Early NSGGA Committee Meetings The first extant NSGGA Minutes are of the Committee Meeting of 13th March 1952, held at The Arts Centre, Brampton, Newcastle. In the chair: Dr F W Cope. & Messers Parrack, Thomas, Adams, Gleaves and Secretary (T S Purcell). Miss O’Malley resigned as Treasurer. The Committee Meeting was followed by the AGM. Having achieved what I set out to do – to find the names of the fabled 24 from North Staffs who were elected to the parent GA and thus founded our Local Group – and found much more, this research is clearly on-going. Tables listing NSGGA Committee officers over the 70 years was displayed at the Christmas Social & maybe our Editor will give it a wider audience in a future issue!! Many thanks to Jonathan Larwood, GA Archivist, for digging out the early GA Circulars, Glenn Roadley, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, for access to archived material & Members of NSGGA, past and present, for inspiration and support.

John R Reynolds Membership Subscriptions Just a reminder that subscriptions are now overdue for the 2018/2019 season, membership now running from October to October. Full membership is £13, family membership £15, retired/unemployed £10. Student membership is now just £3 for the entire duration of your course. Please complete the membership form at the back of the bulletin. Executive Committee We are in the fortunate position that the executive committee of the NSGGA appears to be fairly settled for the upcoming AGM in March. However, we are always on the look-out for new blood and there are four vacant places for committee members without portfolio. If you would like to help the NSGGA and contribute your expertise to our executive, please talk to the current Chair, Stuart Egan at either the January or February talks.


January 2019

Other Societies Geologists' Association Lectures at Geological Society of London, in Burlington House, Piccadilly but the lectures are available to view by members of the GA online via their website. Friday 17 May GASS 2019 – Geological solutions to global

challenges; What difference does your research make? Burlington House

Friday 18- Sunday 20 October GA Conference – Geological Resources of North West England: Past, Present and Future. Manchester University

More details at www.geologistsassociation.org.uk Black Country Geological Society Indoor meetings at Abbey Room at the Dudley Archives, Tipton Road, Dudley, DY1 4SQ Saturday 16 February @ 10:30 Geoconservation Day: Wren’s Nest Monday 18 February @ 19:30 Turning soil into stone – Steven Wilkinson Saturday 2 March @ 10:30 Geoconservation Day: Borrow Hill Monday 18 March @ 19:30 Rock along the cut – Andrew Jenkinson Saturday 6 April @ 10:30 Field meeting: Quaternary of Severn Valley –

David Pannett Monday 15 April @ 19:30 Europe’s Lost World: Doggerland – Vince Gaffney More details at www.bcgs.info East Midlands Geological Society Indoor meetings at the Clive Granger Building, University of Nottingham Saturday 9 February @ 18:00 Great Glen Fault – Mike Allen Saturday 9 March @ 18:00 Incredible Ichthyosaurs – Dean Lomax More details at www.emgs.org.uk East Midlands Regional Group of the Geological Society De La Beche Conference Suite, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham Tuesday 12 February @ 19:00 Pluto’s “desert” – Matt Telfer More details at www.geolsoc.org.uk/en/Groups and Networks/Regional Groups/East Midlands Liverpool Geological Society Indoor meetings at Lecture Theatre 137, James Parsons Building, Liverpool JMU, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF Tuesday 5 February @ 19:00 BGS UK Geoenergy Observatories – John Midgley Saturday 16 February Herdman Symposium Tuesday 26 February @ 19:30 Groundwater pollution at uranium mines in the

USA – Patrick Byrne Tuesday 19 March @ 19:30 Quarrying – Tom Clifford More details at liverpoolgeologicalsociety.org


January 2019

Manchester Geological Association Indoor meetings at the Williamson Building, University of Manchester Wednesday 6 February @ 19:00 TBC – Cathy Hollis More Details at www.mangeolassoc.org.uk North West Regional Group of the Geological Society Indoor meetings at Manchester University unless otherwise specified Tuesday 5 February @ 19:00 BGS UK Geoenergy Observatories – John Midgley

at Liverpool (see Liverpool Geological Society) More details at www.geolsoc.org.uk/en/Groups and Networks/Regional Groups/North West Shropshire Geological Society Indoor meetings at The Shire Hall, Shrewsbury at 19:30 Wednesday 13 February @ 19:30 Rock Party – Bring a rock! Wednesday 13 March @ 19:30 Minerals in the English Midlands – Roy Starkey More details at www.shropshiregeology.org.uk/SGS/SGSintro.html Warwickshire Geological Conservation Group Indoor meetings at St Francis Church Hall, Warwick Road, Kenilworth CV8 1HL Wednesday 20 February @ 19:00 Swimming Plesiosaurs and Flying Dinosaurs -

Adam Smith Wednesday 20 March @ 19:00 Analysing the Skeleton of a King - Jane Evans More details at www.wgcg.co.uk West Midlands Regional Group of the Geological Society Indoor Meetings at The Birmingham & Midland Institute. 9 Margaret St, B3 3BS Tuesday 12 February @ 18:30 Retreat of the last British-Irish Ice Sheet – Chris

Clark Tuesday 12 March @ 18:30 NMR Logging – Ryan Gee Tuesday 9 April @ 18:30 Damara Geology – Nick Watson More details at www.geolsoc.org.uk/en/Groups and Networks/Regional Groups/West Midlands Western Institute of Mining and Minerals Indoor meetings are held at the William Smith Building, Keele University Monday 4 February @ 19:00 Poacher or Gamekeeper? (Mining subsidence) –

Dave Wilshaw Monday 4 March @ 19:00 Glacial landscapes and windfarm development:

Dogger Bank – Emrys Phillips More details at www.iom3.org/wimm


January 2019

NSGGA - Next Committee Meeting: Thursday March 21, 2019 @ 19:00 To be confirmed In room WS1.44, the William Smith Building, Keele University Contacts List: NSGGA Committee 2018-19 Chair: Stuart Egan

Geography, Geology & the Environment, Keele University Tel. 01782 733174 e-mail: [email protected]

Vice-Chair: Richard Campbell e-mail: [email protected] General Secretary: Barbara Kleiser

email: [email protected] Treasurer: Tony Marks

4 Scarratt Drive, Forsbrook, Stoke-on-Trent, ST11 9AN email: [email protected]

Membership Secretary: David Osborn Stretton, 2 Croyde Place, Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 7XD. Tel 01782 396692 email: [email protected]

Speakers Secretary: Peter Jones e-mail: [email protected]

Field Secretary: Steve Alcock Longfields, Park Lane, Cheddleton, near Leek ST13 7J Tel. 01538 360431or mobile 07711 501028 e-mail: [email protected]

GeoConservation Staffordshire Liaison Officer: Dr Ian Stimpson, e-mail: [email protected]

Bulletin Secretary: Dr Ian Stimpson, e-mail: [email protected]

Honorary Life Member: Ann Myatt Executive Committee (honorary):

Peter Floyd, Don Steward Executive Committee (elected):

Dr Lloyd Boardman; Janet Osborn (Minutes Secretary); John Reynolds, Jeff Ackerley.

Executive Committee (co-opted): Keele GeoSoc Rep.: Max Tuzinkiewicz

NSGGA web pages: www.esci.keele.ac.uk/nsgga The NSGGA website is on the move! The servers that have hosted the NSGGA web pages since 2006 are very much past their best before date. Before we lose everything, the website is moving to a shiny new home so keep an eye out on www.nsgga.org over the next few months. Once the transition is complete we will redirect the old site to the new one automatically.

Produced for the NSGGA by Ian G. Stimpson, Geography, Geology and the Environment, Keele University, Staffs, ST5 5BG


January 2019

NSGGA MEMBERSHIP 2018/2019 Subscriptions due from October 1st Name Address Telephone e-mail address Ordinary (Full) £13.00 r John Myers Award Fund*** Family * £15.00 r contribution of £…………….. Retired/Unemployed £10.00 r Student ** £ 3.00 r Course: …………………………………. GDPR: For New Members or Members who have not yet provided consent: I consent to you contacting me (please tick appropriate boxes) NAME E-MAIL POST PHONE TEXT

* For insurance purposes, please list the names of all members of the household to be included in the table above (you don’t need to complete the GDPR compliance if you have already done it before) ** Students please name your full-time course Cheques should be made payable to the: "NSGGA" and sent to: David Osborn (NSGGA Membership Secretary), Stretton, 2 Croyde Place, Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 7XD. Tel: 01782 396692. e-mail: [email protected] For our records, are you currently a member of the national GA ? yes r no r *** Two John Myers Awards are presented annually to students at Keele University. John Myers gave a 60-year contribution to the understanding of Geology in North Staffordshire and beyond. From 1927 he taught at Wolstanton Grammar School for 40 years and began evening classes at “Stoke Tech” [now Staffordshire University], encouraging members to join the Geologists’ Association of London. Thus was born the NSGGA in 1948. In the 1950s and 60s he helped Keele University Postgraduate Certificate of Education students with a teaching methods course, joining the staff of the Education Department in 1967 on his retirement from teaching. Also in 1967, he was a Founding Father of the Association of Teachers of Geology that had its inaugural meeting at Keele, at which he was elected Treasurer, a post he held for 10 years. His daughter Ann has generously funded the John Myers Awards in his memory.


January 2019

NSGGA Field Excursions Booking Form 2019 Saturday April 27 @ 10:30: Treak Cliff. Deadline: April 12, 2019: £12 includes field fee and Treak Cliff cave visit Weekend 19-21 September Mid-Wales Expression of Interest Please tick the field trip(s) you wish to attend Please return the booking form and any deposit to: Steve Alcock (Field Secretary) by either e-mail([email protected]) or by post to Steve Alcock, Longfields, Park Lane, Cheddleton, Leek, ST137JS Any enquires please contact Steve on 07711501028 or 01538360431. Name/s Address Telephone Name and address of person to be contacted in case of emergency during the trip Name Address Contact Number I am enclosing a cheque payable to NSGGA for £12 per person field fee for Mam Tor Field Trip

bulletin 125 jan 2019 v1 - keele universitythe talk. thursday 14 march 2019 @ 19:00 : agm &...

Documents