Inspired by the fascinating story of the Earth, I entered Crewe & Alsager College in 1974 to become a geology teacher. Dave Scott and Dave Beesley were the principle lecturers at the College. In 1990 Yvonne James, Paul Wignall and myself founded Craven & Pendle Geological Society. Though our membership is small, we have been active for 20 years now. Our thanks to the many speakers who have supported us over the years.

List of Publications

In Press: Cargill Gilston Knott - mathematician, physicist & seismologist
Biographical Portraits Vol.VII, 2010 (Ed. Sir Hugh Cortazzi).
Published by the Japan Society

John Milne - the man who mapped the shaking earth.
ISBN 978-0-9555289-0-3
Published by Craven & Pendle Geological Society (2007)
Book Review by Professor Paul Wignall, University of Leeds.

Donovan, S. K., Lewis, D. N. and Kabrna, P. (2006). A Dense Epizoobiontic Infestation of a Lower Carboniferous Crinoid (Amphoracrinus gilbertsoni Phillips) by Oichnus paraboloides Bromley. Ichnos 13: 1 - 3

Donovan, S. K., Lewis, D. N. and Kabrna, P. (2005). An unusual crinoid-coral association from the Lower Carboniferous of Clitheroe, Lancashire. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, 55, Part 4, 301-304

Wignall, P. B. and Kabrna, P. (1994). The Carboniferous (Namurian and Westphalian) of the Cliviger Valley, Todmorden. Scrutton, C.T. (editor) Yorkshire Rocks and Landscape, p. 84-91, Maryport, Ellenbank Press.

Kabrna, P. and Learoyd, D. H. (1990). Dinantian rocks of the Craven Basin. North East Lancashire Group of the Geologists’ Association, Vol. 3, Pt. 10, No. 27

Kabrna, P. (1990). Salt subsidence in the Wilkesley Halite west of Sandbach and a visit to Meadowbank Salt Mine. North East Lancashire Group of the Geologists’ Association, Volume 3, Pt. 10, No. 27

Kabrna, P. (1981). The Cheshire Saltfield. North East Lancashire Group of the Geologists’ Association, Vol. 3, Pt. 1, No. 18

Field Trip Guide For Other Organisations

Huddersfield Geology Group
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Pendle Grit Formation and Clitheroe Limestone Complex (Carboniferous) of the Craven Basin.
Guides: Paul Kabrna and Phil Robinson B.Sc.

Liverpool Geological Society
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Carboniferous geology of the Pendle Hill area.
Guides: Paul Kabrna and Ian Kane Ph.D. (University of Leeds)

Westmorland Geological Society
Sunday, 15 July 2007
Malham.
Guides: Paul Kabrna and Jon Barber Ph.D. (University of Leeds)

Sunday, 27 September 2008
Dunsop Bridge: Windows into the Mississippian.
Guides: Paul Kabrna and Jon Barber Ph.D. (University of Leeds)

Lancashire's Red Rose

Lancashire's Red Rose is an official variety, known as the Red Rose of Lancashire, but it is more accurately the Red Rose of Lancaster. It is thought to have been developed from a cross between Rosa "Canina" (the wild English rose) and Rosa "Damascena" (originally brought to Europe during the Crusades in the 13th Century).

Extracts from Hilliers Manual of Trees and Shrubs gives "Officinalis" (R. officinalis), the "Red Rose of Lancaster" a small shrub producing richly fragrant, semi-double, rosy crimson flowers with prominent yellow anthers. An old rose known in cultivation since at least 1310.

Its petals retain their fragrance even when dried and powdered and gave rise to a once important industry in preserves and confections. It is also known as the "Apothecary's Rose". It was cultivated for its medicinal values; it is sometimes referred to as the "Old Red Damask".

The Red Rose at Lancaster has a tang and distinguished history which is intertwined with tt'rat at the House of Lancaster, the War of the Roses, the Monarchy, the County Palatine of Lancaster and the development of the County of Lancashire.

It was first adopted as an heraldic devke by Edmund, First Earl of Lancaster and became the emblem of Lancashire, and of England as a whole, following the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

In more modern times in France and Flanders, during the 1914/18 War and in the Campaign in Belgium and France 1939/40, the 55th (West Lancashire) Territorial Division wore the Lancaster Rose on their shoulder flashes as their Divisional Sign and had the motto "They win or die, who wear the Rose of Lancaster". One of the original "Flashes" worn by troops of the 55th (West Lancashire) Division can be seen today, framed and with an accompanying plaque, just off the main bar in the Hesketh Arms, Botanic Road, Churchtown, Southport, Lancashire - (01704) 227084.

"Rosa Gallica Officinalis" can be seen in the herbaceous border near the Shire Hall entrance to Lancaster Castle, at Pendle Heritage Gardens, Barrowford. Nr. Nelson in East Lancashire, Ashton Memorial, Williamson Park, Lancaster, Glebe Gardens, Nr. St. Peter's Church, Heysham, Lancashire, and Levens Hall Gardens in Westmorland. There are intentions to plant up more gardens in Lancaster itself.

The time for new "bare rooted" plantings of the Red Rose of Lancaster is between October and March. Tub grown bushes can, of course, be planted any time of the year when the soil is workable.