It is now 50 years since the Quaternary Field Study Group held its first meeting based on the Department of Geology at the University of Birmingham. After four years, this Study Group became more formalised as the interdisciplinary Quaternary Research Association (QRA), and in the late 1980s it became effectively one of the specialist groups of the Geological Society.
Courageously, the Executive Committee resolved to self-publish a history to make the anniversary. It is in two parts – first, a conventional history and second, a selected set of chapters (12 in all) which were commissioned by the committee on topics considered to reflect some of the more important topics allied to the work of QRA members. The book is a handsome A4 sized hardback with 108 mainly coloured figures and 39 tables. It is of considerable weight, and pleasingly printed in Wales.
The history part (172 pages) is the sole work of founder member John Catt, who, with prodigious energy, has scoured the archives and the pages of the in-house published Quaternary Newsletter, to reconstruct, often in considerable detail, the trials and tribulations of the association through half a century. Interestingly, of the c 150 original members some 50 survive although the membership now exceeds 1000. One suspects that this part will give the greatest enjoyment to those survivors. There is an index to this part but it is not totally comprehensive.
Part II is jointly edited by John Catt and Ian Candy and covers ‘The scientific achievements and contributions of the QRA’. It features 10 key topics written by a mix of sole and joint authored chapters – these are in journal format and are not indexed. One gets the impression that the contributors - 16 in all - were given lax word limits as there is a wide range of page length, 13–50 pages and possibly a stricter editorial control might have shortened the longer ones and by consolidating the references into a single list space would have been created for additional topics such as climatic modelling/ prediction, radioactive and stable isotopes, palaeosols and periglaciation. Nevertheless the chapters are delightful reading as the authors trace progress in understanding in their respective fields.
The QRA is to be congratulated on producing this landmark volume at a price which is simply exceptional value for money. By adopting a ‘mutual’ publishing model one hopes that the sales of this excellent people centred book will not be restricted by a lack of publicity – please spread the word!
Reviewed by Peter Worsley
THE HISTORY OF THE QUATERNARY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION JOHN CATT & IAN CANDY EDITORS. Published by : Quaternary Research Association, 2014 ISBN : 0907780873. 431pp List price : £25.00, Order from
www.qra.org.uk at £31 including postage and packing.