The final event of the year was held at Players Golf Club at Tormarton near Bath and was attended by members and guests. Once again there were 3 strong entries to compete for the awards.

The first paper was presented by Andrew Shakeshaft of Aggregate Industries, based on his experiences while working on the edge of Dartmoor. After an initial overview of the general understanding people had of Dartmoor - the ponies, the prison, the moors and archaeology he gave a little insight into the hobby of "Letterboxing" where by walkers try to locate one of over 1500 boxes which have been hidden on the moors since 1884. With often only cryptic clues or at best an OS Grid Reference walkers set off in the hope of finding a box with its own peculiar stamp. These are then collected in a log book.

Andrew then went on to describe the many familiar details of Dartmoor but with a little more in site and history. Outlining how the Tors were created 280 million years ago through volcanic activity through to the quarrying activities on the Stover Estate at Haytor Quarry with stone rail systems to get the stone down to the port at Teignbridge, where it was onward shipped to significant landmarks - London Bridge, British Museum and many other monuments.

The presentation would not have been complete without a mention of the china clay and ball clay industries which the speaker explained owed their existence to the subsequent volcanic activity converting the feldspar in the granite to Kaolin.

The second paper was presented by Steve Tubbs of Raymond Brown Minerals & Recycling Ltd. His paper set out how a training need was identified for safer use of lifting accessories by site staff. A number of incidents had arisen through the improper use of chains and slings on sites where operatives where not aware of the importance of adhering to basic rules.

Steve outlined the way he developed the training scheme, which included the design of a model to show how incorrect use of chains and slings by spreading the chains beyond the design safe working angle could result in failure of the chain with potentially fatal consequences. The model showed this failure in a simple but effective way, which staff could understand.

Diagram: Reduction of working load with varying lifting angle

Once the training package had been developed a NPORS instructor from Austin & McLean Lifting Engineering Services was invited to sit the course and validate it. All RBMR staff involved in the use of lifting equipment now sit the course, followed by a short written test to demonstrate they have understood the principles.

The final paper was by Wayne McKeown from John Wainwrights. Wayne outlined the initiative they had been working with at Fairfield Farm College near Westbury. The college teaches 16 - 19 years old young people with learning difficulties and helps them in terms of developing skills. Students had a range of difficulties from autism, sensory impairment to limited academic ability. Wayne went to explain how Moons Hill Quarry has become an outside learning centre for the students, offering a range of opportunities for different types of work with appropriate training.

Aim - to provide opportunities for students to learn new skills to prepare them for adult life in the community.

The speaker explained the process by which they could take students through:

Work place vetting to identify what could be offered so that vulnerable students were not put a risk
A service level agreement covering the legal and insurance aspects
Risk Assessment for the proposed tasks
Site visit by the school to see what was achievable
Induction and a NPORS instructor along from Austin & McLean Lifting Engineering Services
Training of Support Workers from the school such that they were aware of the risks and issues at the Quarry.

Once this process was completed the site was able to receive students. On the day the company would agree with staff from the school the work programme with the activities to be undertaken, where and when, how long for and any restricted areas.

Task undertaken were generally of an environmental basis ranging from leaf raking, painting, tidying grounds, weeding, to more advanced projects based from the school where previously manufactured bird nesting boxes are erected. Feeding the ducks was always a very popular activity!! The task was always matched to the student's abilities.

Wayne explained how the project linked back to life skills from "clocking in" when arriving at the site, producing logbooks of activities undertaken, looking after and wearing PPE, as well as the basic learning on the task itself.

2009 Students, Tom, Chris and Briece pictured with support worker Pat Crees.
PPE students are issued with, and are responsible for their own PPE (memory skills)

Through the project the company was able to offer students a variety of work which was fun to do and had learning content. It enabled students to meet and talk with other people. All the work also contributed towards the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme which all students took part in. Some students even met famous people - for example when Princess Anne recently opened the new Somerset Earth Science Centre at the quarry.

Each of the presenters was subjected to questioning for the audience to demonstrate their wider understanding of the subject. The panel of judges chaired by Julian Cleeton and assisted by Alan Sparkes and Robin Piper assessed the presentations following which the prizes were awarded.

The Kelston Sparkes Award went to Wayne McKeown with a cheque for £250.
The Vic Callicott Award went to Steve Tubbs with a cheque for £150
The Branch Award went to Andrew Shakeshaft with a cheque for £75.

The branch chairman closed the meeting with congratulations to all the speakers on the standard of their papers, which were all well received by the audience.