Below is an email received via the website, if anyone can help then please contact Julie for details of how to contact Gordon.

"I left England in 1950 and so I have lived abroad more years than I lived in England, but, I am still a Tyke at heart.     My main reason (there are of course others) for making contact is to find out as much as possible about stone quarrying, particularly my local area Clayton, Bradford, Yorkshire.

There were many quarries in my village, two of which were still operating when I was a boy circa 1930..40.     I seem to remember a term "banker hand", can you enlighten me on this?     I know that a banker is a solid wooden bench on which stone is dressed.

I am a retired lecturer having lectured in architecture and Building at Halifax Technical College, Singapore, and United Auckland, New Zealand.     I am currently resident in Australia with the unique title of "New Zealand Citizen permanently resident in Australia.     As the Queen says..."may God Bless Her and all who sail in Her"

I am a Freemason and preparing a paper, which I hope to present to lodge, on operative i.e. fair dinkum stone masons.     I hope that you will continue communication and look forward to any information that you may be able to provide.

Tha's moast sincerely"
Gordon

Huddersfield Geology Group held six events for Yorkshire Geology Month and as usual, the response was directly linked to the weather.     Thanks to Richard Bell and Sheila Dyson of the West Yorkshire R.I.G.S group for taking two walks, in Mirfield and on Castle Hill, respectively.     The walk around Huddersfield to look at building stones was more successful this year than previously, probably because the weather was good that evening.

Huddersfield Geology Group held two Rocky Roadshows during Spring Bank Holiday, one at Caphouse Colliery and one at Oakwell Hall.     Both were marred by very cold weather, but the stall was always busy and we talked to many adults and children about local geology, dinosaurs, rocks and fossils.     Several people brought in interesting specimens to be identified.     In most cases they were familiar rocks, containing different fossils or methods of preservation of fossils.

Thanks to the helpers at each event.

We are in the throes of exciting developments at the R.I.G.S group.     The North East Yorkshire Geology Trust has submitted a bid to the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund on our behalf for £70,000.     This will enable us to prepare a plan for promoting geological conservation in West Yorkshire over the next 10 months.     The North East Yorkshire Geology Trust will lend their expertise to write a draft plan and we will do the work on the ground, such as surveying sites, running roadshows and publicising geology in as many ways as we can.

Johnson Wellfield Quarries have a room available for Jane Worrall of the North East Yorkshire Geology Trust to use as a base while she does the research and we hope to be able to continue to use this facility afterwards.

If anyone would like to assist with this project please let Alison or Sheila know.

For more Information about the West Yorkshire R.I.G.S group visit their webite West Yorkshire R.I.G.S

This course is being run by the Huddersfield Geology Group as an addition to the usual programme of Monday lectures.     The cost for the whole course is £100 per person, payable at the start of the course.     Steve Rogers has kindly offered the use of his premises in Emley for the course.

For more information see our Evening Class section.