The Russell Society and the Cheltenham Mineral & Geological Society have a fascinating event of geological talks and displays organised for  Sunday 10 October 2019. There’s even the opportunity to bring along mineral samples and fossils for identification.

This special day is being held at  Shurdington Millenium Hall, Gloucestershire – and more details are in the pdf document here.

Two of our members, Chris Finch and Alistair Napier, have been promoting the Society and celebrating minerals from the Mendips.

This was part of the 10th anniversary of the Somerset Earth Science Centre. Chris and Alistair put on a display of Mendip minerals and encouraged younger visitors to take interest through education and free samples of locally-collected specimens.

You can find out more and see photographs of the minerals on display in a pdf file here.

Mendip Rocks! 2019, a festival of events celebrating the 450 million year geology of the Mendip Hills is from 10 August to 20 October. The festival includes a diverse and interesting calendar of events that includes quarry tours, cave visits, walks and talks.

The Southern Branch will also be participating on August 21, with a display at the Somerset Earth Science Centre.

The festival calendar and further details can be found on the attached downloadable files:

Festival calendar here

Finale lectures here

 

 

 

 

Given our website’s visibility within the wider mineral collecting community, The Russell Society has been asked to publicise the attached urgent notice from the Glenbuchat Estate in Scotland.

While there is no suggestion that any Russell Society members have been involved in irresponsible activities at Glenbuchat, it is a reminder that:

– Permission to collect minerals is a privilege, not an entitlement
– Permission should be obtained in advance
– All rules and restrictions must be followed.

Please share this important update with other collectors as appropriate. The update can be downloaded as a PDF file here.

The third, annual North Pennines Mineral Expo takes place on July 27 and 28, 2019. As in previous years, the Expo will be located at the Town Hall, St. John’s Chapel, County Durham.

More information can be found at the Facebook page for NorthPenninesMineralExpo.

Following a very successful 2019 Annual Society Meeting (ASM) in Devon, the Wales & West Branch has started planning the 2020 ASM. Members will receive more details in the coming months, but for the moment, please keep the weekend of April 3 – 5 clear for the ASM which will be held at the Cheltenham Chase Hotel, Brockworth, Gloucestershire.

The Russell Society ASM 2019 weekend in April is nearly fully booked. This is the situation:

Northgate House accommodation is fully booked with no vacancies.

There are only ten places left for the communal meal on the Friday evening at Northgate House.

There are twelve places left for the ASM symposium on Saturday. This will not affect attendance at the Society AGM only.

There is one place available at the Annual Dinner on Saturday evening.

The field trips to Bampfylde and Exeter museum are fully booked on the Friday.

The visit to Great Rock has been cancelled, as the Society’s current insurance will not cover us for underground visits in non-working mines.

The High Down quarry and the Teign Valley mines visits are almost full .

It will be case of “first come first served” and you are now encouraged to check with Gary Morse prior to sending in any booking form and payment.

 

 

 

 

 

The 2019 Annual Society Meeting (ASM) will be from Friday 12th April to Sunday 14th April 2019 at Buckfast Abbey Conference Centre, Buckfastleigh, Devon.

Full details of the ASM and a booking form can be found here.

The North Pennines Mineral Expo is happening again in 2018. This year it’s on July 14th and 15th at St. John’s Chapel in County Durham.

Russell Society members are taking part in the show; with a display of minerals from Northern England. Also, we’ll have our Society stall at the show and look forward to seeing you there!