Fancy a day out in Clacton looking at minerals??

I have thousands of mineral specimens collected in England and Scotland during expeditions spread over 40 years. They are of variable quality as the idea was to collect anything that looked interesting for any reason and spend time later identifying it.

The whole collection needs sorting out so it may be of future use. My problem is that I have developed an illness which means I cannot do the manual work in picking up items and storing them. I would also benefit from knowing someone who is good at identification.

I can manage individual items and have retained the knowledge of where collected. I am formulating an idea and looking for anyone who can offer any sort of help in planning or carrying it out.

In the east of England there are very few collecting areas so like me any collector would have to travel hundreds of miles on any collecting trip. On the other hand many people living in the east have taken up the interest simply because the materials of interest are not available anywhere in the local terrain.

What I am thinking of doing is inviting one or more people living in the East Anglia area to spend the occasional day helping me sort out my collection. The actual detail and preparation work would have to be discussed. I am not making any promises upon payment in any form although something may be arranged. Hopefully the interest in looking through these items will be enough.

I would like to hear from anyone who is interested in spending a day or part day, perhaps on a repeat basis, in Clacton helping me out. I would like to hear from anyone who has previously made a similar arrangement on the hazards and advantages of such an arrangement.

Malcolm Chapman
England

Dear Malcolm,

I would suggest contacting the Russell Society (Roy Starkey is the president) - you can email via their website. They may be willing to place an announcement in their next newsletter, or they may be able to give you an email address for the chairperson of the appropriate branch. Good luck to you - the society certainly has done work before on "sorting out" collections, although they are usually associated with museums, etc.
Becky

Hi Malcolm - have sent you a PM.

Regards

Roy

thanks Roy, will follow up.

Malcolm Chapman
England