A delightful surprise awaited me when I opened my mail the other day - there was the 50th edition of the Club Bulletin. I felt the striking cover deserved a wider audience than just the membership, so here it is!

An interesting email from John Gregory. Often the red dust that one finds on one's car comes from as far south as the Sahara, but this certainly looks like pine pollen:

'You may recall that I mailed you in May about the phenomenon of a layer of dust which had settled on the paint work of cars in this region. I had made a slide of this and done a little research on the Internet. You replied saying that you would like to see a photo. Sorry it has taken such a long time to come back to you, I have only just got sorted out with my attachment for my digital camera. The photo's show pollen gains which is what a local radio station had said was the cause of the dust. Apparently it comes all the way from Scandinavia.'

What on earth does a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates have to do with microscopy? Go to Resources to find out! [Photograph by Tony Saunders-Davies]

This chironomid midge dates from the Cretaceous Age, some ninety million years ago, and was then trapped in amber. Phil Greaves made this fine mount, which he showed at the March Cobham meeting. Photograph Tony Saunders-Davies

 

 

Two nice photographs from Maurice Moss: Left, wingcase of a Tiger Beetle (Cidindela campestris). Right, wing of a Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio palinurus)

Maurice writes: 'Tiger Beetle, a fierce hunter on open sandy places, but this specimen was the victim of a hungry bird!
Swallow Tail, showing the brilliant green scales.'

One of Maurice's 'Fun with cellophane' pictures. If you look carefully you can see there are two identical patterns here; left and right. The left is taken with uncrossed polars, and the right with crossed. Not only fun, but instructive as well!

Another nice contribution from Past President Maurice Moss. Maurice writes:
"This picture is one of my 'Fun with cellophane' slides at low magnification between crossed, and uncrossed polars. I construct them by snipping up tiny pieces of cellophane (greeting card wrappings seem to be usually made of cellophane) and piling them randomly on a slide before placing a cover slip over them. I use long (24x50) slips, and attach them with double sided cellotape. You can see how difficult it is to keep the dust out!"

Warmest congratulations to Pam Hamer on her election as the new President of the Club. Pam, as a forensic scientist, has put on some great workshops, and is well-known in the Club. I am hoping for a potted biography shortly.

I would like to say a big 'Thank you!' to those members who have responded to my request for more contributions, such as Tony Dutton, Don Thomson, Joan Bingley, and Brian Darnton (who is always meticulous in sending me illustrated reports of meetings in his area).

A report on the Gossip meetingof 19th September 2006. Thanks to Tony Dutton. Go to Reports.

A report on the Gossip meetingof 15th August 2006. Thanks to Tony Dutton. Go to Reports.

A report on the RMS Micro 2006 Exhibition - thanks to Pam Hamer. Go to Reports.

An important letter from Brian Davidson about the 'Members' area. In case you missed it above click here!

A report on the Annual Weekend for 2006 at Kingscombe Centre in Dorset. Go to Reports.

A report on theGossip meeting of 18th July. Thanks to Tony Dutton. Go to Reports.

A belated report on the Microtome Workshop. Go to Reports.

A report on the 2006 Pirbright meeting. Thanks to Tony Jarratt. Go to Reports.

A report on the Microscopium event in May 2006 (Thanks to Tony Jarratt). Go to Reports.

A report on the Purbeck (Langton Matravers) meeting on 6th May. Go to Reports.

A report on the Gossip Meeting on the 8th April. Go to Reports.

A report on the Wimbledon Common meeting on the 18th April. Go to Reports.

The Contents of the Spring Bulletin. Go to Resources.

Some more letters, including a plea from Professor Sawyer for information. I do hope someone can help him.

A revised potted biography from Franco Novarino. It's wonderfully imbued with Franco's enthusiam for protozoa, microscopy and life in general! See below.

A report on the March 4th Cobham meeting. Go to Reports.

An excellent article on polarisation by Don Thomson. Go to Resources.

A report on the Gossip Meeting in February. Go to Reports.

News of more meetings. Go to Meetings. Events organised by the Club appear in the Program. Go to Resources.

A brief introduction to the Rotifers. Go to Resources.

The Contents of the Winter Journal. Go to Resources.

Important items from previous editions:

Some potted biographies of committee members - being transferred to the memebr's area

A report on the Annual Exhibition. Go to Reports.

A report on the Quekett Weekend 2005, with over 40 colour images! The exhibits of the Gossip are fully described in the current Bulletin. Go to Reports.

The Contents of the September Bulletin. Go to Resources.

The programme for 2006. Go to Resources.

A link to a new site concerned with nature photography including some nice micrographs. Go to Links

More letters. Some seeking information on present or past members.

 

The 'Gallery' section is now OPEN! This contains photomicrographs of some members' slides, and also I hope will include some examples from the Club's loan section. Go to 'Others'

More contributions are needed, particularly from beginners and newcomers. Let us know what bought you into the Club, and whether we are fulfilling your needs. Tell us your own experiences starting microscopy

 

Note - I try to keep these pages as up-to-date as possible and with as much news as possible. If anyone who has anything to do with a local meeting would like to send me a report of it I would be happy to put it up here.

Savona Books are the official agent for the Club - Savona Books

Click here for some more information about the Club.

Well, that's about it! But I would like to invite other Queketts (or anyone else) who reads this to CONTRIBUTE!

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