The 44th British Micromount Symposium is on Friday 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September 2025.
This year’s symposium will be held at the same venue as last year (Salwarpe Village Hall, Salwarpe, nr Droitwich, Worcestershire. WR9 0AH). The hall is easy to reach from the M5 motorway and has ample car parking with step-free access to the hall.
The Symposium will start at 09:30 am on Friday 12 September and end at around 12:00 on Sunday.
If you have not attended the Symposium before, please be assured that you will be made most welcome. The BMS membership includes many knowledgeable people who will be very happy to share their expertise with newcomers.
The weekend includes a range of practical sessions, talks, exhibits, swap sessions, specimen and equipment sales, an auction in aid of BMS funds on the Saturday and the ever-popular ‘grab table’. Please make sure that you clearly label any material you bring as FOR SALE or FREE (GRAB). Last year there was some confusion and sales material was mistakenly removed as ‘free of charge’!
Please do bring items for the auction, but bear in mind that we need ‘quality’ stuff – people’s standards have gone up considerably over the years and we really don’t want ‘hardcore’ 😊! Thanks!
Please note that delegates are responsible for booking and paying for their own hotel accommodation. Many delegates will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express Droitwich Spa, Worcester Road, Droitwich, WR9 7PA, which has 94 rooms, including 6 accessible rooms. The hotel is adjacent to M5 junction 5.
Website https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/gb/en/droitwich/dotwc/hoteldetail
Contact the hotel: info@expressdroitwich.co.uk ; front desk 0371 902 1608. Other options are available in the local area for anyone wishing to make different arrangements.
THE DRAFT PROGRAMME IS BELOW
Friday 12 September
- 09:30 am (from) delegates arrive (Please do not arrive earlier than this to give us a chance to get the hall set up, tables in place etc. Thanks).
- Tea and coffee – DIY available all day
- Swap/ buy session & grab table
- Exhibition of mining postcards by Michael Doel and Philip Taylor
- Other exhibitions?
- 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch – (sandwiches, fruit and cake)
- 13:30 – 14:15 Talk 1 – Martin Stolworthy – Siderite from Wheal Drea, Cornwall
- 14:15 – 15:00 Research in progress – 15-minute presentations x 4. tbc. (If you would like to offer a short presentation please let me know by return. Thanks)
- 15:00 – 15.30 Tea break
- 15:30 – 17:00 Swap/ buy session continues
- 17:00 – Tidying up / washing up etc. conclusion of swaps/sales for the day
- 17:30 Hall to be vacated and locked
- 17:30 – Delegates check-in at Holiday Inn Express, Wychbold or other accommodation
- 18:30 Delegates gather for evening meal (pre-booked ) at The Wych Way Inn, Harvester Pub, Worcester Road, Droitwich, WR9 7PA (100 yards walk from the hotel) https://www.harvester.co.uk/restaurants/eastandwestmidlands/thewychwayinndroitwich#
- NOTE: Delegates are responsible for settling their own account at the pub.
- Social evening / retire to hotel
Saturday 13 September
- Breakfast at the hotel
- 09:30 am delegates arrive at hall
- Swap/ buy session & grab table (Tea and coffee – DIY available all day)
- 10:00 Deadline for Micromount Competition entries to be handed to David Ifold, together with completed paperwork
- 11:30 – 12:15 Talk 2 – Rupert Harrison – title tbc
- 12:30 – 13.30 Lunch – (sandwiches, fruit and cake)
- 14:00 – 14:45 Talk 3 – Nick Hawes – Bulgaria
- 15:00 – 15.30 Tea break
- Swap/ buy session & grab table
- 15:30 – 16:00 Swap/ buy session continues and viewing of auction lots
- 16:00 – 17:00 Auction of specimens and associated items – auctioneer Martin Stolworthy
- 17:00 – Tidying up / washing up etc. conclusion of swaps/sales for the day
- 17:30 Hall to be vacated and locked
- 17:30 – Delegates return to Holiday Inn Express, Wychbold or other accommodation
- 18:30 Delegates gather for evening meal (pre-booked ) at The Wych Way Inn, Harvester Pub, Worcester Road, Droitwich, WR9 7PA (100 yards walk from the hotel) https://www.harvester.co.uk/restaurants/eastandwestmidlands/thewychwayinndroitwich#
- NOTE: Delegates are responsible for settling their own account at the pub.
- Social evening / retire to hotel (according to the website the bar is open until 02:00am!)
Sunday 14 September
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Check-out of hotel (N.B. Delegates responsible for payment)
- 09:30 am delegates arrive at hall
- Tea and coffee – DIY available all morning
- 10:00 – 11:00 Annual General Meeting – followed by presentation of awards/prizes and ‘What’s around on the tables’ by David Roe
- Last chance for swaps / sales etc.
- 12:00 – 12:30 Delegates to pack up and vacate the hall
- 12:30 – 13:00 Final stowing of tables, chairs, clear-up kitchen etc.
- Please note that we need to be out before 13:00.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Roy Starkey
Hon. Life President British Micromount Society