President's Introduction (Nick Riley MBE)

I am very pleased with the activities the Society undertook in 2021. We had a busy online programme, despite being unable to have indoor face-to-face meetings until our AGM in December. It was such a pleasure and honour to meet and award our medallists that day. In June, we were able to resume a limited number of outdoor meetings for the first time since 2019. Our quarterly circulars have kept members in touch with our programme, and included a wide range of articles & book reviews. Our finances are healthy, from which we have been able to fund research grants and educational activities, as well as our publications. Membership increased slightly. I particularly want to thank Council, members of various committees and working groups, all our webinar speakers, field trip leaders and hosts, as well as authors who published through our Proceedings and Circulars; without the support of all these people we could not have delivered our programme nor met our objectives.

Acting General Secretary (Paul Hildreth)

Despite the imposed restrictions caused by the continuing Covid pandemic, the Society has successfully communicated, both internally and with its members, through a variety of methods some traditional, others relatively new.

The Circular remained a leading information channel and was supported by the Society's dedicated website and other forms of social media. In addition, when appropriate, ad hoc newsletters conveyed information including invitations from other groups and societies to ‘attend’ virtual meetings.