Just to say a very big thank you to Simon, Dave, Angela, and RockChick, for organising this year's NAHMO Conference. It is the first time I have been to one and it far exceeded my expectations, and ran extremely smoothly, but have no doubt it was very hard work to organise and carry out.

So, thank you very much indeed! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Also, thank you to the excellent speakers (I know some are on here). :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Yes it was a fantastic event! :thumbsup:

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It still is a fantastic event! (Last field trip tomorrow.)
Hats off to all involved for efforts well beyond the call of duty.

Nice to put so many faces to familiar names too.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

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Also, thank you to the excellent speakers

not forgetting the trip leaders :thumbsup: :thumbsup: and everyone else who has helped.

AditNow has come of age. 🙂

Yes, many thanks are due to the trip leaders, many of whom didn't get chance to come over to the conference venue, the speakers for some excellent interesting talks and especially to Simon, DaveL and Skimble! :thumbup::thumbup:

See you all at Nent for the next one! :thumbup:

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By the way, for anyone on the Aditnow Facebook page, I believe there are some conference photos there...

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My legs still ache from the walk up on Saturday :lol:

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I'll agree with all that has been said so far. It also exceeded my expectations. The presentations were superb, learned a lot and was alsoable to contribute a bit too.

Again, many, many thanks to Simon, Ange, Dave & Briony for all the v. hard work organising the event. I believe that Mr Eckerslike was also involved... :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Talking with Simon afterwards, we think that a conference on 'Slates to the Sea' might be a good one - but lets leave it at LEAST 18 months to get our breath back from this one. I've certainly a paper I could read on the subject and there were some of the speakers at this conference who could write papers on the subject. Is it worth a straw poll to get a feeling for a conference on this subject for say 2016?

Regards

Clive

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Talking with Simon afterwards, we think that a conference on 'Slates to the Sea' might be a good one - but lets leave it at LEAST 18 months to get our breath back from this one. I've certainly a paper I could read on the subject and there were some of the speakers at this conference who could write papers on the subject. Is it worth a straw poll to get a feeling for a conference on this subject for say 2016?

Lol- can we wait for a while (about 4 years?!) before deciding whether we can face doing this again? :o:lol:

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Seconded, it was my first conference - definitely won't be the last! Both as a delegate and a speaker I can't say that the welcome, warmth and organisation shown by the Aditnow team was anything less than superb.

It was also great to catch up with old acquaintances, put faces to people I've only known through this site and also meet new friends!

Bravo AN

(PS for anyone who I talked to sleep on the subject of coal cutters I sincerely apologize lol :zzz: 😉 )

I said it at the end of the conferance, but I'll say it again.

Many thanks on the behalf of UCET for inviting us to have a display. Also many thanks for salvaging the display when it all fell down!

And of course, many thanks for the feedback on the display. All has been passed onto the rest of the club. And as our secretary says:

"Until next time."

Just got back - fantastic conference. Many thanks to everyone involved. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

I'd also like to extend my thanks to Mark at Corris Mine Explorers for a superb NAMHO trip on Sunday - and for spending three days rigging all the pitches ready for us to enjoy privileged access to a very special area of Braich Goch. What a hero!

And also, very grateful thanks to Grosvenor Caving Club for welcoming us in force today, sharing their boundless enthusiasm and giving us a unique, fascinating and extremely enjoyable trip through Milwr, Powell's and East Halkyn. And for being a nicer bunch of nutters than you could ever hope to meet!

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

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Talking with Simon afterwards, we think that a conference on 'Slates to the Sea' might be a good one - but lets leave it at LEAST 18 months to get our breath back from this one. I've certainly a paper I could read on the subject and there were some of the speakers at this conference who could write papers on the subject. Is it worth a straw poll to get a feeling for a conference on this subject for say 2016?

I'm not keen on the idea for the following reasons:

1. The NAMHO conference is an annual event with a more-or-less 'ready made' attendance of more than 100 paying delegates.

2. The conference is underwritten by NAMHO who provide a float to finance the conference. This would not be available to an independent conference.

3. 'Slates to the Sea' sounds much more like a Plas Tan-y-Bwlch Industrial History event. These at best attract something less than 50 participants (usually nearer half that number) and, I understand, the popularity of such events at Plas TyB has been decreasing over recent years.

4. My impression is that slate quarrying is very much a minority interest amongst the members of the organisations that make up NAMHO, so support from the mining history community would be unlikely.

5. Considering the amount of research that has been published over the years on the topic, is sufficient new information currently available to attract attendees?

Consequently, I'm not saying it shouldn't be considered but it would need some very careful market research first. If it does look viable then it might be worth offering such an event to Plas TyB as a package.

Dave

Just another vote of thanks to all involved. :thumbsup::flowers:

Point taken about a 'Slates to the Sea' conference Dave. As you say, possibly something for Plas TyB.

My thinking would be to look at all the slate regions of Wales and how they 1. extracted and processed the slate 2. got their slates to the sea and away to market 3. how the expansion of the extractive industries led to whole new towns and industries (eg. foundries, shipbuilding, banking / commerce, food production etc, etc) around them.

So we have Penrhyn, Dinorwig, Moel Tryfan, Nantlle, Croesor, Ffestiniog, Talyllyn and Corris groups of quarries / mines.

There was of course some metal ores shipped from the same ports but compared to the slate tonnages, comparatively small...

Too wide a remit? Just my thoughts.

From looking around at the conference, we need an injection of younger blood (unless they were all on the the mine visits...) How do we attract the younger generation?

Clive

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From looking around at the conference, we need an injection of younger blood (unless they were all on the the mine visits...) How do we attract the younger generation?

Clive

Or club had some younger members there, but yes out on visits 🙂

I have the impression that the Plas TanyBwlch courses are a bit on the expensive side. I know they are "all in" but still a bit pricey. I wonder if that puts people off slightly?

I'd like to add my belated thanks to all the organisers etc. as well - I really enjoyed it and the main building was like being in Hogwarts (I'm not allowed out very often....)

Regarding Plas courses.

You can always do them as "Non-resident" - and camp or whatever somewhere - that's what I'm doing this year. That reduces the price somewhat - well it would have done if I hadn't somehow bought a small motorhome;(;( Still, it'll be a bit comfier than the tent - and I can get a lot more charging done overnight.

I think the "Slates to the Sea" idea has been done before though.

Grahami

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I wasn't aware of that option Graham. Thanks.