South Wales Geologists' Association


The South Wales Geologists' Association is an affiliated local group of the Geologists' Association. It was founded in 1960 and registered as a charity in 1996.

Activities

The SWGA's aims are the study and promotion of geology in South Wales. Anyone with an interest in geology and the earth sciences is welcome, professional or amateur. Activities include field trips during the summer season, and lectures at Swansea or Cardiff University's geology departments during the winter season, as well as support for Rockwatch activities for young people and geological events for the public.
In addition, the South Wales Geologists' Association maintains close links with like-minded organisations such as the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, the Fforest Fawr Geopark, the Southern Wales regional group of the Geological Society, the Wales & West branch of the Russell Society, and the Cardiff Naturalists' Society.
The SWGA is also supportive of initiatives in geoconservation and geodiversity, in particular through their involvement in the creation of the South East Wales RIGS group.

Past Chairmen and presidents

The group was headed by a chairman during the period 1959–1996, and by a president from 1996 onwards.

Past Chairmen

Source : Group of Chairmen 1959–1992, from "GEOLOGISTS’ ASSOCIATION, SOUTH WALES GROUP, A GEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE 1960–1992", p. 24–25, Compiled by ALUN J. THOMAS, supplemented from SWGA archives and minutes.
ChairmanPeriod
Douglas A. Bassett1959–1962
David E. Morgan1962–1964
David J. W. Thomas1964–1966
T. Richard Owen1966–1968
John C. W. Baker1968–1970
Trevor M. Thomas1970–1972
Michael Brooks1972–1974
D. Emlyn Evans1974–1976
Rodney A. Gayer1976–1978
Derek V. Ager1978–1980
John W. Perkins1980–1982
John C. W. Cope1982–1984
Alan G. Thomas1984–1986
Anthony T. S. Ramsay1986–1988
R. Alan Stephens1988–1990
Alun J. Thomas1990–1992
Michael G. Bassett1992–1994
Peter Hodges1994–1996

Past presidents

PresidentPeriod
Lynda Garfield1996–1998
W. R. Gareth Davies1998–2000
Steven G. Howe2000–2002
Allan Cuthbertson2002–2004
Lynfa Lewis2004–2006
Tom Sharpe2006–2008
Nigel McGaw2008–2010
Malcolm Shaw2010–2012
Geraint Owen2012–2014
Rhian Kendall2014–2016
John Davies2016–2018
Lesley Cherns2018–

Publications

Publications cater for a range of geological ability and include field guides, geological booklets and guided walks leaflets to areas of interest in South Wales. Amongst them are: