John took the group to visit Mike Marshall, who is a professional preparator of fossils he finds along the coast, including ichthyosaurs and fish fossils for museums.     He explained how he selects potential specimens and then how he prepares them in his little workshop close to the coast.

His website is http://www.ycfossils.force9.co.uk

Julie and Alison are beginning to sort out next year's programme of events.     We have had many offers of evening talks so we can look forward to a great variety of subjects, on the geology of places such as Greenland, Jersey and Western Ireland, to the mass extinction at the Permo-Triassic boundary and the archaeological site at Myers Wood, near Kirkburton.

However we are short of ideas for field trips, though a weekend in the lead-mining area of Alston, North Yorkshire, has been proposed.     Please let us know where you would like to explore and we will try to suit your demands. Any suggestions to Julie or Alison, please.