The 2006 - 2007 programme included 15 meetings or field trips, and we enjoyed talks or walks with 8 visitors, the rest of the events being organised by our own members.

Attendance at meetings has been high this year, with an average of 21 people at each talk.     There were from 6 - 12 participants on the field trips, in all weathers.     Thanks to John Varker for giving us a splendid talk about lead mining in the North Pennines and then taking us to Troller's Gill the following weekend.     Peter Kennett allowed us to behave like small children and learn geology the practical and messy way.     Neil Aitkenhead took us to Skipton Moor to look at the rocks and glacial features of the Millstone Grit landscapes.     Twelve of us went to Charnwood Forest to meet Ian Chisholm who gave us a great day around the Charnian looking at classic and very important geological sites.     Field trips to Marsden, Folly Dolly Falls and Castleton, Derbyshire, were led by our members.

Talks on geoconservation and the local rocks of the Marsden area were the contributions from your chairman this year.     We also enjoyed another talk from Rob Chapman, on gold found in Ireland, Lower Carboniferous crinoids from Paul Kabrna, cave formation from Phil Murphy and ground investigation techniques from Steve Rogers of Rogers Geotechnical of Emley.    

Brian Farrington is still enthusing his large U3A class about geology, with different topics each year.

Sales of the two Huddersfield booklets have slowed down.     We have plenty of stock left and hope to sell more via Open Days and talks held by the West Yorkshire Geology Trust, next year.     The connection with the West Yorkshire branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association continues as their project in Marsden includes a leaflet, an interpretation board and a DVD, all of which Alison has been involved with.

We participated in Yorkshire Geology Month in May and June in cooperation with the West Yorkshire Geology Trust and took five walks around Horbury, Castle Hill, Folly Dolly Falls and the centre of Huddersfield.     The walks attracted good numbers, though this rather depended on the weather.     Yorkshire Geology Month is taking place again in 2008 and we plan to have a similar programme.

Some of the members of the group have been working with the West Yorkshire Geology Trust.     As the Trust has had a grant from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund we have been able to update the 68 Regionally Important Geological Sites in West Yorkshire and survey 20 of those which seem likely to be useful for the promotion of geology to the general public.     We have also been talking to many people, particularly in the Countryside Services, in each of the five authorities in West Yorkshire to gain some idea of how we could work with them in future.

The website continues to be updated regularly.   &nbs I get many queries about local geology from all sorts of people and the website gets appreciative comments from similar geological organisations.   &nbs I am proud that we are able to advertise our activities so professionally, as well as provide information about the rocks and landscapes of the Huddersfield district to anyone who is interested.   &nbs The website has extended the number of people who are aware of what we care about, as it draws on the Rocks and Landscapes book that we produced a few years ago.

Our hospitality at meetings continues and I am very grateful to those volunteers who make tea and coffee and provide cakes for meetings.     Offers for the supply of cakes for future meetings would be appreciated.     I appreciate the help that Hazel and others give after each meeting in clearing up the refreshments.     Please volunteer to help whenever you can.

The Newsletter continues to enable us to communicate within the group, so many thanks to Julie for producing it before each meeting.     It reports and publicises field trips and meetings so that everybody has a chance to become involved in whatever activities interest them.     Thanks also to Andrew who quietly publicises the Huddersfield Geology Group in many ways.    Andrew's beautiful posters are much appreciated and they are getting wider distribution in the area as many members put them in shops, surgeries and libraries around Kirklees.

Planning the annual programme requires imagination and contacts and Julie and I would welcome help this year.     Give us your ideas for field trips and talks, please.

I have started teaching evening classes for 'AS' Level Geology on Monday evenings, as it was clear that there was a demand for a more formal approach to learning about geology.     We have 16 people in the group, some of whom will join us for talks and walks.     The Huddersfield Geology Group will benefit from the interest shown by people who have had the opportunity to study geology for exams and who would support field trips and talks.

I have continued the evening classes for A-level Geology on Monday evenings, as it was clear that there was a demand for a more formal approach to learning about geology.     We have 10 people in the group, most of whom are members of the Huddersfield Geology Group and support our field trips and talks.     Those who took AS last year achieved very high grades, so congratulations are due to them for their brilliance and hard work.

It would be a good idea if the committee could be enlarged by at least one person, if the general members believe that this is a sensible proposal.     I therefore suggest that a Vice Chairman is appointed to help with general running of meetings and planning of our activities.

My thanks to all of you who continue to be interested and enthusiastic about local rocks and landscapes.     It is wonderful to see many people participating in other groups and activities and representing the Huddersfield Geology Group more widely.    This enthusiasm is the key to our enjoyment and should be valued highly.

Alison Quarterman