UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
REUNION
OF THE
1972 HONOURS GRADUATES
4 and 5 September, 2015
Springfields Hotel
Horsham
Seven of the graduates of 1972 met up in Horsham,
Sussex, on 4 and 5 September, 2015. In addition to those in the photograph, and
unable to attend, were Ged Cranny, Phil Griffiths, David Mellor and Michael
Wimpenny. We are also in touch with Joint Honours graduate, Alistair Gibb.
Sadly, Geoff Yarwood died in 1992. Since very few of the Honours Geology
graduates of 1972 had had any contact for over 40 years, it took over 12 months
to find just over half of the graduates. We hope to find everyone else for
future reunions.
Between us, our careers post-1972 have taken us to all
continents (including Antarctica), working in the oil industry, mining and
minerals (including diamonds), civil engineering, teaching, research and the
Services.
As well as walks in the countryside around Horsham,
and two memorable meals, the group which included spouses, enjoyed an afternoon
at Petworth House where Steve Cluer is a volunteer, and a sampling of white and
rosé wines from Peter Ross’s vineyard near Norwich.
Honours Geology Graduating Class, 1972
Michael Barton
Susan Beale*
Ian Clifford
Steve Cluer*
Margaret Connaughton (Crossman)
Ged Cranny**
Jane Gall (Spooner)*
Alistair Gibb (joint honours)**
Phil Griffiths**
Peter Hall
Rhodri Johns*
Paul Kennady
David Mellor**
Phil Portus*
Chris Rayner
Peter Ross*
Loz Shaw*
Peter Williams
Mike Wimpenny**
Sally-Anna Yard-Young (Rice)
Geoff Yarwood***
*Attended the reunion
** In contact but unable to attend
*** Died, 1992
Left to right: Alexander Shaw, Peter Ross, Steve Cluer
(seated), Phil Portus, Susan Beale, Jane Gall (Spooner), Rhodri Johns.
Field Trips
September, 1969, Freshers’ field trip to Anglesey, led by Roger Gavshon (final year undergraduate).
Autumn, 1969, Derbyshire with Fred Broadhurst. Treak Cliff and hunting for rhynchonellids.
Easter, 1970, Ballycastle in Antrim and Dungloe in Donegal, led by Mike Anketell (Ballycastle was his home town). It rained every day but one.
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Seeing armed soldiers in the streets in Belfast as we left the ferry was an eye-opener, but some of us were given a lift to our lodgings in one of their Land Rovers.
Antrim geology was memorable for black granite and white chalk (so that we could tell the difference), and a visit to the Giant’s Causeway. And we went to a local dance with a good band (Led Zeppelin covers among others).
In Dungloe we looked at the Donegal granite and associated metamorphic zoning, and some beach sections (Port Rush bay). We stayed at Sweeny’s Hotel in Dungloe (telephone Dungloe 6), memorable for lots of wonderful food and a match against the local football team on a pitch that was really a peat bog.
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Mike Barton, David Mellor, Rhodri Johns and Tony Jones, in perfect harmony, leading the singing from the back of the bus.
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Summer, 1970, Geological Mapping, Tarn Hows, Lake District, led by John Treagus, Robin Nicholson and Susan Treagus. Weather was generally sunny and warm.
We stayed at Monk Coniston. Susan and Jane tried to map Tilberthwaite, but were rather confused. There was also a climb of about a thousand feet up a steep cliff.
April, 1971, Devon (Delabole slate quarry) Lizard Peninsula and north coast of Cornwall.
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At the Delabole quarry we saw graphic demonstration of metamorphic deformation in the “Delabole Butterfly” fossil brachiopods. In Boscastle, we stayed in a youth hostel where Steve remembers a rowdy night after a little too much beer.
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Phil Portus’ Field Notebook: Kennack Sands, Lizard Peninsula, 19 April, 1971.
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5-7 November, 1971, Anglesey.
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Somewhere, it was so cold in the hostel that it was impossible to sleep.
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Phil Griffiths: Paul Kennady in Snowdonia
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Date and Location? DRJ -I think this is Anglesey-Carboniferous Limestone
Loz Shaw: Left to right back row – unknown, unknown, unknown, Sue Beale, Phil Griffiths, Jane Gall. Middle row – Margaret Connaughton, ?Tony Jones, Ged Cranny, Dave Mellor (holding hammer), Chris Rayner, Mick Barton (holding beer), unknown (in a hat). Front – unknown, unknown, unknown.
March/April 1972, Welsh borders, Cardigan and Lleyn Peninsula led by Fred Broadhurst (as an alternate to Assynt)
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Phil Griffiths: Clarach near Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, 30 March, 1972.
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Mike Wimpenny, Peter Williams, Fred Broadhurst, David Bracegirdle, Susan Beale, Steve Cluer, Ged Cranny
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Peter Ross, Ged Cranny, Ted Yates.
Steve Cluer: Lleyn Peninsula April, 1972. |
Steve Cluer/Phil Griffiths:
Lleyn Peninsula, Caernarvon 2 April, 1972 Ted Yates (joint Chemistry/Geology), Steve Cluer, Mike Wimpenny, Peter Ross, Dave Mellor, Chris Rayner, Ged Cranny, ?David Bracegirdle |
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May, 1972, East coast and Assynt, Scotland, led by John Pollard
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We must have stayed at hostel(s) near the east coast. One night at Inverness (haggis from a take-away) and a fossil fish location.
In Assynt, we stayed at the Inchnadamph Hotel. The trip was memorable for the creation of the Assynt Bulge Appreciation Society and a long walk to see an unconformity ?Lewisian and Torridonian.
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Phil Portus: Car park of the Inchnadamph Hotel - Sally-Anna Yard-Young, Geoff Yarwood, John Pollard, Jane Gall and others.
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Phil Portus: Kylesku Ferry - ?standing, Loz Shaw, Geoff Yarrwood, ??, ??, Paul Kennady, Sally-Anna Yard-Young.
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Phil Portus: Quinag - ??, Geoff Yarwood
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Signed Degree Ceremony Programme
Mike Barton, Ian Clifford, Steve Cluer, Margaret Connaughton, Jane Gall, “Ali Gibboon” (Alistair Gibb), Phil Griffiths, Peter Hall, Rhodri Johns, Paul Kennady, Dave Mellor, Chris Rayner, Phil Portus, Pete Ross, Loz Shaw, Peter Williams, Mike Wimpenny.
Missing: Susan Beale, Ged Cranny, Sally Anna Yard-Young, Geoff Yarwood.
