The first piece of news is that we have a Web Site (through the kind offices of member Phil Barrett) Please consult on a regular basis for items of news etc.

With great sorrow we have to announce the untimely death of Robina McNeil, the County Archaeologist for Greater Manchester, on the 28th July 2007. She had been a good friend of Saddleworth Archaeological Trust and we will miss her. A Memorial service for her was held in Manchester Cathedral on Friday 26th October and David Chadderton and Ken Booth attended on behalf of the Trust.

Earlier this year Norman Redhead, the Assistant County Archaeologist for Greater Manchester, was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London . This is the premier national society of this country for archaeologist and it is a great honour to be elected. Our congratulations go to Norman.

It has recently been announced that Norman has been appointed County Archaeologist for Greater Manchester and Director of the Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit. Again our congratulations to Norman.

Accompanying this Newsletter is the Programme Card for 2008. We hope that you will find the range of subjects interesting. The Third JOHN BUCKLEY lecture in March maintains it’s Industrial Archaeology theme and in April we have invited back, by popular demand, Dr. Donnelly who is to give us a further presentation  on Saddleworth’s  Landscape for those people who missed his excellent lecture in 2007. In July we hope to organise another One Day School based at the Castleshaw Centre in Delph. The proposed theme is the Geology and Occupation of the Castleshaw Valley. November is the month of the Stonehouse Lecture and we have been fortunate to engage the services of Dr. John Peter Wild, Research Fellow in the University of Manchester, to deliver a lecture with an Egyptian theme. (title not yet decided). Also in November Dr. Richard Gregory of the Department of Archaeology, University of Manchester will give a presentation telling us of his excavations in Roman Manchester. We end the year with an illustrated talk by Norman Redhead who will tell us of Castles in Greater Manchester including the recent work that has been carried out at Buckton Castle.

In an effort to keep down expenditure it is hoped that we can make more use of our Web Site and ask members with access to it to view future Newsletters on line rather than have one sent by post. Members with no access will still receive it by mail.

Enclosed is a Membership Renewal form for 2008. We look forward to your continued support in the work that the Trust carries out in protecting the rich Archaeological Heritage of Saddleworth. It is important that this work is kept alive and recorded for future generations.