Sandford Quarry started in the mid 1800s. The carboniferous limestone was used in the construction of buildings such as Avonmouth Docks and railway stations including Temple Meads, Bristol. The stone was also used for making lime, and the overgrown lime kilns can be seen on the quarry boundary.

"The Big Rake" - A classic Mendip lead rake on Sandford Hill the line of chasms and pits originally extended for over 800 m. The vein fissure is several metres wide at the surface and is a good example showing that mineralisation in the Mendip areas is alway richest at the surface. In the bottom of the rake are some later deeper mine shafts.

One of the "Saville Row" shafts dating from from the 1830's. All the shafts are still open and extend deeply down the bedding to a depth of up to 30 m. The walls of the shaft are lined with bricks, known as ginging, a measure to prevent caving of the shaft walls.

A lead mine in your garden. The owner of the property kindly allowed us to lift the metal covers on their drive to reveal a shaft to a shallow and muddy typical Mendip lead mine that again follows the bedding of the rock. This garden was also the source of a very large number of very fine "Potato Stones".

Dr. Tim Ewin, Acting Curator of Geology, welcomes RS members to Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery. The museum holds a fine collection of local and regionally important mineral specimens that have been acquired over very many years by donation from eminent mineralogists who have studied the Bristol area since the 1700's.

The museum building was gutted by fire following a bomb hit during the blitz on Bristol, on the night of 24/25 November 1940, with the loss of some 17,000 of the natural history specimens including Perceval's specimens of fluorite from the Great Quarry and Clifton, but there was still plenty for the members to view.

Members spread out to search for minerals in the loose limestone boulders at Halecombe quarry. Notice the clear blue sky this was after a morning of quite atrocious stormy weather, and it stayed dry.

The Blackrock limestone at Halecombe holds many calcite lined vugs that can also contain dolomite and small, but fine cubic fluorite. This limestone is very hard and it needs a large amount of energy to get it to break.

Time to relax, enjoy an ample meal, a drink or two and chat with friends that you may not have met for a year or so. A very good time in very good company. We are also here for the skittles competition.

Jill Goltz, despite her exertions on Sandford Hill in the afternoon, bowls a mean ball to keep the ladies in contention and the crowd thoroughly entertained.

Harry Critchley bowls one straight down the middle in a last ditch attempt to up his final score for the night but it was not enough.

The Welsh contingent of Dave Wellings and Lynda Garfield took the honours in the end with the highest scores each. We thought it bit funny that Dave knew all the rules. Well done to both and the prizes were kindly donated to the auction.

Jane Randle, left, and Christine Critchley putting the pictures from the photographic competition on the display, supervised by Frank Ince. Check the clock - the symposium starts in five minutes.

Michelle Beckingham of the Southern Branch greets early arriving delegates at reception and makes sure that they have their packs and badges for the day ahead.

Gary Morse and Alistair Napier make last minute checks to the display systems in readiness for the symposium.

Gary Morse, Southern Branch Chairman, welcomes the delegates to Bath and the RS AGM Weekend and goes through the usual prerequisites before the first presentation.

Alistair Napier opens the session with a presentation on the find of rhodochrosite, manganite, quartz and goethite at Durnford quarry in 2007.

Roy Starkey answers questions on his presentation about F.W. Rudler's observations on the Ludlam Collection ("very good value for a shilling") once housed in the old Geological Museum.

Bob Symes gives an insight into the minerals of Northern England the subject of his forthcoming book ("Very good value at £12.99").

Lunch time - an excellent buffet lunch provided by the University of Bath catering, with ample for everybody...

...and an opportunity to discuss the mornings' proceedings with our colleagues.

Bob King (left) and Frank Ince (right) in discussion.

Viewing the displays of minerals from the Bristol area in particular the amazing rhodochrosite other specimens from the manganese mineralisation of Durnford quarry.

Viewing the mineral specimens made available for swapping, or for free, for members to acquire for their collection.

The swapping sessions are now a tradition at RS AGM weekends as they give all present the chance to talk, see, touch and become immersed in minerals - our common interest.

One of the splendid rhodochrosite samples collected on a RS Southern Branch field trip in March 2007 at Durnford quarry. Alistair Napier specimen.

A cabinet of old and rare Bristol locality mineral specimens kindly loaned by Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery.

A display of "potato stones" these are from Dulcote quarry but they are found in the Triassic sediments all round the Bristol area.

Alistair Napier takes the opportunity to take five minutes break, after a very busy day, in the knowledge that the whole thing has been a huge success so far.

Display of RS Photographic Competition entries and winners in three different categories. You can view the winners here. Use your back button to return.

Roy Starkey kindly offered delegates an impromptu slideshow of his trip the Tucson Show earlier in the year and the offer was gratefully accepted by many who enjoyed the tour of the greatest mineral show there is.

RS President, Rick turner gives the last presentation of the symposium on his recent research and discoveries on the formation of the manganese deposits in the Mendip area.

Evening reception and viewing some of the large number of auction lots that members have donated.

There are some very good specimens that will attract a number of interested bidders later on but they can still get a bargain.

From the left - Norman Moles, Roy Starkey and Neil Hubbard in discussion; possibly about minerals?

Finally everybody is seated and the dinner is underway.

A thoroughly enjoyable meal and much appreciated by all present but now is time for last viewing of lots before the auction.

No RS annual dinner would be complete without an auction of mineralogical ephemera conducted by Dr. Bob Symes, O.B.E. here ably assisted by Nick Green portering and Hilary Barton recording.

Members assembled at Whatley quarry, on a fine Sunday morning, before being transported into the quarry workings by the manager.

Remains of a large, massive calcite vein that, alas, contains absolutely no other mineralisation or crystals.

Searching over the remains of the manganese ore pod and rhodochrosite area of Durnford quarry to scavenge the last few remaining specimens.

After a good day collecting members rest a while before making their way out of the quarry and again the weather remained dry and fine.