MCS: Lancashire area group

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JANUARY

Wed. 12th. Group AGM and Members slides from 2004 Lancaster Univ. Furness Lecture Theatre No2. 20.00hrs

FEBRUARY

Sun. 6th. Drift dive at Fell Foot. Meet 10.00hrs at Fell Foot Park, (near exit) to unload kit and move vehicles. Lunch at "The Swan", then visit Aquarium of South Lakes. Alternatively possibly dive at Roa Island, weather permitting. For final details, contact Gordon Fletcher on Sat. 5th Feb.

Wed. 9th. Monthly meeting. Photo-fit quiz. Can you identify these underwater suspects?
Lancaster Univ. Furness Lecture Theatre No 2. 20.00hrs. 1.00 Adm.

Wed.23rd. Committee meeting. Bushells Arms, Goosnargh, 19.30hrs

MARCH

Sat. 5th Roa Island dive. Meet 11.15hrs. Low water 12.23hrs Weather dependant, confirm with Gordon on Friday 4th.

Wed. 9th. Monthly Meeting. "Sound Bites", a series of presentations by Students from the BSc. (Hons) Coastal Conservation and Marine Biology Course at Blackpool and Fylde College.
Lancaster Univ. Furness Lecture Theatre No2. 20.00hrs. 1.00 Adm.
Sound Bites poster (PDF format 110 kB).

W/end 25/26/27/28 Easter Dive Weekend, Oban Area, shore and boat dives. For further Info. contact Gordon Fletcher.

APRIL

Sat. 9th. Adopt-a-Beach litter survey. Middleton Sands. Meet at Potts Corner car park at 13.30hrs. HW is at 12.31hrs.

Wed 13th. Monthly Meeting at Capernwray Dive Centre. An introduction to the fish in UK waters. Jim Andrews Commence 20.00hrs. Adm. 1.00.

Sat 23rd. Sea-Search Observer Course at Crook nr. Kendal In conjunction with Cumbria WLT members.
A follow-up dive to this course will be arranged at Roa Island on the next programme in May.

Please note: the cost of this course has been reduced to £10.00 due to the generous subsidy by Cumbria Wildlife Trust. This price includes lunch, refreshments and Seasearch pack.

Further information and to book a place contact:
Ron Crosby - 01282 843439
Hazel Jones - 01539 816316
Website for more details about the course: www.seasearch.org.uk
Sea-Search Observer Course (PDF format 205 kB).

30 April-2 May Dive weekend. Based Caernarfon, N. Wales. May Day holiday. Further info. contact Ron Crosby.

MAY

Wed. 11th Monthly Meeting at Capernwray Diving Centre. Speaker- Barry Kaye. Marine Archeology Commence 19.30hrs. Adm. £1.00
Download a poster for this event (pdf format, 117kB).

Sun. 15th Sea-Search Dive at Roa Island.
Meet 09.45hrs. LW 10.45hrs.
Weather dependant. Confirm with Ron Crosby on Sat 14th.

Sat. 21st Coastal & Marine Heritage and Archaeology Seminar.
See the Morecambe Bay Partnership website for further details.
Link: Morecambe Bay Partnership.

JUNE

Wed. 8th Monthly Meeting at Capernwray Diving Centre. Speaker - John Wilson, RSPB. 'Birds of Morecambe Bay' Commence 19.30hrs. Adm. £1.00
Download a poster for this event (pdf format, 121kB).

Sun. 12th Dive at Roa Island. Meet 08.45hrs. LW 09.45hrs. Weather dependant. Confirm with Gordon Fletcher on Sat 11th.

Sat 18th Adopt-a-Beach. Beach litter survey at Middleton Sands.Hw 08.35 LW 15.12 Meet Potts Corner Car Park 13.00hrs Further details contact Gordon Fletcher.

Wed. 22nd Committee meeting. Marton Arms, Nr. Ingleton. 19.30hrs.

W/end 24-26th Dive W/end. (Photography) St. Abbs & Eyemouth. Based at Coldingham. For further info. and details contact Gordon Fletcher.

June was a month of sadness for the Group, seeing the deaths of three long term supporters of the MCS in the North West:

Norman Hammond and his wife Florence were killed in a road accident on Sunday 12th June on their way to a whale watching trip.

Norman & Florence were both long standing members of the Marine Conservation Society and were regular supporters of our Local Group over many years. They were both very involved in a number of aspects of the marine environment and their interest and enthusiasm will be sadly missed by many people.

Jack Woodward died of a heart attack while diving at St Abbs on Friday 24th June. Jack was one of the first members of the MCS, an active supporter of group events, and a keen underwater photographer. He was a good friend to many in the group and will be sorely missed.

JULY

Wed.13th Monthly Meeting at Capernwray Diving Centre. Speaker - Dick White. 'Lost at sea'. British warships lost off N.Ireland. Commence 19.30hrs. Adm. £1.00.
Download a poster for this event (pdf format, 155kB).

W/end 16-17th Dive W/end. (Basic Species Identification) Based on the Isle of Cumbrae. For further info. and details contact Gordon Fletcher.

Sat. 30th Dive at Roa Island. Meet 12.50hrs. LW 13.50hrs Weather dependant. Confirm with Ron Crosby Fri. 29th.

AUGUST

Wed 10th Monthly Meeting at Capernwray Diving Centre. Speaker. Ron Crosby There is Life & Colour in our Northern waters. Commence 19.30hrs. Adm. £1.00.

Wed 10th SeaBritain 2005. Family beach walk at Fleetwood. 10.30 - 12.30hrs. Meet at Fleetwood Museum. Further details, contact Ron Crosby.

Sat 13th SeaBritain 2005. Adult Marine ID Workshop at Fleetwood Museum. 10-00 - 15-00hrs. Further details contact Ron Crosby.

W/end 20-21 Ocean Awareness Event at The Blue Planet Aquarium. Presentations by Lancs. MCS Group by Ron Crosby on Saturday, and Gordon Fletcher on Sunday.

SEPTEMBER

Sun 11th Jack Woodward's memorial event in Stockport between 1400 and 1630 - further details soon (dive at Roa Island postponed).

Wed 14th Monthly Meeting at Capernwray Dive Centre. Speaker: Gordon Fletcher 'Jelly 'n' Sponge'. A marine trifle.. Commence 19.30hrs. Adm. £1.00.

Sun 18th Beachwatch. Beach clean & litter survey, Middleton Sands HW 12.14hrs. Meet Potts Corner car park at 13.30hrs. Further details contact Jo Cook.

Thurs 22nd FOE meeting: When you are in a hole, stop digging: a beginner's guide to climate change by Prof. John Whitelegg at the Greenbank Lecture Theatre, University of Central Lancashire, Victoria Street, Preston starting at 1900hrs.

W/end. 24-25th Dive weekend in the Stranraer Area Moved to 1-2 October.

OCTOBER

W/end. 1st-2nd Sea-search dive W/end. Stranraer Area. Caravan accommodation at Portpatrick for nights of Friday 30th Sept. and Saturday 1st Oct. For further info. & details contact Ron Crosby.

Wed 12th Monthly Meeting at Lancaster University, Furness Lecture Theatre No. 2. Speakers: Gill Bell, MCS. Strandline Safari and a marine life briefing on Marine Sponges by Ron Crosby Commence 19.30hrs. Adm. £1.00. Poster (181kB PDF).

W/end 15/16th Dive W/end. Based in Oban. Diving at Loch Creran & Easedale. Caravan accom. At Oban. For further info. & details contact Gordon Fletcher.

Wed 19th Committee Meeting moved to 26th.

Wed 26th Committee Meeting, Plough, Galgate. 19.30hrs.

Sat 29th Dive at Roa Island. Meet 14.30hrs. LW 15.30hrs. Weather dependant. Ring Ron Crosby Fri. 28th. to confirm.

Sun 30th The life, times and legacy of Admiral Lord Nelson by Admiral Sir John Kerr at Greaves Methodist Church, Scotforth Road, Lancaster. Commence 13.30hrs. Adm. £2.00, tickets from Lancaster City and Maritime Museums.

NOVEMBER

Sat 5th MCS National Conference. Exeter. Details from HQ at Ross on Wye.

Wed 9th Monthly Meeting at Lancaster University, Furness Lecture Theatre No. 2. Speakers: Debasis Biswas Ecosystem based approach to fisheries management and a marine life briefing A look at Algae by Barry Kaye Commence 19.30hrs. Adm. £1.00. Poster (221kB PDF).

W/end 19/20th Sea-search dive W/end. Loch Fyne Area. Sea mouse search/survey. Cottage accom. at Minard. For further info. & details contact Gordon Fletcher.

DECEMBER

Sat 3rd Xmas Social Night - Stork Hotel at Conder Green. Xmas menu. For details contact Gordon Fletcher.

Sun 11th Adopt-a-Beach. Beach litter survey at Middleton Sands. LW 14.10hrs. Meet Potts Corner car park 13.00hrs. Further details contact Ron Crosby.

Wed 14th Monthly Meeting at Lancaster University, Furness Lecture Theatre No. 2. Marine life briefings: Echinoderms by Gordon Fletcher and Cnidarians by Ron Crosby Commence 19.30hrs. Adm. £1.00.