“It has been a great pleasure, as well as an Honour, to serve as the AMH Geopark's first President. It was my great fortune as a just-retired biologist to begin an association with earth scientists. I have learnt a huge amount and come to understand something of the excitement of interpreting the structure of the Earth around us. No biologist should fail to recognise how the history of life is linked to the history of our planet. One of the great achievements of the Geopark team has been the way in which they have made geology accessible to everyone through meetings, excursions and a whole series of outstanding publications. I have so much enjoyed visiting and being in the field with you in this delectable part of England. Now I hand over to Chris Darmon - this time a real geologist! I know you will be in good hands. I shall want to keep in touch - may the Geopark flourish and thankyou for all your kindness to me over the past years.”
Chris is well known to many for his passion for fieldwork in the UK and overseas, and as Editor of Down to Earth. In 2003 Chris was awarded the RH Worth Prize by the Geological Society of London for the communication of geology to the general public. He is the current national chairman of the YHA England and Wales. Our new President said…
“It is indeed an honour and privilege to be asked to become the Second President of the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark in succession to someone so greatly respected as Aubrey Manning. I come to the presidency as someone who has spent more than 30 years in geotourism and adult education. My own association with the Malvern Hills goes back around 40 years and there is no finer area of England to begin a lifetime of enthusiasm for landscape and rocks. I greatly look forward to being more closely involved with the exciting things already being undertaken by the partners in the Geopark and getting to know the area's geology even more.”
The eighteen Geopark partners send their sincere thanks to Aubrey Manning for his support since 2004. They now welcome Chris Darmon and look forward to working with him to further the work and public participation in the fascinating geology and landscape of the Geopark.
Photograph to the right:
Chris Darmon on the left presents Geopark Chairman Peter Oliver with a special geology hammer during his inauguration as President of the Geopark. The hammer will now mark the 'badge of office' for future Presidents. The hammer is special because it is one of the last to be produced in Sheffield. William Whitehouse produced geological hammers for years in Dudley. They were acquired by Footprint Tools in Sheffield (who made this hammer) and then Visa Tools of Leeds acquired Footprint in 2010. Amazingly, we beliive that Whitehouse moulds are still being used.