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 Secretary's Annual Report for 2011-2012

This year we have held the following meetings – one boat trip, eight research field trips, seven field meetings, six evening lectures, ten microscopy evenings, one geoconservation meeting, two roadshows and a members’ evening. This, to me, indicates that the Society is still in a very healthy state. Beyond those statistics I was amazed just how keen our membership has been to contribute to our meetings – this year we simply had too many speakers for the members’ evening, for example. Members have also been involved in other activities on behalf of the Society by giving talks to other societies and advising the county council on the minerals and flood plans. Our research projects are still continuing into the local Quarternary and members have been working on the Lewis Penny collection at the University and the collection at Burton Constable Hall.

 On behalf of the Society I wish to thank the Committee, field trip leaders and guest speakers for their contributions. I also thank the Geography Department for their continued support and hospitality and the Treasure House and Hornsea Museum for hosting the roadshows.

 The Treasurer sends his apologies for not attending the AGM and for not presenting the accounts. He moved to Leicestershire last year and the bank has still not sorted out the change of address nor has it sent a cheque book and statements. Having said that, the Society’s funds should be in a good state; we have not incurred any unusual expenses this year. So far 68 members have paid their subscriptions and I have sent reminders to those who are in arrears. Hopefully we can soon get things back to normal – it took about six months to sort out the previous changes to the account signatories. During the year four members have resigned, one honorary member died and five new members have joined the Society.

 Looking ahead the summer programme is taking shape; if you would like to help with a field meeting please let me know. We are involved in organising a joint conference in October based around the annual joint meeting with the YGS, and have negotiated a substantial discount for amateur members of the HGS.

 I have just heard today that Wilfred Kristian Whitaker died on 12th March, aged 66. Wilf joined the Society in 1985 and served on our Committee from 1994 to 2002. Originally from the West Riding, Wilf taught at Hull College until he retired due to ill health following a stroke. In the 1970s he taught geology ‘o’ level at the college as a night class and I remember going along on some of the weekend field trips where we had to keep to a tight schedule so that we did not miss the last bus back to Hull. The disability that the stroke caused did not affect Wilf’s sense of independence and he continued to walk to our lecture meetings and enjoyed having a pint with members and the speaker afterwards, before walking home. Wilf’s funeral will be on Thursday 22nd March at 3-30pm at the Crematorium on Chanterlands Avenue.

 Items to be raised at the AGM – we have been invited to take part in three events so we need to decide if we wish to participate –

·         Hornsea Carnival - 20th to 22nd July

·         Hull Open Buildings Weekend – a stall in Trinity Square on Saturday - 6th September

·         A geological gathering at Newark organised by the Geologists’ Association for the same weekend as the Rock’n’Gem show - 22nd September

If you would like to volunteer to help at these events please let me know.

Copyright - Hull Geological Society 2023

Registered Educational Charity No. 229147

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