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2024-12-31-accounts

THE GEOLOGISTS’ C N

ANNUAL R RT AND FINANCIAL

BURLINGTON HOUSE, PICCADILLY, LONDON W1J 0DU

Registered Charity No VAT No 689 5297

REPORT FROM TRUSTEES for the year ended 31[st] December 2024

This report provides information concerning:

Since 1858, The Geologists’ Association (GA) has served the interests of professional, amateur and citizen geologists, and made geology available to a wider public. The GA is a national organisation based in London, and is represented by Local Groups in 15 centres around the country; 73 other geologically related societies are affiliated with the GA in the furtherance of our common aims and objectives.

The GA’s objectives are :-

The GA kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit with its activities to pursue these objectives during 2024.

The Geologists’ Association is an unincorporated association governed by a set of rules from a scheme at the Charity Commission dated 18[th] January 1967 as amended 3rd May AGM. The management of the Association is vested in a Council normally consisting of 24 members which includes the following Officers: President, Treasurer, General Secretary and up to three Vice-Presidents. Council Members, being trustees, are appointed annually at an Annual General Meeting by nomination by members of the GA. A ballot of all members is held if there are more nominations than vacancies.

Front photo: winner of 2024 photographic Competition, Giant ‘s Causeway by Graham Hickman

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REPORT FROM TRUSTEES

For year ended 31st December 2024

2024 was a busy and successful year especially as we returned to ‘normal’ levels of activity following the removal of COVID related rules. In relation to the regular events:

Lectures were either hybrid, at Burlington House and on Zoom, or Zoom only. There was a reduced number of attendees at face-to-face meetings, but a welcome uplift in numbers attending ‘online’. We extend gratitude to Mick Oates for the many years’ hard work he has invested in acquiring high quality speakers for the GA’s continuing lecture series.

A full programme of Field meetings took place at various locations and with varied focus in the UK, and there were two highly successful overseas excursions to northern Spain and to Morocco. The GA is grateful to Tom Hose, Lyudmilla Bartkova and all field trip leaders for the amount of work and energy invested in making these events happen.

The Mary Anning Maquette Road Trip continued apace and we are very grateful to Nick Pierpoint who has facilitated this with various museums across the country, we continue to be amazed by the uptake and popularity of this venture.

The GA Magazine continued to document the varied activities described above as well as including Opinion Articles, Book Reviews and some newsworthy articles that made headlines during the year. Also advertised were numerous events such as Gem/Mineral/Fossil shows organized by some of our Affiliate Groups. A special thank you must be extended to Dr Liam Gallagher in his last year in the post and to his successor to the role, Cathryn Symons, who took on editorial control in May 2024.

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Conference Icebreaker at the Bristol Museum & Art
Gallery
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There was an increase in the number of GA Local and Affiliated Groups, which now numbers 89.

2024 Susan Marriott completed her final two guides, D -Day Landings 2nd edition in time for the 80th anniversary and the Bristol Guide for the GA Conference in Bristol.

Dr Tom Hose the UK Field Meetings Secretary led a number of trips during the year. Tom has a particular interest in the history of geology and is also the editor of the GeoConservation UK newsletter. If you are interested in helping to run or organize a field meeting, Tom would be delighted to hear from you.

Significant and successful GA events were:

  1. The GA Conference in Bristol, 27th 28th & 29th

September 2024 was very well attended and well received with a very interesting mix of topics and selection of interesting field trips. We are grateful to the following people make the event such a success. Michael Benton, Deborah Hutchinson, Sarah Stafford, Liam Gallagher and Graham Hickman.

  1. Along with the Conference was the publication of the new GA Field Guide No 78 on the Geology of the Bristol region.

  2. Festival of Geology, 2nd and 3rd November, took place in the familiar surroundings of Burlington House, as the usual facilities at UCL were not available. A fantastic day was hosted by the ‘Rock Showman’ Steve Cousins and there were entertaining lectures given by Tom Sharpe Mary Anning and her Sea-Dragons, Anjana Khatwa The Secret Stories of Rocks and Cindy Howells Dinosaurs and Deserts of Wales .

The GA Festival of Geology 2024 team included – Kate Adler, Alison Barraclough, Clare Byrne, Diana Clements, Liam Gallagher, Wendy Kirk, Gerald Lucy, Sarah Stafford.

  1. During 2024 the SchoolRocks! team reached a milestone in providing

120 rock boxes and lesson plans, enabling over 3,000 children to handle real rocks and fossils as part of the Year 3 Rocks and Soils section of the Science National Curriculum.

  1. Education—the team have recently developed a set of new boxes and activities to cover most aspects of the Year 6 Science topic, Evolution and Inheritance. This was launched in a workshop in February 2024.

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  1. The yearly photography competition with some fantastic entries, available for viewing on the GA website, as well as the publication of the GA Calendar using the winners and commended entrants images, was expertly managed by Nick Pierpoint and Gerald Lucy.

From the Council and Executive perspective, we also had some challenges to face and some of these are still ongoing from previous years. First and foremost was the GA Journal, The Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association was up for renewal at the end of the year. The Publications Committee spent the year renegotiating a contract which was finalised. Members were kept informed through the GA Magazine as well as by communication from the President, Graham Hickman. Dr Colin Prosser must be singled out and thanked for helping to move the negotiations forward and to a satisfactory agreement.

Secondly, Governance and a risk assessment for the GA was discussed. Prof. Tony Doré worked hard with the team of Trustees to identify issues around membership, the PGA, succession of Trustees and Council positions as having potential impact on the future of the GA and its funding. There were a number of vacancies advertised for positions, Trustee and Non-Trustee roles throughout the year. Some were taken up; some new ones from the end of the year remain vacant.

Thirdly, we had a few of changes to Council, significantly the appointment of a new Treasurer, Susan Marriott, following the resignation of Paul Varotsis who continues to be involved with the GA as an advisor to the Treasurer’s Investment Panel. Plus a new portfolio administrator Ross Baker, who will chair the Investment Panel.

The transfer to a ‘Quickbooks’ accounting software is ongoing, but largely completed thanks to the help of Michael Kyriakides the GA Accountant.

The need to fill Trustee roles will continue to be a focus on the continuance of seeking volunteers for various roles for succession planning of key Executive roles – especially Honorary Secretary - as well as filling in for Trustees who have indicated a desire to retire from their roles in the near future.

Bristol Conference lectures in the University of Bristol Wills Memorial Building.

Above Festival of Geology Geological Sociey Lower Library

Bottom right, Geological Society main hall, William Smith map

GA Bristol Conference photos Graham Hickman

Festival of Geology photos Nick Pierpoint

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GA COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES 2024

Officers : President: Dr Liam Gallagher; Senior Vice President: Graham Hickman; Vice Presidents: Alison Barraclough, Prof. David Bridgland; Treasurer: Paul Varotsis, Prof. Susan Marriott, Honorary General Secretary: Edward Dubowski

Postholders : Awards Panel and Curry Fund Chairman Dr Haydon Bailey, Education: Alison Barraclough; Minutes Secretary: vacant; Chair of Publications: Prof. David Bridgland; Rockwatch Chair: Clare Byrne; GA Magazine Editor: Cathryn Symons; Curry Fund Secretary: Dr Jonathan Larwood; Meetings Secretary: Dr Michael Oates; Awards Panel Secretary: John Cosgrove; Chair of External Relations : Nicholas Pierpoint; Geoconservation: Dr Colin Prosser; Field Meetings Secretary: Dr Tom Hose; Marketing: David Ward; Governance, Dr Tony Doré; Safeguarding: Peter Jones; GDPR: Edward Dubowski, Portfolio Administrator, Ross Baker.

Ordinary Members of Council: Prof. John Cosgrove (Publications Minutes’ Secretary),

John Lonergan, Janet Osborn, Dr Roger Wall, Richard Wrigley.

Co opted : Jen Mackie (Student Rep); Hayley Hunt (Overseas Student Rep); Richard Trounson (Legal matters)

Non Council Roles : Proceedings Editor-in-chief: Prof. Malcolm Hart; Guides Editor: Prof. Susan Marriott, Dr Jonathan Turner. Geolab: Alison Barraclough, Nikki Edwards, SchoolRocks!: Dr Haydon Bailey Alison Barraclough & David Ward; Earth Heritage rep.: Prof. David Bridgland; Librarian: Dr Sandy Colville-Stewart; GA Archivist: Dr Jonathan Larwood; Social Media: Liz Hoy, Overseas Field Meetings Secretary: Lyudmyla Bartkova.

Executive Committee : Officers, Sarah Stafford

Investment Panel : Treasurer.

Curry Fund Committee : (President), GA Treasurer; Curry Fund Chairman Dr Haydon Bailey; Curry Fund Treasurer: Dr Christopher Green; Curry Fund Secretary: Dr Jonathan Larwood; Curry Fund Minutes Secretary: Dr Sandy Colville-Stewart; David Bone, Susan Brown, Alan Holiday, Nick Pierpoint, Jonathan Radley, Dr Ruth Siddall, Dr Barbara Silva, Sam Scriven.

Publications Committee : President, Treasurer, Chairman: Prof. David Bridgland; Secretary: Professor John Cosgrove; GA Magazine Editor: Cathyrn Symons Colin Prosser, Ex Officio Proceedings Editor-in-chief: Prof. Malcolm Hart; Geology Today & Rockwatch: Prof. Peter Doyle; Guides Editor: Dr Jonathan Turner.

External Relations Committee : President; Chairman: Nick Pierpoint; Social Media: Liz Hoy; School Rocks! Haydon Bailey, Alison Barraclough, David Ward; Geolab: Nikki Edwards Alison Barraclough: Webmaster: Barbara Silva; GASS: Dr Liam Gallagher; Rockwatch: Clare Byrne; (Additional Meetings team members: Peter Jones, John Lonergan, David Ward)

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI): vacancies.

GA Festival of Geology Organising Group : Kate Adler, Alison Barraclough, Clare Byrne, Diana Clements, Dr Liam Gallagher, Dr Wendy Kirk, Gerald Lucy, Sarah Stafford.

Geology Today Owners & Editors : Editor: Prof. Peter Doyle, Dr Colin Prosser.

Rockwatch Management Committee : Chairman: Clare Byrne; David Bone, Prof. Peter Doyle, Alan Holiday, Dr Wendy Kirk, Dr Jonathan Larwood, Dr Michael Oates, Susanna van Rose; Kate Adler.

Earth Heritage : Prof. David Bridgland plus non GA members.

Library Committee : GA Librarian: Dr Sandy Colville-Stewart (others if required).

Awards Panel : Chairman: Dr Haydon Bailey, Secretary: , Prof. David Bridgland,

SchoolRocks! Dr Haydon Bailey, David Ward, Alison Barraclough

GA Office : Executive Secretary: Sarah Stafford; Administrative Assistant: Kate Adler

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MEMBERSHIP

The deaths of the following GA Members were reported during 2024:-

Tim Charlesworth, John Dangerfield, Peter Keene, Gilbert Kelling, Richard Moody, Sheila Reid, Ray Skelhorn, Allan Straw.

79 New Members 7 formally resigned. Total 2024 Membership 900, 19 Joint, 720 Full, 85 Associate , 45 Student, 31 Honorary Life & Life Members.

Dr Graham Williams was awarded Honorary Life Membership for his services as GA Treasurer

Rockwatch 2024 850 Memberships comprising of individuals and families.

OUR LONG SERVING MEMBERS Members who joined in 1974 and reached 50 years Ralph John Anderson Terance Claud Blackler Malcolm Butler Daniel David Clarke - Lowes Hugh Richard Saxby Colin Allerton Whiteman

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 3 May 2024

Minutes of the AGM of the Geologists’ Association.

May 3[rd] 2024 – Held at Burlington House & accessible Virtually.

AGENDA

  1. Minutes of the 2023 AGM

  2. Introduce and approve the Annual Report & Financial Statements 2023

  3. Membership subscription rates for 2025

  4. Rule Changes/Green Book

  5. Election of Proposed Officers for 2024/25

  6. Election of Proposed Council Members for 2024/25

  7. Expression of thanks of the Association to retiring Council Members

  8. Presentation of Awards

The President (GH) opened the meeting by welcoming members both present at Burlington House, and those who had joined the meeting virtually.

  1. Minutes of the 2023 AGM . - These had been circulated to the Members in the draft of the Annual report and GH asked if they were acceptable and if there were any objections. No objections were raised, and he proposed a motion to accept them. This was seconded by several members including Alison Barraclough, Susan Brown and Haydon Bailey,

The minutes were adopted as read.

2. Annual Report and financial statement . – GH reminded the members that the Annual report had been sent out without the financial statement as this was not yet available. He would therefore not be seeking approval for the Report at this meeting. As soon as the financial statement was available it would be circulated to members and a special General Meeting would be held at which they could be approved. GH noted that some errors in the report had been identified and invited members to inform the Association of any other errors they found.

He explained that the delay in producing the financial statement had been caused by the difficulty in obtaining the statement from the accountants Hargreaves Lansdown for the 31[st] Dec 2023. Because of the changes in signatories and treasurer, ‘Due Diligence’ was raised by Hargreaves Lansdown, and this appears to be the prime cause of the delay. GH said that the Association was providing Hargreaves Lansdown with the information they requested and hoped the issues would soon be resolved. He reminded that members that as a charity, the Association has 10 months after the end of the financial year in which to submit its financial statement to the Charities Commission.

He told the Members that the trustees had investigated the possibility of having our accounts examined by an ‘independent financial examiner’ rather than being audited by an accountant (we currently used the accountants Simpkins Edwards to examine our accounts). GH explained that as a charity whose gross income falls between £25,000 and £1,000,000, and one having fixed assets of less than £3,260,000, we are not required by the Charities Commission to have our accounts audited. The trustees can choose to have them examined by an ‘Independent financial examiner’, which is considerably cheaper. The trustees are therefore proposing that we get the financial statement for 2023 approved in this way.

GH proposed a motion that we use an Independent Financial Examiner to approve our financial statement for the period 2023. He asked for members to second this proposal and received support from Roger Lloyd and Susan Brown. No objections were raised.

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3. Membership subscription rates 2024/25 – GH noted that the subscription rate had not increased since 2013 and that the average rate of inflation over that period had been ~3%/year. The Association’s’ costs are continuing to rise, and he proposed that a £5 increase in subscription should be made, apart from Student membership. Di Clements asked if these rises would apply to the affiliated groups and GH confirmed that this was the case. He made the proposal to the members and asked for seconders. Several members volunteered to do so including Liam Gallagher, Haydon Bailey and Di Clements. There were no objections.

4. Rule changes/Green Book – GH announced that he was seeking members approval for four changes to the Green Book which gives the rules and regulations of the Association.

The first relates to the rules and criteria governing how money from the various funds the Association has, is spent. He noted that over the past five years we have added three more funds, - the Palaeontological fund, the Thomlison Brown fund and the Adrian Champion fund, and a rubric on how these funds are to be distributed has been created.

The second proposed change is to rule 7.4 which related to the term of office of the honorary Secretary and the honorary Treasurer. It is proposed to fix this at three years with the option of extending it by a further three years. The reasons for this relate to facilitating succession planning.

The third change relates to rule 8.3. which currently states that the Association can only take its accounts through an auditor. It proposed to add an alternative, namely that the trustees have the option of having the accounts examined and approved either by an auditor or by an independent financial adviser.

The fourth proposed change is to rule 11.2 which states that rules can only be changed by calling a Special General Meeting. The proposal is to include the AGM as another venue at which rules can be changed.

GH proposed a motion that the members adopt these suggested rule changes (which were also set out in his e-mail of the 7[th ] April). The motion was seconded by Liam Gallagher, Nick Pierpoint and Sandy Colville--Stewart. GH asked if there were any objections. There were none and by consensus the proposed changes were accepted. A question was asked (off topic but which GH answered) relating to the rates for paper copies of the PGA. GH noted that the PGA is now produced digitally and that paper copies were no longer being produced.

5. The Election of proposed Officers for 2024/5 – GH announced that there were two retiring officers, Graham Williams, who had been our long-serving Treasurer for over 15years, and Paul Varotsis, who took over as Hon. Treasurer last year but who has decided to resign. GH noted that we are still looking for a treasurer and asked Members for suggestions. He also announced that he was handing the Presidency of the Association over to Liam Gallagher and would be taking over Liam’s current role as senior vice-president. The following officers (executive members) remain in post – Alison Barraclough (Vice-president), David Bridgland (Vice-president) and Ted Dubrowski (Hon. General secretary)

GH recorded that Vanessa Banks, the Council minutes secretary, was retiring from that position and coming off Council. He thanked her for her support for the Association both in this role and in her role as President before his own investiture. He welcomed two new council members, Cathryn Symonds who is taking on the role of GA Magazine editor, and Ross Baker who is taking on the role of investments administrator. He presented the following list of continuing post-holders that were to remain on council.

Haydon Bailey (Chair Curry Fund, Awards panel), Vanessa Banks (Council minutes secretary and Chair EDI), Alison Barraclough (Education), David Bridgland (Chair Publications), Anthony Dore (Governance), Jonathan Larwood (Curry Fund Sec., EDI), Mike Oates (Meeting secretary), Nick Pierpoint (Chair External Relations), Colin Prosser (Geo-conservation), David Ward (Marketing), John Cosgrove (Publications, and Awards and Grants secretary).

He listed the co-opted members of council - Lyudmyla Bartkova as the overseas field meeting secretary, and non-members of council, Jonathan Turner as GA Guides editor and Ian Saunders as GA Web site co-ordinator. He proposed a motion that the members elect the officers and members of council and none-council members discussed above and asked for seconders. Haydon Bailey seconded the motion and there were no objections. GH asked for an expression of appreciation for the retiring officers.

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6. Transfer of Presidency and presentation of the Awards . – GH then passed over the badge of office to Liam Galagher wishing him all the best in his role as President. He invited Liam to present the awards.

The GA Foulerton Award - Recipient Mike Howgate

The Foulerton Award is presented to a GA Member for work of merit connected with the Association. The award is funded from the investment of a gift left to the GA by Dr. John Foulerton who was GA Secretary from 1877-1886. It was first awarded in 1920.

In his acceptance speech, Mike noted what a pleasure it had been to be involved with the task of introducing Geology to the wider public. He felt that this was one of the major roles of the GA and was proud of the Association’s efforts in this area.

The GA Halstead Medal - Recipient Chris Darmon

The Halstead Medal is presented for work of outstanding merit, deemed to further the objectives of the Association and to promote geology. The medal is named after Lambert Beverley (Bev) Halstead who was GA President from 1990-1991. The medal was first presented in 1992.

In his acceptance speech Chris recounted that it was 50 years since he graduated and that he owed a lot to geologists like Bev Halstead. He had found great pleasure in introducing numerous people to the Earth sciences, particularly the young people through the Nationwide Geology Club. He noted that this charity was dissolved last year, and that the funds were passed on to Rockwatch, who continue to work on the introduction of young people to geology.

GA Halstead Award – There was no nomination for this award this year.

This award is given to an individual or individuals who has made a substantial contribution in any area of geology at an early stage in their career. The award was first given in 2016.

Liam expressed his disappointment that the award had not been made and said he would make every effort to ensure that it was awarded next year. He encouraged members to submit the names of potential recipients.

GA Henry Stopes Medal – Recipient Mathew Pope. Mathew was unable to attend the AGM because of a family bereavement.

The Henry Stopes Memorial Medal is awarded once every 3 years for work on the Prehistory of Man and his geological environment, to any Member of the Geologists’ Association or other person without restriction as to country or gender, preference being given to non-professionals.

GA Richardson Award – Recipients John Whicher and Robert Chandler for their paper in the PGA entitled, ‘Lytoceratid ammonites from the Inferior Oolite Formation (Middle Jurassic, Aalenian and Bajocian) of Dorset (United Kingdom). John T. Whicher, Robert B. Chandler & Rene Hoffmann. PGA Vol. 134, Issue 2, pp 216-245.

The award was established in the names of Doris Maud Richardson, John Victor Richardson and James Alfred Richardson. It is awarded for the best research-based paper in the PGA, authored or coauthored by a GA member.

The recipients thanked the Association for the honour of the award and noted their indebtedness to the third author on their paper, Rene Hoffmann, who was not a member of the GA, without whose help they felt they would not have received the award.

The Curry M.Sc. Award . – Awarded jointly to Rhys Jones from the university of Cardiff for his thesis entitled ‘A model of historic mine working in Ebbw Vale’ and Ciaran MacDonald of the university of Aberdeen for his thesis entitled ‘Novel, unsupervised clustering of Chang’e4 lunar penetrating radar reveals shallow stratigraphy of the lunar far side’. Neither of the recipients were present for the presentation.

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The UKOGL Award – Recipient Callum Hill of the University of Birmingham for his thesis entitled ‘The use of CT to analyses the internal morphology, of the enigmatic echinoderm Placocystites forbensianus’. He was not present to receive the award.

The UK O nshore G eophysical L ibrary Research Award helps one or more deserving final year MGeol/ MSci undergraduates. It is intended to assist in the preparation of a thesis, preferably relevant to the geology of onshore areas of the United Kingdom

GA Research Grants . Two applications were successful. These are from Emma Watts of the university of Southampton who was awarded £600 to provide trace element analysis as part of her research project on Magma-salt interactions, and Mike Streetly (a retired hydrogeologist and self-funded M.Phil. student) who was awarded £800 towards the development of a multi proxy sequence for Holocene deposits in the Shrewsbury area.

These grants were paid from the Callomon - Porter Fund.

GA Meeting funds . Four applicants received financial help to attend meetings. Rosie Lewis of the university of Leeds, to attend the ‘Cities on volcanoes meeting’ in Guatemala (£250), Eloise Hunt of the Natural History Museum and Imperial College, to attend the ‘Integrative and comparative biology annual meeting’ in Seattle (£250), Nemi Walding of the university of Hull to attend the ‘Annual European Rheology Conference’, in Leeds (£200), and Tim Fedak of the Nova Scotia museum to attend a 2 day workshop, ‘Working with Charles Lyell’ at the university of Edinburgh (£250). These grants were paid from the JAPEC Fund.

A Regional meeting grant was applied for by the Bewley Museum, for financial support for the ‘Abberley and Malvern Geofest’, an event that had previously been regularly supported by the Tomlinson-Brown Trust. It was agreed by the G & A committee that this application was best covered by the GA Regional Meetings grant. Such grants have a maximum level of £350. However, it was also noted that the GA is normally seen as a provider of ‘seed-funding’ for events such as this rather than providing regular financial support. This will be made clear to the organisers of the Geofest with the suggestion that they became self-supporting. £350 was awarded and paid from the Tomlinson-Brown fund.

The Ivor Tupper Award . There were no applications this year.

The fund is designed to give financial assistance - a single award normally of £2,000 – to an undergraduate in their second, third or fourth year at a UK university, studying Geology or Earth Sciences who, in addition to a good level of academic achievement, is regarded as an enthusiastic ambassador for the science, going over and beyond normal levels in areas such as outreach and the promotion of the Earth Sciences.

Liam Expressed his disappointment that no student had been proposed and resolved to make every effort that this prize would be awarded next year.

Membership recognitions. 50 years membership was achieved this year by Martin Bradshaw, Kenneth Douglas, Christopher Duffin, Stephen Howe, Richard Milton-Worssel, Hugh Pedley, Anthony Smith and Alice Tyler, All of whom would receive certificates recording this. This year no member reach 70 years membership.

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GA President’s Medal – Recipient Sandy Colville-Stewart

This Medal is given in acknowledgement of long-service contribution to the continued administration and benefit of the Geologists’ Association. The Medal is for extended work of merit connected with the Association; it is open to both Council and non-Council members.

In awarding the medal the president (GH) noted that …’ Over the last ten years Sandy has quietly made a large contribution to the running of the GA on multiple occasions and in several roles. Sandy joined the GA council in 2014 and within just a few months took on the role of council minutes secretary, 2014-2021 (7 years). Diligently taking notes and writing up the minutes in an accurate and timely manner. Behind the scenes Sandy often helps Sarah in the office and with planning of events such as the Festival of Geology. Since 2020 she also took on the role of GA librarian and from 2021-2022 also took on the role of Hon. General Secretary after Di Clements resigned. Although only holding the Hon. Sec. role for a year you implemented the scheduling of the agenda topics across a year of meetings - which has improved the efficiency of council meetings since. She was also instrumental in interviewing and appointing the administrative assistant following Geraldine’s retirement. More recently you have also taken on the role of Minutes Secretary for the Curry Fund, standing in when the previous secretary stood down. Dependable, efficient and effective - you has been quietly helping with the administration of the GA over the last decade and you are well deserving of this recognition’…

Liam Gallagher brought the meeting to a close by thanking Graham Hickman for the work he had done over the past year. He also thanked the members for their untiring support during what has been a particularly challenging year. He noted that Council would particularly like to thank Graham Williams, Paul Varotsis, Vanessa Banks and Susan Marriott the retiring officers, for their significant and much appreciated contributions to the Association. He also thanked the people who had given their time and expertise in presenting a series of interesting and informative talks.

GA President, Graham Hickman presenting Sandy Colville-Stewart with the President’s Medal

Minutes from the Special General Meeting; held on Friday October 4[th] 2024 at 6pm in Burlington House and on Zoom

Liam Gallagher, GA President, chaired the meeting ahead of the October lecture. LG described how delays in finalising the financial statement for the year ending December 31, 2023, in time for the AGM, meant that members only received the written portion of the annual report in May 2024. The complete annual report for 2023, which included the financial statement, was distributed to members on September 18[th] 2024.

The sole agenda item for this Special General Meeting (SGM) is to present the completed annual report for the year ending December 31[st] 2023 and seek approval.

Members indicated their approval and the meeting was closed.

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LECTURE MEETINGS 2024

All of our nine monthly lectures throughout 2024 were available online, via Zoom, with four broadcast from Burlington House during live meetings. This affords members unable to attend London lectures the opportunity to listen and participate remotely. In addition, almost all presentations are now recorded and made available for members to watch online, after the event. The GA council has now agreed on a routine that live talks from London start at 6.00pm, while Zoom only talks now start at 7.00pm (January, February, April, June and July).

Starting in January, Dr Jon Noad, by popular demand, and remotely from Canada, gave the views of a sedimentologist on how rich fossiliferous deposits can accumulate. In February, Dr Chris Duffin presented his entertaining account of the historical uses of geological materials as prophylactics and cures in medical science. For March, our own honorary secretary, Ted Dubowski, demonstrated his long-term interest in using different satellite imagery techniques to deduce the geological character of the Sahara.

Due to sudden illness, April's speaker had to cancel (we have re-booked her for this year) so your Meetings Secretary stood in at short notice with his favourite topic: all you wanted to know about ammonites.

For his second presidential address, in May, Graham Hickman told us about "Geology in Paradise", with Trinidad as its subject, where he was lucky enough to live and work a few years ago.

In June, Dr Rebecca Williams explained how pyroclastic density currents come about and the catastrophic volcanic eruptions that ensue. Recently awarded a PhD at Bristol University, Dr Zichuan Qin presented the results of his research, examining theropod forelimb claws and relating this to the evolution of dinosaurs into birds. After a second lecture cancellation this year, in October, we were most grateful to Prof. Ru Smith, who stood in with a splendid lecture on the Northern Pennine orefield and how that laid the roots for stratigraphic geology during the 18th century. The final talk of the year in December brought us much more up to date with an explanation by Ewan Thomas of the aspects geologists have to consider in designing landfill sites.

As always, our sincere thanks go to Sarah Stafford, who does all the essential background work organising the lectures either in London or remotely and also sets up the live-stream and recording, ably assisted by Kevin Perry. Our gratitude is also expressed to Gerald Lucy who creates such attractive online posters for every talk.

Michael Oates (Meetings Secretary)

UK FIELD MEETINGS

Four of the five field meetings planned were actually run during the year. They were led by GA and affiliated groups’ members. Each was designed to provide a range of experiences for GA members, from either ‘accessible’ to ‘scientific’ an ‘historical’ or an admixture of these in focus. A range of past visited, sometimes in Victorian times, and previously unvisited geosites were seen but, due to the cancellation of a south Wales field meeting, with an unintended south-east England bias. One field meeting was organised by request to support the GA Student Symposium, which then did not run!

The year’s first (and accessible and scientific) field meeting, entitled ‘Beneath Our Feet - Geology of Hampstead Heath’, was most ably led by Diana Clements assistance on the 13th of April. It coincided with the launch of the second edition of Dee McLean’s capable A Guide ‘ The Geology of London’ . Its Hampstead Heath itinerary

underpinned the meeting which examined how the Heath’s Hampstead Heath Fountain geology influences the local landscape and its numerous springs, several ponds and vegetation; additionally, some industrial archaeology, water supply and the recent ‘Ponds Project’ (see GA Magazine Vol. 23, No.2) were explored. The structure and geology of the Thames Valley and their influence on the siting of London were noted from several viewpoints along the 3-mile (5-km) route across an ancient heathland spanning 320 hectares. Exposures along the route provided opportunities to consider the Heath’s Cenozoic age (London Clay Formation), Quaternary and Holocene sediments. The various clays, sands, gravels and water resources have all been exploited to meet demand from the City of London and its developers. After lunch at Kenwood House, the afternoon was particularly spent examining the Goodison Fountain and its water party. The last main stop was a viaduct crossing the River Fleet, part of a thwarted 1840’s attempt to develop the GA Map Store at UCL Library Heath that was eventually used for a brick-making enterprise. Nick Pierpoint reported the meeting in September 2024’s GA Magazine.

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The year’s second (and accessible and historic) field meeting, entitled ‘Luton and the Chilterns’ was led by Tom Hose, ably assisted by Bev Fowlston and Derek Turner of the Bedfordshire Geology Group (BGG) on the 18th of May. The morning session partly followed a cyclists’ geotrail over some of the routes of four Victorian GA excursions. Starting at Luton Railway Station, just as Luton the original excursionists had, a short detour was made to see the southward-flowing River Lea (a Thames tributary). The party then sped by bus along the Guided Busway (built over the route of a railway to Dunstable and a chalk quarry) to the foot of Blows Down (in the White Chalk sub-group) for a quarry (looking for black flints and shell fragments, to confirm the Holywell Nodular Chalk Formation, and some industrial archaeology). The party then walked (passing into the New Pit Chalk Formation) to the top of Blows Down to see the chalk geology and topography relationships, and to compare historic mapping of the rural area walked by the Victorian excursionists with today’s urban sprawl; the mist obscuring those views finally lifted just as the party was enjoying lunch in Dunstable and about to board another bus! Arriving at Chalton, the visit to the northward-flowing River Flit (a tributary of the Great Ouse that flows into The Wash)

exemplifying the local watershed was abandoned because a fallen tree blocked the Chiltern Way footpath. A short walk took the party into the Sundon Pits where the Zig Zag Chalk and West Melbury Marly Chalk Formations, separated by the Totternhoe Stone Member, were observed; detached lumps of the latter provided shelly fossils for everyone (see previous photo). A probable fluvioglacial channel and some loess were also seen, along with panoramic views of the Dunstable Downs in the White Chalk sub-group. The field meeting’s report, by Derek Turner and Tom Hose, will now be in June 2025’s GA Magazine.

The year’s third (and historic and scientific) field meeting, entitled ‘Chelmsford – an 1895 Excursion Revisited’, on the 8th of June was inspired by a GA Magazine article. It was well organised and part led by Ros and Ian Mercer, of

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Chelmsford
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the Essex Rock & Minerals Society (ERMS), who also organised a tribute to the Victorian excursionists (see left). The morning’s visit led by Peter Allen, with David Bridgland’s contributions, was spent exploring Quaternary Anglian-age (Thames Gravels and the overlying till) sediments at Bull’s Lodge Quarry, on the edge of now rapidly expanding Chelmsford. Various features such as sand wedge, sand channels and gravel beds were seen; participants were able to collect assorted and interesting specimens (such as various cherts and quartzites) from a rock pile`. A splendid sandwich and chips lunch was taken at ‘Channels’ bistro and restaurant that was hosting a wedding at the time so that some of the party, with feathered hats and straw boaters, who had

donned their period costumes did not look too much out of place! At the Victorian excursion re-enactment Ros read the article aloud and photos were taken before everyone was back out in modern field kit. Richard Stubbings, the grandson of the founder of ‘Channels’, then led a brief and anecdote-packed tour of the site’s sarsens and puddingstones; these have been protected and interpreted in conjunction with the ERMS. A particularly small but significant feature seen, was a roadside till exposure as explained by Peter Allen. Lastly, the party met the artist Michael Condron who described the metal mammoth shortly to be installed on site as a reminder of the former Ice Age braided channel landscape. Siobhan O’Shea reported the field meeting, with some engaging personal asides, in September 2024’s GA Magazine as the ‘Bulls Lodge Quarry Field Trip’.

The fourth (and scientific) field meeting, entitled ‘Wealden Excursion – Smokejacks’, was as usual most ably led by Peter Austen and Ed Jarzembowski on the 7th of July; it continued the now annual excursion to south-east England’s Weald Clay localities. With the usual required safety induction over, party members were able to enjoy two site-specific temporary geological displays and an introductory talk. The party eventually headed into the quarry’s north-east end section, by which time the day’s expected rain had in full measure. The initial highlight was uncovering an assemblage of Mantellisaurus and small crocodile bones. The afternoon was spent revealing crocodilian tail bones, a bone-filled coprolite and occasional fish remains; some good insect clam shrimps (Ordosestheria carapaces) and flowering plant fossils were uncovered from the slopes (see left). At least the downpours created a temporary feature rather modelling Surrey in early Wealden times! As always, the leaders and party members were most grateful to Wienerberger Ltd. for continued access to the site. A report by the leaders was published in September 2024’s GA Magazine.

The fifth and last (scientific) geoconservation meeting planned for September was necessarily postponed to 2025. All the field meetings depended upon the good offices of the leaders and their assistants, the help of landowners and their managers, as well as the GA Office, for which grateful thanks are extended; likewise, to the members who wrote up the field meeting reports for the GA Magazine. The enthusiastic support and warm thanks of participants did much to repay the considerable effort and time leaders put into developing and running the meetings. Meanwhile suggestions about, and offers to lead, field meetings are always welcome and should be addressed, via the GA Office, to the UK Field Meetings Secretary

Tom Hose UK Field Meetings Secretary

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OVERSEAS FIELD MEETINGS

Two overseas GA meetings were conducted in 2024. Geology trip to Navarra region of Northern Spain organized and led by Dr. Jonathan Turner, took place on September 6-14. Participants had a brilliant opportunity to visit the best places for examining dynamic interactions between mountain-building, depositional systems and landscape evolution (the rocks were well preserved, with the exposures extensive and easily accessible). The places visited on this trip comprised semi-desert, with correspondingly distinctive fauna and flora (eagles, vultures, wild boar, Mediterranean scrub and forest, etc.). Routes leading to the ‘Camino’, the pilgrim road to Santiago, were commonly crossed, with an opportunity to encounter ornate Romanesque (12th-13th century) churches, knights templar palaces, and evidence of the 1936-39 civil war (‘La Guerra’). Some of the visited localities and sites included: Arguis – Eocene marine sediments thinning onto an actively growing fold structure; Los Riglos de Mallos – towers of thick alluvial fan conglomerates, Miocene; Aguero – cliffs of Miocene alluvial sediments filling in actively ‘growing’ compressional fold structures; Gallego gorge – transect through a thrust belt; Monasterio de San Juan de la Pena – 13th century monastery perched on a thick sequence of Oligocene alluvial fan conglomerates; Salinas de Oro – one of several diapirs of Triassic salt containing mantle rocks from the North Pyrenean Fault Zone; Monasterio de Montserrat – Eocene-Oligocene fan-delta sequence progressing from deep marine mudstones at its base to continental alluvial fan conglomerates at the monastery at the summit.

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Northern Spain 2024
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The second GA overseas meeting took place in Morocco during November 19 -30, 2024, It was organized and led by Professor David Martill and Mr Moha Segaoui. The trip began in the historic World Heritage city of Marrakesh and examined some of Morocco's most important fossil sites from the Proterozoic to the Late Cretaceous. Emphases were done on the Cretaceous Kem Kem Group from where many fantastic dinosaur, pterosaur and other vertebrate fossils have been discovered. The GA group crossed the Atlas Mountains to reach the Sahara Desert, and while en route examined beautiful Precambrian stromatolites, and visited several centres where trilobites are excavated, prepared and marketed

around the globe (with an opportunity to collect their own trilobites and see the delicate preparation work involved in extracting them from the rock is included). In Tafilalt participants examined the famous Devonian mud mounds and saw limestone made of trilobites. The area is also rich in orthoconic nautiloids, crinoids and corals. A visit to the sand dunes of Merzouga was included, as was a visit to the vanadanite mine near Taouz, with a Silurian crinoid locality nearby. The return journey was via Asfla to see the famous nodule beds of the Late Cretaceous Akrabou Formation. The nodules are rich in ammonites, but also plesiosaurs, turtles, tethysaurs and a wide variety of fishes.

Lyudmyla Bartkova Overseas Field Meetings Secretary

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Morocco 2024
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GEOCONSERVATION

The GA, in all its guises, continued its long-standing contribution to geoconservation in a variety of ways during 2024. Following on from the lively and informative discussion about geoconservation at the GA Groups Meeting in November 2023, we hosted a further on-line geoconservation discussion in January 2024. The meeting was very well attended and focused on Local Geological Sites and opportunities to engage with the current government / local authority initiative to produce Local Nature Recovery Strategies across England and on Nature Recovery more generally. Cumbria Geoconservation presented on, and shared their experience, and their input was extremely well received.

International Geodiversity Day on 6[th] October once again provided an opportunity for GA groups to showcase what they do and to run events, with the International Geodiversity Day website recording events at Riddlesdown Chalk Quarry and Harrow Weald Common led by the London Geodiversity Partnership, and a GEOFEST hosted by the Dorset GA Group. International Geodiversity Day 2025 will once again be on 6 October so please do consider planning and running an event.

The GA continued to manage the publication of Earth Heritage magazine, working with our partners to publish issues 61 and 62. We also continued to publish geoconservation papers in the Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association and to fund geoconservation projects through the Curry Fund. This is in addition to the practical conservation work undertaken by so many local groups, much of which is reported in the GA Magazine and Earth Heritage. For example, the excavation by the Harrow and Hillingdon Geological Society of a new section in the Stanmore Gravel adjacent to Harrow Weald SSSI, and the associated research undertaken with the help of David Bridgland and Phil Collins, is described in issues 61 and 62 of Earth Heritage magazine.

Finally, it is worth celebrating the fact that 7 more UK sites, most of which will be familiar to GA members, were recognized by the International Union of Geological Sciences as ‘Geological Heritage Sites’ in 2024. The main goal of this IUGS collaborative program is to give the highest recognition to those sites that are essential for the geological sciences. They represent the world’s best demonstrations of geological features and processes and are sites which it is important to conserve for future generations. The UK sites recognized in 2024 are Cavansham Ferry and Llanstephan Quarries in Wales, Jurassic Coast: Lyme Regis, Brittle Structures of the Somerset Coast, and Granite Landforms of Dartmoor in England, and Metamorphic Barrow Zones, the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy, and the Rum Igneous Complex in Scotland. They are added to the sites recognized in 2022 which are Siccar Point (Hutton’s Unconformity) and the Moine Thrust Zone in Scotland, the Paleocene volcanic rocks of the Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland and Ynys Llanddwyn late Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Mélange in Wales. All 200 sites from across the globe recognized so far by the IUGS, are attractively illustrated and described in a coffee table book than can be downloaded for free at Publications - IUGS (iugs-geoheritage.org).

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Stanmore Gravel Team
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Dr Colin Prosser

Chair – Geoconservation

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THE GEOLOGISTS’ ASSOCIATION GEO-LAB

Geo-Lab is a unique outreach incentive which aims to give members of the public with very little knowledge of Earth Science an introduction to geology. A typical Geo-Lab day starts with the morning spent in a village or town hall. A range of exciting hands-on experiments mean that participants discover different types of rocks, the processes of erosion, weathering, and deposition and even a wax volcano.

In the afternoon, the locally based GA group lead a trip to some interesting nearby geology and show the attendees some of the rocks and processes they have seen in the morning.

Recently, Geo-Lab visited Lesnes Abbey Woods, in association with the London Geodiversity Partnership. The morning was spent on a walk led by Di Clements exploring the geology of the lovely woods with their carpets of wild daffodils. There were opportunities to look for fossils in the world-famous Eocene pit as well as visiting Chalky Dell, which is not normally open to the public. As well as selected Geo-Lab practicals, the afternoon activities included discovering more about the geology of London, horse evolution from the Eocene to the present day and making paints from a range of local rock pigments.

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Some of the Abbey Wood Geo-Lab participants photo Dee McLean

The Geo-Lab team are very excited about visiting Bracklesham Bay with Rockwatch in April 2025. After a morning of carefully designed activities relating to the local sedimentary rocks but also including the ever-popular wax volcano demonstrations there will be a ‘show and tell’ session, and the afternoon will be spent fossil hunting fossil hunt on the beach, both led by David and Anne Bone.

If your local or affiliated group, or museum is interested in holding a Geo-Lab Day, please contact the Geo-Lab team. It’s a fantastic way of sharing your enthusiasm for geology!

Contact the Geo-Lab team via alisongeolab@geologistsassociation.org.uk

Alison Barraclough

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EDUCATION

The Geologists’ Association plays a small but significant part in Earth Science formal and informal education, reaching children through SchoolRocks! and Rockwatch, and a wider ranging audience by way of the Festival of Geology, Geo-Lab, the GA conference, and an impressive variety of publications. The importance of this cannot be over emphasised when the decline in numbers taking formal geology qualifications in schools, and a corresponding decline at university level, are considered.

The GA is fortunate to have a representative on the Geological Society Education Committee which has very similar concerns and ambitions for the future of Earth Science education as the GA.

The two exam boards offering A level geology, Eduqas and OCR reported that the numbers taking A level geology showed a slight increase in 2024, but geology remains very much a minority STEM subject. The GA is represented on the OCR Science Advisory Forum, which meets twice a year in Cambridge, and also has strong links with Eduqas, and consequently is in an excellent position to try to ensure that geology qualifications continue to be offered.

The decline in number taking Earth Science and related degrees remains a concern, but incentives such the new Geoscientist Degree Apprenticeship which is being designed and launched at Keele University, and OCR’s Natural History GCSE, may help to reduce the decline in the numbers of new UK geologists. The Department for Education has recently confirmed plans to move ahead with the Natural History qualification, in a Parliamentary Question. This will be one of the first new GCSEs introduced in over a decade. There will be a further opportunity to comment on the specification content, and the GA would be happy to coordinate responses from local and affiliated groups and individual members.

The Government initiated a review of the National Curriculum in 2024. The GA responded to the call for evidence, emphasising that although Earth Sciences are taught within the existing curriculum, for example Rocks and Soils in Key Stage 2 science (seven-year-old children) and plate tectonics (GCSE Geography) very few pupils or teachers are aware that these are actually geology.

The government has just published an initial response to the call for evidence, the Curriculum and Assessment Review, an interim report (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ curriculum-and-assessment-review-interim-report).

The key findings of the report are:

The full recommendations will be published in the Autumn of 2015, but it is likely some time before any such recommendations become adopted into the National Curriculum and by schools.

Very few of these incentives would be possible without the support of GA members. Thank you.

Alison Barraclough and Nikki Edwards

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SCHOOLROCKS!

SchoolRocks! reaches 10,500 children in the last seven years!

When the Geologists’ Association SchoolRocks! initiative sent out its first Rock Box in January 2018 we had no idea where this project would take us or how many children we might introduce to rocks and fossils.

If we total up all the children we have provided with rock and fossil specimens, and we add to these the children we have met in workshops and school presentations since we started back in 2018, we have given almost 10,800 children an introduction to geology.

In 2024 we launched our Evolution boxes which are targeted at Key Stage 2, Year 6 Science, Evolution and inheritance. These contain a set of replica horse hooves, starting with the diminutive Eohippus and ranging up to a much larger Pliohippus . They also contain sets of replica Micraster echinoid specimens. Lesson plans and classroom exercises and resources are provided, as few schools have the necessary materials to illustrate evolution in action. The first schools are now reporting highly positive feedback, having used these specimens in the classroom.

Not only do the horse hooves illustrate anatomical changes due to evolution of the horse through time, these changes can also be used to explain how past climate change can be recognised and how it impacts on environmental change and how animals like the horse have had to adapt in the past to survive.

Measuring Micraster echinoid fossils is also useful in developing practical skills by measuring and working scientifically, and when the results are plotted up on a simple x/y graph, schoolchildren can see how echinoids have changed/evolved through time, even if the enclosing chalk sediment has shown little obvious change.

Our standard Rock Boxes, complete with lesson plans and activities, remain a very effective classroom resource for Key Stage 2, Year 3 children, but these too have evolved over the last seven years, following the positive feedback we have received from teachers. Our Evolution boxes are proving to be a key resource for KS2 Year 6 children, and we look forward to promoting these further.

The SchoolrRocks! team would like to express their gratitude for the donations of rocks and fossils, and to the Reading Geological Society for constructing the boxes.

If you know of a school that might benefit for borrowing one of our boxes or if you would like to help the SchoolRocks! team in some way, possibly providing specimens, going into local school classrooms or by being part of the team, please contact us at schoolrocks@geologistsassociation.org.uk – we would love to hear from you.

The SchoolRocks! Team – Haydon Bailey, Alison Barraclough and David Ward

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MARKETING

Marketing Contribution

We have three main objectives in our marketing activities – to recruit new members to the GA; to recruit to Rockwatch and promote the School Rocks loan Service; and finally, to introduce the wider public to geology.

We achieve this by, primarily, exhibiting at Science and STEM Festivals and visits to schools (this latter activity strongly supported by Alison Barraclough and Haydon Bailey)

Our display materials fall into three categories – geological games aimed at holding children’s attention and introducing timelines and mass extinctions, discussion of mineral and fossil specimens and finally, the challenge of matching metals with the ores worked to produce them. We have many specimens on show and find that it is important for children to actually hold specimens - there’s something very tactile about specimens! Also, to identify teachers and parents, who can then be persuaded to take our literature into schools. In the year from Oct 24 to Oct 25 we attended 8 events and for 25-6 plan on attending all these, plus Southampton University, Biddulph Grange, Isle of Wight Great Exhibition Road and Merthyr Tydfil.

We attended:- Sidmouth Science Festival, AGS Amateur Geologists’ Society, Norwich Science Festival, Essex Rock and Mineral Show, Abingdon ATOM, Chalk, Cherries and Chairs, Lyme Regis Fossil Festival, Yorkshire Fossil Festival

Stands were manned by myself, Alison and Haydon, Di Clements and Nikki Edwards and Ruth Siddall, also by enthusiastic members of Local Groups where we were able to recruit them.

More support in manning stands and information on additional Festivals will be very welcome and would enable us to expand this important activity.

David Ward

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2024 has seen an increased uptake of field trips and an increase in number of events which has meant that our Rockwatch coordinator, Kate Adler, has now increased her working days to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with a mix of home and office working. Please don’t hesitate to contact her with any queries on hello@rockwatch.org.uk.

We have been very fortunate to recruit a new Treasurer to replace David Bone, who is such a stalwart member of the team. Peter Foster has stepped into the role seamlessly and is a pleasure to work with. Thank you both for your commitment to Rockwatch.

Susanna van Rose has stepped down from the editorship of the marvellous Rockwatch magazine. Susanna edited the first magazine in 1992 and has worked tirelessly since then to keep us all up to scratch. We have been fortunate to recruit an ex-Rockwatcher to the role, which is shared with Peter Doyle. James Barnet is currently researching at St Andrews University and is a fantastic addition to the committee as well as a great advert for Rockwatch membership.

I am pleased to report that Tony Dore has joined the Rockwatch committee and will be spearheading the effort to get our activities more widely available around the UK. If you have any ideas for trips or museum visits, please get in touch. Please remember that there is no need for leaders and helpers to be DBS checked, as you will not be in loco parentis. Perhaps there are trips already planned that would be suitable for Rockwatchers to attend?

Rockwatch was present at:

The Chiltern Society’s ‘Chairs, Cherries and Chalk’ on Thursday April 11th

Lyme Regis Fossil Festival- Friday 7th to Sunday 9th June

Festival of Geology on Saturday 2nd November

Rockwatch members only events:

Bracklesham Bay with David Bone on Sunday 5th May

Peak district with Peter Webb on 26th May

Walton-on-the-Naze with Ros and Ian Mercer on 16th June

Dorset - Leeson House residential trip from 29th July to 2nd August

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A very hot day at Durdle Door
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Somerset Earth Science Centre on 13th and 14th August

This year there was a Rockwatch trip on the Sunday 29th September after the conference at Ivy Farm, East Dundry and we also repeated the trip to Crystal Palace on 3rd November after the Festival of Geology.

Further details on all these trips can be found in the GA magazines.

All trips have been oversubscribed, showing that there is a real need to have more activities in place.

The Rockstar prizegiving at Anglo American headquarters in London was a resounding success. As ever, our thanks go to the Anglo-American Foundation for their continued support for Rockwatch and, in particular, the competition.

There were more than 50 entries in the various categories and nineteen winners, although all entrants received a gift. Matt Loader, who was at the NHM for some years prior to working at AAF, was interviewed by Rockwriter Jack Knight. Matt was quizzed on his early introduction to geology and his most awe-inspiring discoveries. As usual, the Rockwatchers were full of intelligent and thought-provoking questions.

2024’s Rockwatch magazines have carried on the tradition of high quality and fascinating content. Despite the high cost of production, we are committed to retaining the physical magazines as they are much loved by the membership. Enormous thanks are due to the editors Peter Doyle and Susanna van Rose for ensuring that the magazine is always factually correct and extremely entertaining and to Seabury Salmon for producing such an eye-catching layout.

Clare Byrne Rockwatch Chair

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THE CURRY FUND

In 2024 the Curry Fund received 26 applications, 19 of which we were able to support. A total of £33,590 was awarded (Ordinary grants £25,157, GA subvention £8,433). In 2024 sixteen projects were completed and a total of £21,040 was made in grant payment, from the smallest grant of £250 to the largest grant of £3,000.

Grant applications continue to be high in quality, innovative and inspiring reflecting the broad objectives of the Curry Fund - to encourage initiatives within geology which might otherwise not be possible, to encourage innovation and, through far-sighted developments, help a wider public to understand and enjoy geology

Projects supported 2024 include:

Events and exhibitions: we supported the Dorset Coast Forum’s exploration of the impact of coastal change, 200 years on from the 1824 Great Gale, we helped the Natural History Museum host its annual student conference, and have been able to support the 2025 bicentenary celebration of the naming of Iguanodon hosted by ‘ A Town Explores a Book’ in St Leonards-on-Sea. We also helped Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery host the Mary Anning Maquette as part of the on-going Mary Anning Tour .

Conservation: two ichthyosaurs benefited from Curry Fund support: the rescue and conservation of a rare ichthyosaur discovered at Bridport on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and, at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, the restoration of a Mary Anning-collected juvenile ichthyosaur that had lain unattributed since the 19th Century. In Scotland, on the recently designated Arran UNESCO Global Geopark , we supported the Scottish Geology Trust undertake a ’geoblitz’ identifying new geological sites across the island and lastly, a small grant was provided to repair three volumes of the South Wales Institute of Engineers Transactions and donate them to the South Wales Miner’s Museum.

Publications: the Welsh Stone Forum’s ‘Building Stones of Strata Florida’ - a description and illustration of the geological fabric of the mid-Wales Cistercian Abbey and its surroundings, ‘ The Emergence of Geophysics’ , Richard Howarth’s history of geophysics, published by the Geological Society, and two GA Guides , significantly revised and reprinted (the Geology of the Bristol Region (No 78) and the Geology of the D-Day Landings (no 64)), were all published with support from the Curry Fund.

Arts: in 2024 the Geological Society hosted a two-day conference ‘Earth’s Canvas’ exploring the intersection between the practice of art and geoscience; a Curry Fund grant provided a bursary that enabled six artists to attend the event. Other

grants supported a puppetry performance ‘ Mrs Mantell’s Tooth’ by Theatre Rotto, an account of the role of Mrs Mantell in the discovery of Iguanodon, Alison Neighbour’s ‘Chalk Path’ , a geo-located sound walk connecting Folkestone and Cap Blanc Nez chalk cliffs, linked to Cross Channel/Transmanche aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark, and geo-artist Phoebe Sleath’s exploration of the art of geological field sketches.

Curry Fund ‘Award for excellence’:

The Curry Fund ‘Award for excellence’ recognises completed projects that exemplify the objectives of the Curry Fund. In 2024 we recognised the 10th anniversary field visit of Girls into Geoscience and the certificate was awarded in wider recognition of the work achieved through this initiative and secondly, a certificate was awarded to the Essex Ashdon Meteorite Centenary co-ordinated by GeoEssex; celebrating 100 years since the Ashdon Meteorite fell to Earth (9 March 2023).

The Curry Fund celebrates another year of supporting geological publication, conservation, interpretation, and innovation - to find out more please go to www.geologistsassociation.org.uk/curry/

Jonathan Larwood Curry Fund Secretary

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For the first time the entries for the competition were all digital. This enabled the judging panel to met up in rural Hertfordshire in early September to complete the difficult task of selecting the winners. The standard of entries was really high this year and the 2025 Calendar show cases this. Our thanks go to the judges, Gerald Lucy, Lesley Exton and Liz Jacques. A huge thank you to Nick Pierpoint who gave hours of work collating and putting together the photos in time for displaying at the Festival of Geology.

The foregoing reports have been approved by the Council and signed on their behalf The GA President

Dr Liam Gallagher

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GEOLOGISTS’ ASSOCIATION LOCAL GROUPS

www.dorsetgeologistsassociation.org

DGAG has had another successful year. Our field trip programme included visits to some classic Dorset locations. We especially enjoyed a visit to Down farm on Cranborne Chase, which was hosted by Martin Green. A fascinating mix of geology and archaeology, which even included a demonstration of flint knapping. Some DGAG members also acted as leaders for a three-day visit to Dorset by London South Bank University with over 100 students.

We ran a successful evening lecture programme at the Dorford Centre in Dorchester. The talks have been very well attended, drawing in new members, including from our local u3a groups. The talks included topics such as Geology of Namibia, the Geology of the Somerset Coalfield and Darwin the Geologist. We also had stalls representing DGAG at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival and the Hampshire Fossil and Mineral Show. Our stall was a hive of activity and the displays provoked a lot of discussion at both events. We decided to organise a GeoFest in October as part of our contribution to Earth Science Week. DGAG members and some invited guests exhibited their collections and shared their geological knowledge in the United Church Hall in Dorchester. A total of 12 tables with displays and activities were enjoyed by the exhibitors and visitors of all ages and abilities. About 70-100 members of the public visited and feedback indicated that they thoroughly enjoyed the occasion. On this basis it is likely we will make this an annual event in the future.

The Committee met by Zoom, mainly for its convenience of not having to travel, although the January 2025 A.G.M. was conducted in person. We are moving the 2026 AGM to central Dorchester, which is very accessible by public transport. Members have been kept informed by ‘DGAG Members’ Updates,’ usually weekly or sometimes fortnightly.

Three editions of the DGAG Newsletter, in full colour, were sent out to members in 2024. Currently, we send 110 copies out in total. 60 go out as hard copies by post and 50 go out by email as pdfs. Compared to the last two years, the gap between printed copies and digital versions is narrowing, possibly since new members tend to opt for the .pdf version. The articles received include book reviews and field reports, alongside regular features such as the ‘Hot Rock Slot’.

Our special interest group, Dorset Building Stone, has continued to grow, expanding its coverage of Dorset’s churches and historic towns. We had a successful visit to Broadmayne Church, and spent a sunny afternoon recording and discussing its building stones. In September, we had a fascinating trip around Milborne Port to look at the various building stones. We were joined by members of the Somerset group too. We saw a variety of stone including Inferior Oolite, Ham Hill Stone, Blue Lias, Forest Marble, and Bath Stone. After lunch we visited Wolfgang Grulke’s fabulous collection in Oborne. In October we published our latest booklet ‘Blandford In Stone’ and we have just published a new guide to the Building Stones of Dorchester to add to the growing series of town trail guides.

Our committee has planned an exciting 2025 programme of field trips to classic Dorset locations like Lyme Regis and Portland. We also are planning another Geofest for the Autumn and a Members’ Dinner with a speaker.

Kelvin Huff DGAG Secretary

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Geofest
2024
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ESSEX ROCK & MINERAL SOCIETY

Membership: Our membership of 145 is higher than it has been for many years. Our Affiliation to the Geologists’ Association is sustained by the fact that 13 ERMS members are also GA members. Thanks go to Mark Matthews for his work on the Membership and payments system before transferring the system to ERMS member Don Kees.

Venues and meetings :Meetings continued with steady attendances at both the Shenfield and Stanway venues. Online Zoom talks have also continued, often with a differing selection of members. Speakers for the two monthly venues as well as Zoom have been organised by Ginny Hall, who will step down this year after several years of effort.

Field Visits: There were 10 visits with two cancelled visits in 2024; the Colemans Farm visit had to be postponed yet again due to adverse conditions. Visits were attended by a varying number of members plus paying guests. Jonathan Spencer has organised and ran the field visits through the year, with assistance from John Walmsley and Kevin Timmons; the online booking system is in full use. The 2025 draft programme is well under way.

The ERMS Show: The 42nd ERMS Essex Gem and Mineral Show in February was again very successful, with over 300 visitors slightly down on the previous year. The 43rd show at North Romford will be on 22nd February 2025. Thanks go to Jeff Saward for his continued effort; an understudy is needed for the admin and bookings. Trev Johnson has taken on the setup on the day, assisted by the ERMS stalwarts early and late.

Publicity :Our publicity and Show leaflets continued to bring success. ERMS Facebook was maintained by Helen Vickers. The website www.erms.org has been changed again, with ownership transferred to Ros Mercer, having been set up by Jan Dunford. The pages have been simplified and members’ feedback is welcome. The ERMS Members’ Facebook page is seldom used and could be more prominent.

Chairman Succession, committee and volunteers: During the 2023 AGM, no new chairman was voted onto the committee. The role of Chairman must be filled as soon as possible. Meanwhile the splitting and devolving of tasks has been reasonably successful, many members are helping e.g. with libraries, The Show, field visits, venue welcome tables, etc. However, four committee members are now stepping aside, after years of highly valuable input looking after venues, membership, programme and website. In order to maintain proper running of ERMS, we now need committee replacements plus members’ help with various valuable and vital tasks such as publicity, Zoom hosting, setting up venues. The Society has retained a good number of members and its meetings, zoom, visits and Show remain popular. However, there is a danger of losing momentum unless members come forward right now to help and, vitally, for some to join the committee and maintain its quorum.

My sincere thanks to all our members and committee for keeping ERMS buoyant and popular through 2024.

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Channels Mammoth Sculpture
Bulls Lodge Quarry
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24

GEOLANCASHIRE www.geolancashire.org.uk

Annual General Meeting for 2025 Friday 14 February 2025 7.15pm Agenda

Chairman’s welcome and opening remarks Apologies for absence Minutes of the last AGM held on Friday 9 February 2024 Matters arising Annual Reports – Secretary, Treasurer, GeoConservation Officer, Website Manager Election of Officers and Committee

Winter Programme 2024-25 Summer Programme 2025 Any other business

The Annual General Meeting will be followed by a talk on “Huggers and Luggers” by Brian Jeffrey Minutes

2. Apologies for Absence. Received from Lylie Brown and Karel de Pauw

3 . Minutes of 2025 AGM read and accepted. No matters arising. 4.Secretary’s Report Annual Report of the Group’s activities during 2024:- Indoor meetings:

Jan 12[th] Lesley Collins -“The Search for the Pre-Cambrian-Cambrian Boundary & the Precambrian rocks in England and Wales”.

Feb 9th AGM, followed by: Peter del Strother - “Libya”

Mar 8[th] Lesley Collins & Barbara Gordon - “Chalk – North & South”

Apr 26thBob White “The Geology of the First Life on Earth”

Field Trips:

May 4th Brian Jeffrey/Peter del Strother - "Todmorden Moor" Local GeoLancashire 100[th] Anniversary (1922-2022) trip

May 18th Anton Petho, DCC geologist - “Alderley Edge and Copper Mine”. June 12th Peter del Strother -"Coastal Geology at Heysham" (joint with MGA) July 17th Peter del Strother - "Geology of Crummackdale" (joint with MGA, WGS)

Aug 10 Brian Jeffrey/Peter del Strother: "Geology and Industrial Archaeology of Healey Dell" (courtesy of Ron Powell; joint with MGA).

Sep 03 Peter del Strother "Building Stones of Central Manchester" (joint with MGA).

Sep 17-24 "Iceland" - GeoLancashire (1922-2022) trip organised by 'Volcanic Experiences'.

5 Treasurer’s Report

Accounts presented. These have been audited and approved. Attached as Appendix 1 Subs for 2025 remain at £14

6 Geoconservation

No officer at present. Any arisings are being handled by Treasurer.

It was noted that one site has been destroyed by farmer. Waste had been tipped into a quarry and trees planted. It was not considered a critical site and will go off system.

7 Website Officer

Website now up to date re future talks/ draft summer programme. Currently events for last few years being updated in archives.

Search engine optimisation also being addressed.

8 Election of Officers

Phil Isles welcomed as new website manager. Other officers to remain unchanged.

9 Remaining Winter Programme 2024-25

Fri 4th April Wyn Hughes "The geology of the Solomon Islands" ( NOTE DATE CHANGE) Fri 11th April Lylie Brown " John Phillips and the Leyland Erratic"

Summer Programme 2025 ( Provisional)

26 Apr Brian Jeffrey - “Geology of Marple through the eyes of Oldknow and Wright”

05-11 May Lesley Collins “Geology of Arran”

14 June Pete Loader - “Alderley Edge”

05 July Steve Daniels -“Lyme Park”

26 July Peter del Strother “Holme Park Quarry and Trowbarrow”

6 Aug Gordon McKeown – “Hall Pk Quarry, Stoke & Brown Edge Quarry, Monsal Dale”

*20 Sept Peter del Strother /Brian Jeffrey “Newton Gill” OR “Great and Little Mearley” Most field trips now moved to Saturdays to accommodate working members.

Other business

The meeting thanked Dennis Lambert and Janet Whittaker for providing refreshments. Meeting closed

25

HERTFORDSHIRE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY https://www.hertsgeolsoc.org.uk

Our lecture programme during the early part of 2024 provided a run of geologically entertaining presentations, with highlights including Professor David Bridgland describing a time when the Thames flowed through Hertfordshire, Professor Jamie Standing giving us the “ identification and implications of the London Clay Formation divisions from an engineering perspective ”, Dr Emma Nicholson “ Spying on open vent volcanoes from ground, air and space ” and Ruth Siddall enthralling us all with the art of Pietre Dure or painting with stone. This was simply amazing to see.

Early May saw HGS member Liam Gallagher elected as President of the Geologists’ Association, so we are once again seeing very active engagement from the society in the administration of Geology on a grander scale. Another member Mike Howgate was awarded the GA Foulerton Award for work of merit connected with the GA. May also saw Haydon and Jan Bailey manning a stall at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival on behalf of the GA SchoolRocks! initiative. New life has been breathed into this event by the creation of a new administration committee who are doing their utmost to see that this exciting weekend event continues.

In July we held our summer event at the offices of Affinity Water, when HGS hosted the Water Table II one day conference, with the subtitle of “Where does all the water go?” This was an enjoyable day with fifty people in attendance from a whole range of geologically related organisations. We had nine speakers during a day deliberately split into three subsections. The first of these was distinctly hydrogeological, the second more geopolitical and the third devoted to local Chalk streams. We ended the day with a Q & A session chaired by Paul Jennings, Chair of the River Chess Association.

The September meeting didn’t happen due to numerous HGS committee members heading for Spain on a GA field trip, but we made up for this in October when John Cosgrove talked to us about, and then guided us around, the Albert Memorial. John’s enthusiasm for this neogothic edifice proved unbounded and everyone who attended will never forget John splashing water over numerous paving stones to highlight various geological points, whilst bemused joggers and dog walkers passed us and wondered what we were doing. Most of us then reconvened after lunch to explore the recently opened Evolution Garden at the NHM.

Whoever chose Anglesey for a long weekend field trip at the end of October could have been mad, but the weather turned out to be 95% blue skies and sunshine with the Northern Lights as an encore. We had an excellent guide in Rob Crossley of the UNESCO GeoMon Centre who introduced us to a super range of geological sites (photo by Rob Crossley of us between Penrhos Feilw Standing Stones), which taken individually were brilliant. But trying to put them together and attempting to understand the geological history of the island proved impossible!

We had a book stall at the GA Festival of Geology at Burlington House the beginning of November. Then later that month returned to Zoom meetings over winter with Dr Joe McNeil taking us into space “ Unveiling the Geology of Mars with robotic explorers ” and Dr Emma Nicholls into the earth “ The Rutland Ichthyosaur: digging up a dragon ”.

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GeoMon
Anglesey field trip: Penrhos Feilw standing stones
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26

MOLE VALLEY GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

www.mvgs.org.uk

The committee is pleased to report that the society has enjoyed a very successful and busy year. Members have listened to seven lectures, enjoyed three geo-karaoke soirées, including the AGM, three field trips and one Geo-Spectacular. Lecture topics have included the Klondike Gold Rush, Jade – from Neolithic bling to now, the Himalayas, the Alps, Ice Age carnivores’ dinners, geo-thermal energy and the asteroid Ryugu.

One day field trips have been run to Broadstairs, Folkestone Warren, Pett Level and Fairlight. Seventeen members enjoyed the traditional September long weekend trip to North Somerset in ‘float out’ weather.

The society now has 89 members, 9 of whom joined on or shortly after the Heritage Open Days GeoSpectacular on 8 September (Heritage Open Days is a free Europe-wide cultural festival, funded in the UK by the National Trust, the Lottery Fund and Local Councils). The HoD Geo-Spectacular was advertised on the websites of the MVGS, the Mole Valley District Council and Eventbrite, and advertised in the HoD brochure. All publicity and the hire of the lecture hall were free of charge. This is an excellent means of outreach for geology in general, and for boosting society membership in particular. The MVGS has participated in several HoDs since the ‘Rock Festival’ which kick-started the renaissance of the society in 2006. This year the MVGS presented a talk and virtual field trip on ‘The birth, life & death of the River Mole’ given by the President and Chairman respectively. In the interval a traditional field trip picnic was offered consisting of a squashed banana sandwich, crumbled fruit cake and a warm can of a fizzy drink. Other more conventional refreshments were available. The lecture was viewed by 123 people, 73 non-members attended the lecture in person, 30 viewed the lecture by zoom in the UK and 20 from abroad, including Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and even Lanzarote.

MVGS Membership increased by >10% at or shortly after the event

Thanks to the technical expertise of Jonathan Bedford the lectures are available on Youtube:

Dick Selley’s talk ‘The birth, life & death of the River Mole’ https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=mk18Qzj9dX4

Mark Eller’s virtual field trip of the Mole Valley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akLxtBgYDUg

The Raspberryshake seismometer, kindly paid for by a grant from the Curry Fund, continues to record earthquakes from Newdigate to New Zealand. Reports of notable recorded seismicity are made at monthly meetings.

The MVGS has its own library of books and maps. The collection is curated by a professional librarian, Robert Jackson. The library continues to be one of the MVGS’s greatest assets and benefit to members.

Like many societies, geological and other, the Covid epidemic lead to the live-streaming of meetings using providers such as Zoom. For a trial period the MVGS has continued to live-stream lectures. The zoom link has been placed on the website so that, not only paid-up members of the society, but anyone anywhere on Earth can log in to watch and listen to lectures. Zooming, coupled with advertising the lectures on Eventbrite, has certainly widened audiences as shown by the HoD Geo-Spectacular, with non -members logging in to watch and listen from all over the world. We are very grateful for Jonathan Bedford whose technical expertise has made this added members’ benefit possible.

27

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE GROUP OF THE GEOLOGISTS’ ASSOCIATION

www.nsgga.org

Membership was down at the time of the AGM, with a total of 40 members however later in the year the first new members for several years joined, an encouraging sign. At the 75[th] AGM at Keele on 14[th] March 2024 the following officers were elected: Chair, Gordon McKeown; Deputy Chair Dr Stuart Egan; General Secretary, Stephen Addison; Treasurer, Tony Marks; Membership Secretary, David Osborn (deputy Janet Osborn); Speaker’s Secretary, Peter Jones; Field Secretary, Stephen Alcock; Bulletin Editor and GeoConservation Staffordshire Liaison Officer, Dr Ian Stimpson. Members elected to the executive committee: Janet Osborn; John Reynolds, Adrienne Noble.

The year started with the January lecture, “A Virtual Field Trip (Sabkha of Abu Dhabi A unique laboratory for geoscience research)” by Dr Stephen Lockier (University of Derby). This was followed in February with “The NW Highlands Controversy: Geology, geologists and social climbing in Victorian times” by Dr Peter Gutteridge (Manchester University). The Chair’s (Gordon McKeown) AGM Address was “Hard times in Cheshire’s Triassic Badlands”. Lectures resumed in the Autumn with “The Greenland-Iceland-Faroes Ridge” by Dr J Phethean (University of Derby). The 2024 Wolverson Cope Lecture “The Geology of Stonehenge and the Bluestone Controversy” was given by Emeritus Professor Peter Worsley (University of Reading).

The group enjoyed a well-attended series of field trips. These included June visits to The Ercall, Shropshire in June (leader Dr Ian Stimpson) followed by Brown End Quarry, Staffordshire in July (leader Dr Ian Stimpson) and the Alport Mining Field, Derbyshire in September (leader Tony Woods). NSGGA members also participated in various activities put on by other local geological groups, e.g. the joint field trip with the EMGS to the National Stone Centre in April. In addition, the group assisted the National Trust with a 'Geology Rocks’ weekend at Biddulph Grange in November. The winner of the John Myers award 2023 was Samuel Scott “The Carboniferous geology of the Castletown area, Isle of Man” and for the first time we had two runner ups, Jack Taylor “The geology of the area around Coniston in the English Lake District” and Oluwafeyikunmi Michael-Idowu” Geology of the area around San Emilano, Cantabria, Spain”.

In 2021 we noted the sad passing of four individuals associated with the group. Michael & Carol Fereday died in May aged 85 and August aged 88 respectively. They were both longstanding members of the NSGGA and between them held several different executive roles. They will be remembered with affection by their many friends in the NSGGA. Gilbert Kelling, Emeritus Professor of Geology at Keele University died on 17 August 2024 aged 90. In 1996, Gilbert was awarded an OBE for his services to geology and environmental protection. Gilbert was heavily involved with the NSGGA, serving as both chair and vicechair twice. Robert (Bob) Roach former lecturer at Keele University died aged 91. Bob was a longstanding member of the NSGGA. Bob will be remembered with affection by his students and many friends in the NSGGA.

EMGS/NSGGA Field trip to the National Stone Centre, Porter Lane, Wirksworth, Derbyshire DE4 4LS

28

READING GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY www.readinggeology.org.uk

Our society continues to flourish but still finds it difficult to increase membership amongst younger people, along with most other societies. It is important to use all the channels available to “spread the word” whether it be the old style of a poster, email contact, maintaining an up-to-date and evolving website or embracing social media. We are maintaining membership at about 70 but remembering with sadness that some of our members are no longer with us.

Our lectures programme contained nine lectures, two rambles and the AGM and Members evening, as is the usual format over the years. The February lecture was on Maps, Mountains and Madness – Charles Lapworth and the Highland Controversy by Prof. Paul Smith of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History followed in March by our second Presidential Address from Dr Alison Macleod of the University of Reading on the study of environmental change over both long and short timescales. In April the topic was on Mountains in the Sea by Prof Tony Watts from the Department of Earth Sciences, Oxford University. In May the lecture was on the Geology of Stonehenge and the Bluestone controversy by Prof Peter Worsley from University of Reading and in June Dr Tom Argles from the Open University gave a lecture on Melting Under Mountains - the soft centre of the Himalayas. In July and August, we had rambles to Cookham Moor and Emmer Green and in September we were pleased to welcome Dr Kevin Briggs from Bath University with a lecture on the Construction in Jurassic-aged Mudstones for the HS2 Railway. A Hot Topic! : The Geology Supporting Geothermal Energy by Dr Duncan Macgregor from Macgeology was the lecture in October. In November we learned all about the Adventures in Martian deep time - tales from the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers by Prof. Sanjeev Gupta from Imperial College and in December, Prof. Ian Fairchild from the University of Birmingham lectured on the Neoproterozoic Port Askaig glaciation.

We still do not have an official lectures secretary at the moment so Helen Craggs, Hilary Jensen and Ailsa Davies take it in turns to organise the logistics for the meeting and host the speaker to a meal before the lecture. We have offered hybrid lectures all year and have a technical team to manage the onerous task of combining a live presentation with a zoom presentation, and this has not always been easy.

The programme of field meetings has again been excellent organised by Ross Garden and Carole Gregory. We held two four-day field meetings - to Dorset led by Ross Garden and to South Shropshire led by Albert Benghiat and Peter Worsley. Reports of these are written by the participants and published on our website. We held eight one day field meetings - South Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire with Ross Garden and Jeremy Kraus; Lesnes Abbey Woods and the Thames Barrier with Alison Barraclough; the Corallian of Oxfordshire with Owen Green from Oxford Geology Trust; Martley, Worcestershire with Prof Ian Fairchild; the Middle Jurassic at Brown’s Folly, Somerset with David Green; the Kentish Ragstone, Boughton Monchelsea with Geoff Downer; Barton on Sea with Jim House; Geology of Ewelme, Wallingford and Brightwell-cum-Sotwell with Jeremy Krause and Ross Garden. We also had a Summer Geological Party at David Ward’s house in August. In November at the Festival of Geology in Burlington House, we set up our stall with posters of the society’s activities and table games. We are glad to see that this event is thriving and always try to encourage as many members as possible to attend the lectures and view the various exhibits.

We publish an excellent Newsletter three or four times a year with reports of field meetings and other society news. The RGS website proves invaluable for advertising, bringing in new members and reporting on our activities. Ailsa Davies as chairman, with the support of Hilary Jensen as secretary, Carole Gregory as treasurer, Roger York as membership secretary, Elaine Butler as newsletter editor, Ross Garden as field meeting secretary and David Ward and Peter Sergeant as committee members proved again to be a strong and enthusiastic committee. David Ward and Alison Barraclough continue to do sterling work with SchoolRocks! and RGS Outreach and we are proud of their involvement with the GA Council.

Kimmeridge Bay, May 2024. (Photo by Hilary Jensen)

29

SOUTH WALES GEOLOGISTS’ ASSOCIATION CYMDEITHAS Y DAEAREGWYR – GRWP DE CYMRU www.swga.org.uk

The Society has managed to put on an enjoyable and varied programme of events this year. I would like to thank all members of the Committee who do so much work behind the scenes to run the group. We are still appealing for someone to fill the role of Programme Secretary to help spread the load. Our membership is stable at around 160.

We are fortunate that we now have two good venues for our meetings, Cardiff University Earth Sciences Department in the east of our area and Trallwn Community Hub, Llansmalet in the west. In addition, all our talks are hybrid allowing remote attendance on zoom and most are available afterwards on our website for 3 months.

Winter Indoor meetings: January 13th Our first event was our Holiday Geology session, much enjoyed by all. We are very grateful to our members who volunteer or find speakers to give talks on such diverse subjects, and those who bring in raffle prizes. Thanks to Lesley for arranging the lunch.

January 27th ( Swansea) We invited Jo Botting and Lucy Muir to talk on the Llandrindod Wells Lagerstätte, and the establishment of the Heart of Wales Geopark

February 10th (Cardiff) – Jeremy Hucker – “The legacy of coal mining in South Wales”

March16th AGM (Swansea) - John Nudds, retiring president – “Probably the Best Lagerstätte in the World: Exceptional Preservation of Fossils

Outdoor meetings: Sunday 28th April The Dowards, near Symonds Yat West: Leader: Jim Handley Sunday May 12th Llansteffan, Carmarthenshire: Leader: Geraint Owen

Saturday June 22nd The Clevedon coast, Somerset: Leader: Mark Howson Joint meeting with Bristol Naturalists’ Society & the British Geographical Society.

Sunday 14th July The Black Mountain: - quarries and karst: Leader: Alan Bowring

Saturday 17th August Penarth Family Day: Leaders: John Nudds and Cindy Howells.

Saturday 14th Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenafon. Leader: Chris Lee

Autumn indoor meetings

Saturday October 19th (Swansea) Andy Freem: Geological adventures; Underground in Gower Saturday 23rd November (Cardiff) Chris Duffin: Mineralogy of Art

Saturday 14th December (Swansea) Sid Howells: Pembrokeshire, some geological highlights

All the events were well attended. Around 70 members enjoyed the Llandrindod Wells Lagerstätte talk and the Big Pit trip was over-subscribed. The Penarth family day attracted an estimated 300 people to our stand Funday at Penarth on the beach, mostly to see dinosaur footprints. Thanks to Bob Standley for leafletting locally and all members who helped on the day.

We had arranged a joint trip with the Cheltenham Mineral and Geological Society but rain stopped play. We are keen to have joint trips with other local groups in the future.

Cindy Howells, our vice President, and members of the SWGA appeared in Dinohunters, part of the BBC “Our Lives” series. It was broadcast nationally and was a great advert for geology and the SWGA. Thanks to all who participated.

We also attended the enjoyable Festival of Geology, where

Cindy was one of the speakers. Andy and Rhian Kendall have been doing sterling work updating our leaflets on the website.

Steve Howe has produced 4 excellent newsletters. Thanks to him and all contributors.

Our new student rep, Sara Davies, is establishing a geological society in Swansea University.

Kath Ficken has been engaging with schools and we now have 3 SchoolRocks! boxes with lesson plans to support this venture. We plan to get more involved with Rockwatch.

The Committee met on 4 occasions, 2 via zoom and 2 face-to-face.

Our great disappointment has been the drastic cuts to the Geology Department of Amgueddfa Cymru/ Museums Wales national Museum of Wales. Despite lobbying by the committee and as individuals from the Welsh geological community in general, the cuts went ahead resulting in the Geology Department, once one of the biggest museum geology departments in the UK, losing all the mineralogy and petrology staff and leaving just two palaeontologists in post.

The Committee believes it has achieved the objects of the Group.

Elen Statham

30

WEST SUSSEX GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

www.wsgs.org.uk

I am pleased to report a full year of face-too-face lectures and field trips. We have seen an increase to 76 members, about half of which usually attend our evening lecture meetings. We started the year with a regular speaker, Chris Duffin, on Fossils from Solnhofen, followed by our AGM in February, when we also had short talks by members. In March, Dave Went gave us the Geology of NW France and, in April, David Alderton told us all about the Sussex Gypsum Mines. Mark Eller spoke to us on in May on Earthquake monitoring. June took us on a totally different look at geology with Paul Garner, who is a Creationist. An interesting diversion from the usual and giving rise to much discussion. We returned to more conventional and local geology after the summer break with John Boardman on soil erosion and other aspects of the western valley of the River Rother. Continuing the theme of recent geology, Eve Horsfall spoke on Environmental changes on the Isle of Wight over the past 13,000 years. In November, Adam Stone gave us an insight into his life as a Stone Mason, and the year concluded with David Bone on Tufa in West Sussex.

Our field trip and events programme included a May long weekend in the Peak District with weather that could not have been better. In June, we had our annual public ‘Pebbles on the Beach’, although strong winds meant that few people attended. David Bone led us on a regular local historic building stones trip in July, this time to the 13th century church in the village of Clapham, near Worthing. We also had a couple of local combined geology and archaeology walks on the South Downs. During the year, the society also supported public events with ‘show and tell’ and book sale tables at Worthing and Chichester Museums, the GA Festival of Geology, as well as the Haywards Heath Mineral Show in November. Mention should also be made of the popular social evenings held every few months at a local pub, an opportunity to share stories and show off finds to other members.

In the past year, we have seen a relaunch of our website and the continuing production of our newsletter ‘Outcrop’ in A5 hard copy by popular demand as well as on the web. We have an active programme in 2025, both new events and the old favourites. I would like to conclude by thanking the hard-working committee – their efforts do not go unappreciated

West Sussex Geological Society in the Peak District, May 2024

David Bone WSGS Chair

31

TREASURER’S REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT 1[st] January to 31[st] December 2024

The Geologists’ Association (GA) is registered as a charity in England and Wales and constitutes a public benefit as defined by FRS 102 (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019). The financial statements were prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the financial statements and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011, and accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland on 16 July 2014, and with Accounting Standards (UK Generally Accepted Practice) as applied from 1[st] January 2015.

  1. An Unrestricted fund provides money for the day-to-day administration of the GA and, at the Trustees’ discretion, is applied in furtherance of the GA’s charitable objectives ( General Fund ).

  2. Three Restricted funds provide money for the day-to-day administration of Rockwatch (the junior section of the GA), to support production of the Earth Heritage magazine and to fund SchoolRocks! (Champion Fund).

  3. Endowment funds , which include bequests, legacies and gifts, where the capital is invested and the GA uses the income to pursue its charitable responsibilities.

HIGHLIGHTS

General
Fund £		 Restricted
Funds £		 Endowment
Funds £		 Total 2024 £ Total 2023 £
Total Net
Assets		 564,487 237,847 1,707,909 2,510,243 2,455,518
Income 196,786 54,907 74,526 326,219 436,920
Expenditure 205,055 53,869 47,068 305,992 305,704

The principal sources of income are summarised on p 6 and p 7 and detailed on p 11 and p 12 of the accounts; the principal items of expenditure for charitable activities are summarised on p 6 and p 7 and detailed on p 13 of the accounts. Donations received during 2024 are listed at the end of this report.

The GA has an investment portfolio of £2,089,145 maintained by Ross Baker as Portfolio Manager and monitored by the Investment Committee and the Trustees. The objectives of the investment portfolio are to maintain long-term capital value and to yield a growing income. The GA continues to focus on income generation from the investments.

The Bank of England reported that growth in UK GDP was sluggish in 2024 with continued global uncertainty and risks associated with geopolitical tensions, reduced co-operation on trade and international policy. Uncertainty around the global economic

significant, the risks are relevant to UK financial stability. During 2024 the capital value of the GA’s investment portfolio increased by £34,494. Total investment income was £104,103, an increase of about 21.5% compared with 2023.

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

Income for the General Fund was threatened by reductions in membership subscriptions, income from publications due to a revised arrangement with Elsevier regarding distribution of the PGA , and income from investments. To mitigate these risks the internet was used more widely, web-conferencing facilities were used for meetings and to disseminate geological information, the annual Festival of Geology was held at Burlington House instead of UCL. A sum of £127,500 was transferred out of the savings account to a 32-day notice account at Lloyds to have capital accessible but with a higher interest rate.

GENERAL FUND

This fund suffered a loss of £11,031 compared with a profit of £58,198 in 2023, total income decreased by 19.7% but total expenditure increased slightly by 0.34%. Investment income increased by £5,718 (30%). The significant reduction in income reflects a drop in donations and legacies and the reduction in membership fees due to the PGA going online only. The revised contract with Elsevier resulted in a significantly lower payment, £44,494 compared with £75,990 in 2023 (a decrease of 41.45%). The GA’s profit share of Geology Today decreased again in 2024 (7%) and sales of publications dropped by 34%.

ROCKWATCH FUND

Funding depends on subscriptions, investment income and donations. In 2024 income was £52,882 and expenditure for the year was £50,552, a slight increase of 1.14%. Overall Rockwatch attained a surplus of £3,902. The main risk to Rockwatch is the loss of support from donations since the income depends mainly on these.

EARTH HERITAGE FUND

Income depends on generous support from Natural England, NatureScot, the Quaternary Research Association and the GA. These contributions depend on funds available to the respective organisations. Dividends from the EH Fund’s investment portfolio made a significant contribution. Income declined in 2024 due to the conservation agencies having government support cut so there was a slight loss of £265, though the EH Fund has sufficient reserves to support production of the magazine for a number of years.

RESERVES

The GA has established a reserves policy for the principal operating funds (General, Rockwatch, Earth Heritage). The policy is to maintain 2 years’ reserves to mitigate loss of income that could prevent the GA’s ability to meet planned commitments and administrative and governance costs. These reserves will be accessed only when income and cash are insufficient to meet costs. The moneys are invested to provide income to support the charitable work of the association. The General Fund reserve of

£564,487 is sufficient to support 2.75 years normal expenditure; the Rockwatch reserve of £202,874 will cover 4 years of normal expenditure and the Earth Heritage Fund of £33,505 represents 11 years of normal expenditure.

and the Champion Fund (£367). The Rockwatch Fund made a surplus of £3,902 (see details on p 24).

PUBLICATIONS

Royalties received for the PGA were £37,494 plus £7,000 in for editorial costs (2023, royalties £75,990). The reduction in royalties is due to availability of the PGA online only and the 2023 new 5-year agreement with Elsevier. This agreement was not as beneficial to the GA as the previous one but reflects market conditions and the growing importance of open access. It, however, secured the future of the PGA and revenues for the coming years. Income from Geology Today (jointly owned with the Geological Society of London and publisher Wiley) was £8,498 (a reduction of 7% over 2023, £9,150). Geology Field Guide sales were £11,487 (2023, £13,248), two new guides were published, Guide 64 2[nd] edition Geology of the D-Day Landings in Normandy, 1944 and Guide 78 Geology of the Bristol Region . Guide Series editor, Jonathan Turner, is preparing at least one new guide (Manchester Area) for publication in 2025. We thank all authors, PGA editor Malcolm Hart and publisher Elsevier; Geology Today editor Peter Doyle and publisher Wiley; Field Guides Series editor Jonathan Turner.

Successful production of the GA Magazine is enhanced by a very close cooperation achieved with the publisher. We thank editor Cathryn Symonds, Sarah Stafford and the publisher David Vaughan Print Management.

Association two issues of Earth Heritage were published free online.

DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

The GA is extremely grateful for all donations and legacies; they enable the GA to pursue its charitable objectives and to do something new that the donor or the GA members may wish to see implemented. (There are significant tax benefits as legacies reduce the inheritance tax duty on an estate, whilst the GA can claim an additional 25% Gift Aid on legacies (gifts) made during the donor’s lifetime.) Donations received during 2024 are listed below.

GRANTS AND AWARDS

Thanks to Endowment Funds the GA makes Grants and Awards to support new researchers in the field of Geology (undergraduate, MSc, PhD projects) and established researchers, and to support worthy undergraduates in their studies. The GA was delighted to award a total of £6,550 to 13 recipients and events during 2024 (2023 £4,161 to 9 recipients). In addition, the Curry Fund provided £24,351 in grants (2023 £25,082).

SUNDRIES

The administrative burden on the GA office was alleviated by the majority of members and the general public using the GA’s online electronic payment facilities to purchase goods and services and to pay subscriptions. An online accounting system (Quickbooks) has been introduced to streamline bookkeeping processes.

Paul Varotsis resigned as Treasurer at the beginning of 2024 but I am grateful to him for overseeing the finances until I took over towards the end of the year. Ross Baker was appointed to manage the investment portfolio and from the beginning of 2025 will be rationalising and simplifying the GA’s holdings. Michael Kyriakides has taken over from Maurice Whiteley as the GA’s accountant and this is his first financial statement. Delays in production of the accounts were due to the changes in personnel and introduction of the Quickbooks accounting system. That necessitated time-consuming transfer of data. Maurice Whiteley undertook the independent examination. I would like to thank Sarah Stafford for her patience and all her help with the accounts during the handover from Paul Varotsis.

The GA had a satisfactory financial year although the General Fund suffered a disappointing deficit of £11,031. This was due mainly to a drop in subscriptions, donations and legacies and a reduction in income from publications. There are still financial risks due to continued global uncertainties and political and economic volatility, particularly in relation to trade, that may impact the GA’s investments. Maintaining, and ideally increasing, the GA membership is an ongoing issue, plus uncertain revenue from publications.

objectives including lectures, field meetings (both in the UK and overseas), a programme for young geologists (Rockwatch), publications to further geological science ( PGA , Field Guides) and geoconservation ( Earth Heritage ), education (SchoolRocks!, Geolab) and numerous grants and awards to students of geology, support for geological groups nationwide and support for geoconservation and geology in the arts.

EXTERNAL RISK FACTORS

The GA’s investment portfolio faces many risks including market volatility exacerbated by global tensions and uncertainties regarding international trade frictions. The slump in UK economy is also a factor, though current predictions indicate possible growth in GDP of 1.0% (Office for Budget Responsibility OBR) in 2025 (2024 0.8%), and inflation is predicted to remain persistently high at around 3.2% (OBR).

The GA has sufficient reserves to maintain its charitable functions and activities during 2025–26, grants from the Endowment funds are tailored to match income. The Restricted funds (Rockwatch, Earth Heritage, Champion) have sufficient cash and income.

for 2025 is further increases due to relatively high inflation and higher salary and

employer’s NI costs. Savings on Council expenses continue to be made by hosting online meetings.

IN SUMMARY

Professor Susan B Marriott Honorary Treasurer

DONATIONS

GENERAL FUND £115

ROCKWATCH £19,254

Charity registration number 233199

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

2

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

CONTENTS

Page
Contents page 2
Legal and administrative information 3
Statement of trustees responsibilities 4
Independent examiner's report 5
Statement of financial activities 6 - 7
Balance sheet 8
Notes to the financial statements 9 - 25

2

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees Dr Haydon William Bailey Ross Donald Baker Alison Barraclough Professor David Bridgland Clare Frances Byrne Professor John Cosgrove Professor Tony Dore Dr Liam Gallagher Dr Ian Ross Garden Peter Jones Graham Hickman Dr Thomas A Hose Dr Jonathan Larwood Mr John Richard Lonergan, Professor Susan Betty Marriott Dr Michael John Oates Janet Osborn Nicholas Pierpoint Dr Colin Duncan Prosser Cathryn Symons Paul Varotsis David Ward Richard Wrigley Charity number 233199 Principlal address Burlington House Piccadilly London W1J 0DU Independent Examiner Maurice Whiteley 16 Swain Street Watchet Somerset TA23 0AB Investment Advisors Hargreaves Lansdowne 1 College Square South Anchor Road Bristol BS1 5HL Lloyds Bank Plc Bankers Blackheath London Branch PO Box 1000 BX1 1LT The Curry Fund Barclays Bank Plc Leicester LE87 2BB

Trustees

3

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of resources of the charity for that year.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

4

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE GEOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of the report

As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charity are not required to be audited under charity law and are eligible for indepdendent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the Charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act, I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, wihch is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Maurice Whiteley FCA

30th October 2025

16 Swain Street Watchet Somerset TA23 0AB

5

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Current financial year
Unrestricted
funds
2024
Notes
£
Income from:
Subscriptions, donations and legacies
3
37,718
Charitable activities
4
131,476
Other trading activities
5
8,497
Investments
6
19,095
Total income and endowments
196,786
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
7
205,055
Total Expenditure
205,055
Net gains/(losses) on investments
10
(2,762)
Net income/(expenditure)
before transfers
(11,031)
Gross transfers between funds
-
Net movement in funds
(11,031)
Fund balances at 1 January 2024
575,518
Fund balances at 31 December 2024
564,487		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
36,476
7,949
-
10,482
54,907
53,869
53,869
2,232
3,270
-
3,270
234,577
237,847		 Endowment
funds
2024
£
-
-
-
74,526
74,526
47,068
47,068
35,028
62,486
-
62,486
1,645,423
1,707,909		 Total
Total
2024
2023
£
£
74,194
197,167
139,425
144,891
8,497
9,150
104,103
85,712
326,219
436,920
305,992
305,704
305,992
305,704
34,498
85,020
54,725
216,236
-
-
54,725
216,236
2,455,518
2,239,282
2,510,243
2,455,518

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive continuing activities.

6

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Prior financial year (2023)
Unrestricted
funds
2023
Notes
£
Income from:
Subscriptions, donations and legacies
3
85,398
Charitable activities
4
137,090
Other trading activities
5
9,150
Investments
6
13,377
Total income and endowments
245,015
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
7
204,369
Total Expenditure
204,369
Net gains/(losses) on investments
10
17,552
Net income/(expenditure)
before transfers
58,198
Gross transfers between funds
-
Net movement in funds
58,198
Fund balances at 1 January 2023
517,320
Fund balances at 31 December 2023
575,518		 Restricted
funds
2023
£
38,058
6,737
-
8,831
53,626
56,373
56,373
498
(2,249)
-
(2,249)
236,826
234,577		 Endowment
funds
2023
£
73,711
1,064
-
63,504
138,279
44,962
44,962
66,970
160,287
-
160,287
1,485,136
1,645,423		 Total
Total
2023
2022
£
£
197,167
95,238
144,891
89,916
9,150
10,504
85,712
70,813
436,920
266,471
305,704
230,906
305,704
230,906
85,020
(222,351)
216,236
(186,786)
-
-
216,236
(186,786)
2,239,282
2,426,068
2,455,518
2,239,282

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive continuing activities.

7

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

Notes
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
11
Investments
12
Current assets
Stocks
13
Debtors
14
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
15
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Capital funds
Endowment funds-general
Permanent endowment
Expendable endowment
16
Income funds
Restricted funds
17
Unrestricted funds
Dr Liam Gallagher
Trustee
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on		 £
£
£
£
379
474
2,089,145
2,054,651
2,089,524
2,055,125
41,544
41,613
80,987
115,106
381,686
332,129
504,217
488,848
(83,498)
(88,455)
420,719
400,393
2,510,243
2,455,518
843,411
813,673
864,498
831,750
1,707,909
1,645,423
237,847
234,577
564,487
575,518
2,510,243
2,455,518
Professor Susan Marriott
Treasurer
30th October 2025.
2023
2024		 £
£
£
£
379
474
2,089,145
2,054,651
2,089,524
2,055,125
41,544
41,613
80,987
115,106
381,686
332,129
504,217
488,848
(83,498)
(88,455)
420,719
400,393
2,510,243
2,455,518
843,411
813,673
864,498
831,750
1,707,909
1,645,423
237,847
234,577
564,487
575,518
2,510,243
2,455,518
Professor Susan Marriott
Treasurer
30th October 2025.
2023
2024
2,055,125
400,393
2,455,518
1,645,423
234,577
575,518
2,455,518

8

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1 Accounting policies

Charity information

The Geologists Association is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorprated. The address of the principal office is Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, WIJ 0DU.

1.1 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.

The financial statements have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departure has involved following the Statement of recommended Practice for charities applying FRS 102 rather than the version of the Statement of Recommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulations but which has since been withdrawn.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below

1.2 Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

1.3 Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Restricted funds are funds that can only be used for restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for a particular purpose. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Endowment funds are those funds from which only the income may be used in furtherance of the Association’s charitable purposes.

1.4 Income

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received

9

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1 Accounting policies (Continued)

Subscriptions and associated tax claims are included in the year to which the subscription relates. Donations are accounted for on receipt. Legacies are recognised by reference to the date probate is granted, or if later, as soon as they are capable of being reliably measured.

Income from trading activities consists of the profit share on ‘Geology Today’, together with royalties on the sale of ‘the Proceedings of the Geologists Association’.

Income from dividends is accounted for on receipt. Interest is accounted for on an accruals basis.

Sales of publications, income from field meetings, insurance and from miscellaneous income are included in the financial statements when due.

1.5 Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Governance costs include those incurred in the governance of the charity and its assets, and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Grants payable are recognised in the financial statements when a commitment has been made, and there are no conditions to be met relating to the grant which remain in the control of the charity. Grants with performance conditions are only recognised in the statement of financial activities once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified

1.6 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Fixtures and fittings - 20% per annum on a reducing balance basis

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.

1.7 Fixed asset investments

Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.

10

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1 Accounting policies (Continued)

1.8 Impairement of fixed assets

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

1.9 Stocks

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stocks to their present location and condition. Items held for distribution at no or nominal consideration are measured the lower of replacement cost and cost.

Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.

1.10 Financial Instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

11

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

Donations, bequests and sponsorship
Annual subscriptions
Gift Aid
For the year ended 31 December 2024
For the year ended 31 December 2023		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
115
33,603
4,000
37,718
85,398		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
20,554
13,922
2,000
36,476
38,058		 Endowment
funds
2024
£
-
-
-
-
73,711		 Total
2024
£
20,669
47,525
6,000
74,194		 Total
2023
£
138,983
50,184
8,000
197,167
197,167
Sales of publications
Group payments for insurance
Field meetings
Miscellaneous income
Analysis by fund:
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Endowment funds		 2024
£
63,814
9,139
56,445
10,026
139,424
131,476
7,949
-
139,425		 2023
£
96,190
10,568
24,007
14,126
144,891
137,090
6,737
1,064
144,891

12

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

5 Other trading activities

5
Other trading activities
Geology Today' profit share
6
Investment Income
For the year ended 31 December 2024
Investment Income
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Investments		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
19,095
19,095
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
13,377
13,377		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
10,482
10,482
Restricted
funds
2023
£
8,831
8,831		 Endowment
funds
2024
£
74,526
74,526
Endowment
funds
2023
£
63,504
63,504		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
8,497		 Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
9,150
Total
2024
£
104,103
104,103
Total
2023
£
85,712
85,712

13

THE GEOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

7 Charitable activities

Grants, awards and subvention
Salaries
Officer's expenses
Office expenses
Charged to publications
Curry Fund contribution
Rockwatch contribution
Administrative expenses of Rockwatch
Meetings and functions
GA Annual Conference
GA Festival of Geology
Stationery and printing
Accountancy
Accountancy - Independent Examiner's fees
Insurance
Bank charges
Miscellaneous
Field meetings
Website
Analysis by fund:
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Endowment funds - general
Publication office costs
Publication, printing and production costs
Depreciation and impairement		 2024
£
95
52,049
7,950
39,584
57,139
2,986
13,755
(7,950)
(3,188)
1,667
15,357
5,455
9,818
1,865
4,051
13,051
2,000
12,876
1,787
1,251
62,469
11,925
305,992
205,055
53,869
47,068
305,992		 2023
£
118
76,492
15,829
44,169
54,225
3,852
27,372
(15,829)
(3,188)
(3,068)
17,175
4,685
7,307
8,318
2,642
5,205
2,000
13,038
1,232
6,525
23,240
9,615
300,954
204,369
56,373
44,962
305,704

8 Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.

9 Employees

The Geologists’ Association employs 2 members of staff in administration (2023: 2 staff). No member of staff earns more than £60,000 per annum. The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

No remuneration was paid or payable, directly or indirectly out of the funds of the charity to any Council member or to any person or persons connected with any of them. However, Council members are reimbursed out of the funds of the charity for expenses incurred in carrying out their duties. In 2024, officers’ expenses reimbursed totalled £1,598 (2023: £3,852).

14

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

10 Net gains/(losses) on investments

Gains/(losses) on investments
For the year ended 31 December 2024
Gains/(losses) on investments
For the year ended 31 December 2023		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
(2,762)
(2,762)
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
17,552
17,552		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
2,232
2,232
Restricted
funds
2023
£
498
498		 Endowment
funds
2024
£
35,028
35,028
Endowment
funds
2023
£
66,970
66,970		 Total
2024
£
34,498
34,498
Total
2023
£
85,020
85,020

11 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 January 2024
Adjustments for assets no longer in use
At 31 December 2024
Depreciation and impairement
At 1 January 2024
Adjustments for assets no longer in use
Charge for the year
At 31 December 2024
Net Book Value
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2024		 Fixtures &
Fittings
£
33,809
(25,000)
8,809
33,335
(25,000)
95
8,430
379
474

15

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

12 Fixed asset investments

Cost or valuation
At 1 January 2024
Additions
Realised gains/(losses) on investments
Unrealised gains/(losses) on investments
Disposals
At 31 December 2024
13
Stock of Guide Books
14
Trade debtors
15
Payments received on account
Trade creditors
Other Debtors
Stock
Debtors
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Other creditors		 Listed
Investments
2024
£
2,054,651
-
-
34,494
-
2,089,145
2024
£
41,544
2024
£
44,490
36,497
80,987
2024
£
32,037
22,378
29,083
83,498		 Listed
Investments
2023
£
1,875,442
349,828
(3,161)
88,181
(255,639)
2,054,651
2023
£
41,613
2023
£
99,473
15,633
115,106
2023
£
33,502
29,779
25,171
88,452

16

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

16 Endowment funds

Endowment funds represent assets which must be held permanently by the charity. Income arising on the endowment funds can be used in accordance with the objects of the charity and is included as unrestricted income. Any capital gains or losses arising on the assets form part of the fund.

Permanent endowments
Curry Fund: Capital Fund
Expenditure endowments
Curry Fund: Income Fund
Endowment Trust Funds
General Endowment Funds
Permanent endowments
Curry Fund: Capital Fund
Expenditure endowments
Curry Fund: Income Fund
Endowment Trust Funds
General Endowment Funds		 Balance at
01-Jan-24
2024
£
813,673
67,757
489,319
274,674
1,645,423
Balance at
01-Jan-23
2023
£
765,515
67,239
393,058
259,324
1,485,136		 Income
2024
£
-
42,986
20,755
10,785
74,526
Income
2023
£
-
37,027
90,268
10,984
138,279		 Expenditure Revaluations
Balance at
Gains/(losses
31-Dec-24
2024
2024
2024
£
£
£
-
29,738
843,411
(38,143)
-
72,600
(7,968)
6,457
508,563
(957)
(1,167)
283,335
(47,068)
35,028
1,707,909
Expenditure Revaluations
Balance at
Gains/(losses
31-Dec-23
2023
2023
2023
£
£
£
-
48,158
813,673
(36,509)
-
67,757
(6,724)
12,717
489,319
(1,729)
6,095
274,674
(44,962)
66,970
1,645,423

17

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

16 Endowment funds (continued)

The Curry Fund exists to support a variety of causes such as geological conservation and other initiatives approved by the Council.

The statement of financial activities for the Curry Fund is split into a capital fund and an income fund, both of which are endowment funds for charity accounting purposes. The reason for showing a separate capital fund is to show how the initial capital used to set up the Curry Fund has altered over the years when realised and unrealised profits and losses on investments are taken into account. The income fund shows how investment income specifically designated for the payment of grants has been applied towards this objective and meeting the incidental administrative expenses of running the fund.

A separate balance sheet and a statement of financial activities for the Curry Fund are included as separate schedules to the financial statements.

The Endowment Trust Fund bequests were given with the intention that the capital be invested and only the income spent. The above funds exist to make grants to individuals and groups within the field of geology.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in

these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The General Endowment Fund bequests were given with the intention that only income arising from the capital of the bequest be used to fund the general purpose of the Association.

The Endowment Trust Funds are bequests that were given with the intention that the capital be invested and only the income spent. The funds exist to make grants to individuals and groups within the field of geology.

The General Endowment Funds are bequests that were given with the intention that only income arising from the capital of the bequest be used to fund the general purpose of the Association.

18

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

17 Restricted funds

The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:

Rockwatch
Earth Heritage Fund
Champion Fund
Rockwatch
Earth Heritage Fund
Champion Fund		 Balance at
01-Jan-24
2024
£
198,972
33,770
1,835
234,577
Balance at
01-Jan-23
2023
£
195,926
35,383
5,517
236,826		 Income
2024
£
52,882
2,025
-
54,907
Income
2023
£
50,481
3,145
-
53,626		 Expenditure
2024
£
(50,552)
(2,950)
(367)
(53,869)
Expenditure
2023
£
(49,981)
(2,710)
(3,682)
(56,373)		 Transfers
2024
£
-
-
-
-
Transfers
2023
£
-
-
-
-		 Revaluations
Gains/(losses)
2024
£
1,572
660
-
2,232
Revaluations
Gains/(losses)
2023
£
2,546
(2,048)
-
498		 Balance at
31-Dec-24
2024
£
202,874
33,505
1,468
237,847
Balance at
31-Dec-23
2023
£
198,972
33,770
1,835
234,577

Rockwatch is the junior section of the Geologists' Association and exists to develop an interest in Geology amongst young people.

The Earth Heritage fund enables and supports the production of Earth Heritage Magazine.

The Champion Fund will support the School Rocks! Project.

19

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

18 Analysis of net assets between funds

Fund balances at 31 December 2024
are represented by:
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Current assets/(liabilities)
Fund balances at 31 December 2023
are represented by:
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Current assets/(liabilities)		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
379
380,916
183,192
564,487
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
474
383,676
191,368
575,518		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
-
170,616
67,231
237,847
Restricted
funds
2023
£
-
168,384
66,193
234,577		 Endowment
funds
2024
£
-
1,537,613
170,296
1,707,909
Endowment
funds
2023
£
-
1,502,591
142,832
1,645,423		 Total
2024
£
379
2,089,145
420,719
2,510,243
Total
2023
£
474
2,054,651
400,393
2,455,518

19 Related party transactions

There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none).

20

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

THE CURRY FUND

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Income from:
Investment income:
Income received from investments
Charities deposit
Barclays Bank
Miscellaneous Income
Total income and endowments
Expenditure on:
Charitable expenditure:
Grants - paid and committed
MSc Prize
Towards the printing of the Geologists'
Association's Guides
Office administration
Officer expenses
Accountancy
Investment costs
Sundry
Total Expenditure
Net gains/(losses) on investments
Net income/(expenditure)
before transfers
Gross transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Fund balances at 1 January 2024
Fund balances at 31 December 2024		 Endowment
income
fund
2024
£
37,382
2,555
495
-
40,432
24,351
1,000
7,833
3,188
319
450
816
186
38,143
-
2,289
-
2,289
67,757
70,046		 Endowment
capital
fund
2024
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
29,738
29,738
-
29,738
813,673
843,411		 Total
2024
£
37,382
2,555
495
-
40,432
24,351
1,000
7,833
3,188
319
450
816
186
38,143
29,738
32,027
-
32,027
881,430
913,457		 Total
2023
£
33,497
2,093
373
1,064
37,027
25,082
-
6,952
3,188
47
450
598
192
36,509
48,158
48,676
-
48,676
832,754
881,430

21

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION THE CURRY FUND BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION
THE CURRY FUND
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
Investments
Murray International Trust plc 5p Ord. Shares
Royal London Corporate Bond Trust Class Y Income
Royal London Sterling Extra Yield Bond Income Units
Invesco Corporate Bond Class Y - Income
Treasury 4.25% 7/12/2040
Treasury 4.5% 7/12/2042
Treasury 3.5% 22/1/2045
Treasury 4.25% 7/12/2046
Treasury 4.25% 7/12/2049
Royal London Sterling Extra Yield Bond Class Y Inc
Artemis High Income Class 1 - Income
Invesco Monthly Income Plus Class Y - Income
Current assets
Tax repayable
COIF Charities Deposit Fund
Barclays Community Account
Barclays Premier Account
HLAM Ltd Income Account
Loans Outstanding
Schroders - unpaid dividends
Current liabilities
Creditors and accruals
Grants committed
Due to the Geologists' Association
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Restricted funds
Capital fund
Income fund
Temple Bar Investment Trust 5p Ord. Shares
The Charity Equity Fund A Income Units
Black Rock Charinco Income Units
Artemis High Income Class 1 - Income
City of London Investment Trust 25p Ord. Shares
Murray Income Trust plc 25p Ord. Shares		 £
£
£
£
474,843
440,932
900
942
36,945
33,186
49,723
47,211
24,493
25,953
4,194
4,214
9,538
9,615
12,720
12,287
14,823
13,056
17,537
17,888
18,929
21,175
18,701
21,107
18,350
20,952
18,453
21,243
18,269
21,266
34,963
33,805
35,253
33,977
34,674
34,761
843,308
813,570
1,113
1,114
52,416
35,768
4,934
5,000
26,518
49,863
1,881
560
3,223
3,223
20,081
-
110,166
95,528
450
450
29,083
25,171
7,930
2,047
37,463
27,668
72,703
67,860
72,703
67,860
843,411
813,673
72,600
67,757
916,011
881,430
2024
2023
67,860
813,673
67,757
881,430

22

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

PUBLICATIONS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Proceedings:
Income from:
Elsevier payment (profit share)
Elsevier - Income for Editorial Costs
Total income
Expenditure on:
Printing and production costs
Proportion of office costs (15%)
Total Expenditure
Net surplus/(cost) on proceedings
Guides:
Income from:
Sales
Curry Fund Subvention
Total income
Expenditure on:
Opening stock
Printing and production costs
Proportion of office costs (60%)
Less: Closing stock
Total Expenditure
Net surplus/(cost) on guides
Circulars and Magazines
Income from:
Advertising
Expenditure on:
Printing and production costs
Proportion of office costs (25%)
Total Expenditure
Net surplus/(cost) on circulars & magazines		 2024
2023
£
£
37,494
75,990
7,000
-
44,494
75,990
7,000
24,333
1,192
2,374
8,192
26,707
36,302
49,283
11,487
13,248
7,833
6,952
19,320
20,200
41,613
41,230
12,627
16,015
4,770
9,497
(41,544)
(41,613)
17,466
25,129
1,854
(4,929)
-
-
32,353
17,608
1,988
3,957
34,341
21,565
(34,341)
(21,565)

Net surplus/(cost) on publishing activities

3,815

22,788

23

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Unrestricted Fund
General Fund
Restricted Fund
Rockwatch
Earth Heritage Fund
Endowment Funds
Curry Fund
Other Endowment Funds
Foulerton Award
Henry Stopes Memorial Award
G W Young Fund
Baker-Arber Fund
Halstead Fund
Richardson Fund
Middlemiss Fund
Japec Fund
Wyley Fund
Tupper Fund
Callomon Porter Fund
UKOGL
Palaeontological Fund
Tomlinson Brown Fund
Total Investments		 Cost
2024
£
299,108
142,614
29,231
171,845
not known
13,400
3,554
23,304
7,000
10,000
14,991
16,430
69,863
181,402
64,697
37,394
25,231
53,751
69,975
590,992
1,061,945		 Market
Value
2024
£
380,916
144,231
26,384
170,615
843,308
16,847
3,046
25,613
19,659
9,087
14,854
15,228
98,706
214,963
93,864
39,129
25,171
52,504
65,633
694,306
2,089,145		 Market
Value
2023
£
383,676
142,659
25,725
168,384
813,570
16,295
3,012
24,594
19,223
8,790
14,437
15,281
95,373
217,281
90,276
37,985
23,872
51,945
70,657
689,021
2,054,651

24

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Unrestricted funds
General Fund
Restricted funds
Rockwatch
Earth Heritage Fund
Champion Fund
Endowment funds
Curry Fund
- Capital Fund
- Income Fund
Endowment Trust funds
Foulerton Award
Henry Stopes Memorial Award
G W Young Fund
Baker-Arber Fund
Halstead Fund
Richardson Fund
Middlemiss Fund
Japec Fund
Tupper Fund
UKOGL
Palaeontological Fund
Tomlinson Brown Fund
General Endowment Funds
Wyley Fund
Callomon Porter Fund
Total Endowment Funds
Total funds		 Balance at
01-Jan-24
£
575,518
198,972
33,770
1,835
234,577
813,673
67,757
881,430
18,503
4,736
25,708
20,722
9,725
15,870
17,730
112,370
105,083
27,639
56,933
74,300
489,319
233,933
40,741
274,674
1,645,423
2,455,518		 Income
£
196,786
52,882
2,025
-
54,907
-
42,986
42,986
777
203
1,243
535
370
572
848
3,835
3,776
1,299
2,646
4,651
20,755
8,924
1,861
10,785
74,526
326,219
25		 Expenditure
£
(205,055)
(50,552)
(2,950)
(367)
(53,869)
-
(38,143)
(38,143)
(91)
(3,368)
(1,994)
-
(109)
(500)
-
(60)
(258)
(654)
(84)
(850)
(7,968)
(825)
(132)
(957)
(47,068)
(305,992)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Revaluations
Gains/(losses)
£
(2,762)
1,572
660
-
2,232
29,738
-
29,738
552
34
1,019
436
297
417
(53)
3,333
4,302
585
559
(5,024)
6,457
(2,311)
1,144
(1,167)
35,028
34,498		 Balance at
31-Dec-24
£
564,487
202,874
33,505
1,468
237,847
843,411
72,600
916,011
19,741
1,605
25,976
21,693
10,283
16,359
18,525
119,478
112,903
28,869
60,054
73,077
508,563
239,721
43,614
283,335
1,707,909
2,510,243

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION DETAILED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS HELD BY THE ASSOCIATION YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Holding
GENERAL FUND
5,056.87
COIF Charities Investment Fund Income Units
14,540.27
56,550.08
2,546.11
7,392.15
Invesco Distribution Fund Class Z - Income
12,967.73
Invesco Monthly Income Plus Class Z - Income
17,988.90
Invesco Corporate Bond Class Z - Income
3,766.00
Murray Income Trust plc 25p Ord. Shares
6,885.00
Murray International Trust plc 5p Ord Shares
5,982.89
Royal London Corporate Bond Trust Class Y Inc.Units
5,746.52
Artemis High Income Class 1 - Income
304.00
RIT Capital Partners plc £1 Ord. shares
19,729.96
Legal & General Active Global High Yield Class 1 - Inc
15,236.00
Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2046
14,273.00
Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2049
7,860.00
Treasury 4.5% 07/12/2042
4,763.00
Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2040
FOULERTON AWARD
634.96
Black Rock Fund Managers Charinco Inc. Units
211.92
COIF Charities Investment Fund Income Units
1,233.00
City of London Investment Trust 25p Ord. Shares
8,619.79
Artemis High Income Class 1 - Income
HENRY STOPES MEMORIAL FUND
658.10
Black Rock Fund Managers Charinco Inc. Units
2,873.26
Artemis High Income Class 1 - Income
G W YOUNG FUND
863.25
Black Rock Fund Managers Charinco Inc. Units
1,006.00
Edinburgh Investment Trust 25p Ord. Shares
1,556.00
HICL Infrastructure Company Ltd 0.01p Ord. Shares
3,205.00
Murray International Investment Trust plc 5p Ord.
2,525.00
Temple Bar Investment Trust plc 5p Ord. Shares
BAKER-ARBER FUND
438.95
COIF Charities Investment Fund Income Units
529.79
COIF Charities Investment Fund Income Units
HALSTEAD FUND
3,856.83
COIF Charities Investment Fund Income Units
5,746.52
Artemis High Income Class 1 - Income
Black Rock Fund Managers Charinco Inc. Units
COIF Charities Fixed Interest Fund Inc. Units
COIF Charities Fixed Interest Fund Inc. Units		 Cost
2024
2023
£
£
£
10,083
102,621
100,353
18,850
18,329
17,785
75,000
71,287
69,172
2,952
3,610
3,776
16,000
16,319
16,049
29,381
25,428
25,512
35,011
34,141
34,781
26,995
30,655
32,482
14,990
17,642
17,746
6,000
5,412
5,455
5,000
4,225
4,073
6,988
6,001
5,724
8,000
7,543
7,513
14,999
13,476
15,513
14,997
12,493
14,543
8,863
7,353
8,299
4,999
4,381
4,900
Market Value
299,108
380,916
383,676
900
900
941
2,000
4,301
4,205
3,000
5,308
5,040
7,500
6,338
6,109
13,400
16,847
16,295
1,054
933
976
2,500
2,113
2,036
3,554
3,046
3,012
1,492

1,224
1,280
6,754
7,485
6,881
2,373
1,853
2,156
6,599
8,221
8,261
6,086
6,830
6,016
23,304
25,613
24,594
2,000
8,908
8,710
5,000
10,751
10,513
7,000
19,659
19,223
5,000
4,862
4,717
5,000
4,225
4,073
10,000
9,087
8,790

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION DETAILED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS HELD BY THE ASSOCIATION (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Holding
RICHARDSON FUND
3,856.83
COIF Charities Fixed Interest Fund Income Units
748.00
City of London Investment Trust 25p Ord. Shares
5,415.66
Legal & General Active Global High Yield Class I - Inc
130.00
RIT Capital Partners plc £1 Ord. shares
2,360.92
Royal London Corporate Bond Trust Incl Class A Inc
MIDDLEMISS FUND
20,696.58
5,854.43
Artemis High Income Class 1 - Income
10,226.69
JAPEC FUND
1,220.23
COIF Charities Investment Fund Income Units
14,860.00
15,353.00
Treasury 4.25% Stock 2032
9,448.95
Royal London Corporate Bond Trust Income Units
2,948.01
Marlborough Multi Cap Income Class P -Income
3,665.00
Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2046
3,155.00
Treasury 4.5% 07/12/2042
WYLEY FUND
19,314.00
Artemis High Income Class 1 - Income
926.00
BP Plc US$0.25 Ordinary Shares
467.00
GlaxoSmithKline plc 31.25p Ordinary Shares
585.00
Haleon plc 0.01p - new
3,704.00
5,772.14
Invesco Distribution Class Y - Income
16,899.46
Legal & General Global High Yield Class I - Income
6,950.00
2,805.00
Murray Income Trust plc 25p Ordinary Shares
9,725.00
52.00
NatWest Group (RBS) 25p Ordinary Shares
585.00
Royal Dutch Shell Plc ''B'' Ordinary Shares
16,268.54
Royal London Corporate Bond Trust Class Y - Income
3,703.00
Schroder Asia Pacific Inv Trust Units
463.00
Standard Chartered US$0.50 Ordinary Shares
4,630.00
8,594.39
Treasury 4 1/4% Stock 2032
25,061.54
Treasury 4 1/4% Stock 2036
3,700.00
Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2040
2,780.00
Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2049
3,039.00
Treasury 4.5% 07/12/2042
Standard Chartered 8 1/4% Non-Cum Invest Pref Shares of £1
M&G Investments Corporate Bond Fund A Shares
Legal & General High Income Incl Class R Income
Temple Bar Investment Trust plc 5p Ord. Shares
HICL Infrastructure Company Ltd 0.0001p Ord
The Mercantile Inv Trust 25p Ordinary Shares
Murray International Trust plc 5p Ord. Shares		 Cost
2024
2023
£
£
£
5,000
4,862
4,717
2,499
3,220
3,057
2,500
2,070
2,062
2,492
2,566
2,448
2,500
2,135
2,153
Market Value
14,991
14,854
14,437
6,800
7,014
7,238
4,815
4,305
4,149
4,815
3,910
3,894
16,430
15,228
15,281
11,670
24,762
24,215
21,659
40,196
35,404
15,001
15,156
16,262
8,795
8,547
8,605
5,250
3,851
3,824
4,000
3,242
3,732
3,488
2,952
3,331
69,863
98,706
95,373
16,137
14,202
13,688
5,810
3,639
4,316
6,183
6,276
6,779
1,764
2,213
1,882
4,259
4,411
5,137
13,602
12,743
12,532
8,068
6,461
6,435
6,988
16,541
15,394
12,516
22,833
24,193
12,739
24,945
25,066
2,349
209
114
12,431
14,485
15,046
14,678
14,715
14,812
6,646
19,848
18,145
8,343
4,577
3,086
5,660
5,614
5,387
8,328
8,484
9,103
24,535
24,089

26,317
3,999
3,403
3,807
2,999
2,433
2,833
3,368
2,843
3,209
181,402
214,963
217,281

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION DETAILED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS HELD BY THE ASSOCIATION (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Holding
TUPPER FUND
3,893.88
5,963.00
7,602.38
7,569.48
28,428.44
4,080.00
CALLOMON PORTER FUND
1,768.49
2,354.00
2,772.70
6,495.72
Invesco Monthly Income plus Class Y Income
3,852.73
Marlborough Multi Cap Income - Inclusive Class A
94,722.25
634.86
12,846.42
11,550.00
3,009.00
1,635.00
Murray International Trust plc 5p Ord. Shares
10,545.55
Royal London Corporate Bond Trust Class Y Income
11,774.90
Royal London Sterling Extra Yield Bond Income Units
5,480.00
9,240.16
Invesco Corporate Bond Class Y - Income
20,582.00
Treasury 4.25% 7/12/2040
19,990.00
Treasury 4.5% 7/12/2042
22,961.00
Treasury 3.5% 22/1/2045
20,863.00
Treasury 4.25% 7/12/2046
20,872.00
Treasury 4.25% 7/12/2049
36,299.02
Royal London Sterling Extra Yield Bond Class Y Inc
47,942.41
Artemis High Income Class 1 - Income
17,682.15
Invesco Monthly Income Plus Class Y - Income
11,410.90
Invesco Corporate Bond Class Y Income
10,461.56
Invesco Distribution Class Y - Income
11,237.95
Artemis Income Class 1 - Income
9,012.56
Marlborough Multi Cap Income Class P Income
2,035.00
Murray International Trust plc 5p Ord. shares
779.00

RIT Capital Partners plc £1 Ord. shares
12,774.19
Royal London Sterling Extra Yield Inclusive Class B
5,575.00
Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2040
5,929.00
Treasury 4.5% 07/12/2042
8,911.00
Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2046
2,780.00
Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2049
Temple Bar Investment Trust 5p Ord. Shares
ROCKWATCH
Invesco Distribution Fund Class Y Income
CURRY FUND
Shroder Charities - The Charity Equity Fund A Income Units
Black Rock Charinco Income Units
Artemis High Income Class 1 - Income
City of London Investment Trust 25p Ord. Shares
Murray Income Trust plc 25p Ord. Shares
City of London Investment Trust 25p Ord. Shares
Temple Bar Investment Trust plc 5p Ord. Shares
Artemis High Income Class 1 - Income
Artemis Income Class I - Income
City of London Investment Trust 25p Ord. Shares
Invesco Corporate Bond Class Y - Income
Invesco UK Equity Income Class Y - Income
Jupiter Corporate Bond Class 1 - Income		 Cost
2024
2023
£
£
£
7,350
11,198
10,105
12,498
25,715
24,374
12,500
16,752
14,654
12,500
14,366
16,301
12,500
14,766
15,121
7,349
11,067
9,721
Market Value
64,697
93,864
90,276
3,333
5,086
4,589
8,328
10,152
9,622
5,833
6,121
6,020
13,400
12,737
12,757
6,500
5,033
4,997
37,394
39,129
37,985
-
474,843
440,932
-
900
942
24,250
36,945
33,186
36,741
49,723
47,211
19,743
24,493
25,953
3,749
4,194
4,214
10,000
9,538
9,615
13,750
12,720
12,287
13,740
14,823
13,056
19,318
17,537
17,888
20,000
18,929
21,175
19,999
18,701
21,107
20,000
18,350
20,952
20,000
18,453
21,243
20,000
18,269
21,266
32,900
34,963
33,805
32,900
35,252
33,977
32,900
34,673
34,761
339,990
843,308
813,570
22,500
21,657
22,090
22,500
23,095
22,713
22,500
32,319
29,021
15,000
11,774
11,689
4,989
5,220
5,245
14,978
15,377
14,669
15,000
13,800
13,330
5,998
5,127
5,736
6,574
5,547
6,260
9,575
7,882
9,073
3,000
2,433
2,833
142,614
144,231
142,659

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION DETAILED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS HELD BY THE ASSOCIATION (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Holding
7,192.17
Artemis High Income Class 1 - Income
1,607.00
City of London Investment Trust 25p Ord. shares
6,916.82
Royal London Corporate Bond Trust Income Units
2,480.00
Temple Bar Investment Trust plc 5p Ord. shares
EARTH HERITAGE FUND
4,137.22
Marlborough Multi Cap Income - Inclusive Class A
2,785.00
Murray International Trust plc 25p Ord. shares
700.00
RIT Capital Partners plc £1 Ord. shares
PALAEONTOLOGICAL FUND
14,458.64
Artemis High Income Class 1 - Income
3,934.00
City of London Investment Trust 25p Ord. shares
20,375.83
Legal & General High Income Incl Class R Income
2,875.00
Murray International Trust plc 25p Ord. shares
154.00
RIT Capital Partners plc £1 Ord. shares
3,815.00
Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2040
3,568.00
Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2049
TOMLINSON BROWN FUND
8,794.00
Treasury 4.5% 07/12/2042
9,169.00
Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2046
9,160.00
Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2049
2,189.00
City of London Investment Trust 25p Ord. shares
3,386.00
Murray International Trust plc 5p Ord. shares
694.00
Murray Income Trust plc 25p Ord. Shares
4,000.00
HICL Infrastructure Company Ltd 0.0001p Ord
10,350.00
Treasury 3.5% 22/01/2045
215.00
RIT Capital Partners plc £1 Ord. shares
Grand Totals
UKOGL		 Cost
2024
2023
£
£
£
6,250
5,288
5,097
6,250
6,918
6,569
6,490
6,256
6,297
6,241
6,708
5,909
Market Value
25,231
25,171
23,872
7,000
5,405
5,366
6,999
7,161
7,178
15,232
13,818
13,181
29,231
26,384
25,725
11,000
10,631
10,236
14,287
16,965
16,080
9,500
7,790
7,759
6,985
7,410
7,410
3,981
3,054
2,900
3,999
3,516
3,925
3,999
3,138
3,635
53,751
52,504
51,945
8,999
8,257
9,286
8,999
8,145
9,336
8,999
8,055
9,334
8,995
9,440
8,948
8,997
8,727
8,727
5,991
5,670
5,986
6,000
4,764
5,548
8,999
8,312
9,444
3,996
4,263
4,048
69,975
65,633
70,657
1,401,935
2,089,145
2,054,651