SAGT CONFERENCE 2005

Conference convenor Val Vannet had assembled an impressive day of seminars, lectures and speeches. This was the 35th SAGT conference, and all past presidents had been invited. I had been invited to attend about 8 months previously, and the presentation I had was planned and produced during that time and then tinkered with mercilessly right up until 2 days before the conference - perhaps because new ideas were arriving all the time throughout that period.

My visit started on Thursday the 27th, with a trip to Norwich airport. Click the banner to pay a visit too. The airport is a nice 45-50 minute drive from home, and has some useful international flights. Unfortunately they don't do flights to Exeter, which would be good - there must be a lot of demand for flights down to the SW of the country, especially as this is the base for FLYBE (hint...) (Stop Press: Exeter flights now available...)

From here, I caught a FLYBE flight to Edinburgh airport. Unfortunately, there had been a technical problem with the plane, which meant a delay of around 30 minutes, which threw all the other travel plans out of the window. Here are some of the images from the flight of landmarks I recognised as we flew along the E coast. I think the opposite side of the plane would have been better as the flight path took us out over the North Sea for much of the journey. We were apparently travelling at over 400mph and at an altitude of around 24 000' - I paid £5 to offset the Carbon Dioxide created by the flight....

Into Edinburgh Airport and onto the Shuttle Bus into the city centre of Edinburgh, past various landmarks such as Murrayfield and Fettes College. Sunny day and had there been some left luggage lockers (one of the casualties of terrorism...) I could have explored the city a little. Castle looked rather fine, as did Arthur's Seat. Just missed the train, down into Waverley and waited and waited for train to Dyce. Late leaving and had to stand for half the journey - not ideal. Got a seat as we crossed the Forth Rail Bridge. Past St. Andrews and finally across the Tay Bridge as the sun set - had I caught the earlier train as planned there would have been a better view.

The day was incredibly warm for the time of year. 'The Independent' reported the following day that Kinlochewe on the NW of Scotland had beaten the record for the highest temperature recorded on the 27th of October at 22.4°C

Very kindly fetched by Val and GeoDave. Up to the Law: monument on the hill overlooking the city and the Tay. Apparently a place where the 'yooves' hang out (and people in 'hoodies' - like Noel) The Law is around 500 feet high and is apparently an extinct volcano. Good view on a clear day. Back to Val's for evening meal, and John went off to Edinburgh to collect Noel from the airport. Drank dark Arran beer which went down rather well. Noel arrived complete with his 'hoodies'...

Out to the TAYCHREGGAN HOTEL. This is a rather splendid hotel which has the advantage of stocking over 250 malt whiskies. I got settled in with some 80 shilling and a rather fine Glenfiddich Havana Reserve, which is 21 years old and around £60 a bottle. Not that I drank a bottle, but I know what's on my Christmas list... (Stop Press: got a bottle for Christmas !)

A late night, as we had a few wee drams and looked ahead to a great weekend of networking.

Into Dundee: the city of Discovery - the city is undergoing some tremendous changes, and more are planned, including an ambitious plan to re-excavate the old docks and remove a 12 storey council office monstrosity which blocks the view of the rather fine Caird Hall. Wandered the city centre for a while, and we were impressed by the developments. A rather fine public transport system too.

Into the High School of Dundee to look around the excellent facilities, and see how the building had slowly grown into surrounding buildings, and how Val had produced a stimulating and immaculately organised Geography department. Also finally got to see one of the fabled Argos 'World Map' shower curtains, and met Val's departmental colleagues. We had lunch kindly provided by the Rector, Michael Duncan and also spoke to the Deputy Rector: Paul Tinson. The school's website also had a rather nice article about the conference - one of the few places I'd seen it reported

One third of all Scotland's Geography teachers will gather in Dundee this weekend, marking a record attendance at the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers (SAGT) annual conference.

More than 350 delegates will attend the event in Bonar Hall this Saturday, which will include seminars and speeches on the theme of "Geography: IT matters".

The event has been organised by Val Vannet, Head of Geography at the High School of Dundee, who is the current Conference Co-ordinator for the SAGT. Val said: "The event will focus on the growing importance of information technology in geography. There's never been a better time to be teaching this subject - IT is allowing us to do more and more, and is a very useful teaching tool.

"It's been an enormous piece of work to put the conference together, but I'm thrilled that we've attracted a record number of delegates. I'd like to thank everyone on the team who has worked with me to make this conference happen."

Speakers at the event will include Vanessa Lawrence, Director-General of The Ordnance Survey, and Eleanor Rawling, Subject Advisor (Geography) to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Seminars will be run by a number of eminent teachers and academics from across the UK.

The conference is in its second year of a three-year stint in Dundee, and will move to a different city in 2007. This is the second year in a row that the conference has been held in Dundee, attracting a record number of attendees on both occasions.

DISCOVERY POINT and VERDANT WORKS are 2 of the key attractions of the city. We visited the RRS Discovery at Discovery Point.

The RRS DISCOVERY is a ship which SCOTT used for an Antarctic expedition, which also featured WILSON and 'THE BOSS': SHACKLETON. It is a recommended visit. Below are some images of the ship which I took during my visit. The ship is great. There is a real sense of place and history, and I loved wandering the deck, then down below to see the Galley and crew quarters, and finally to the Officer's Mess with individual cabins for the officers.

Back into the centre for a spot of light shopping, then back to Val's to prepare for the post-conference meal which was a rather splendid spread. Drinks as people started arriving: lots of SAGT folk, including Alasdair McLelland with his outrageous ties... Food and ales with the guests, including SLNers, Vanessa Lawrence, the Director General of the Ordnance Survey, Eleanor Rawling and David Lambert.

Up early on the Saturday, and into Dundee in the drizzle to park up and cart my boxes and stuff over to the Bonar Hall to register. There was already a lot of activity by just after 8pm. Bacon sandwiches, pastries and coffee were provided for the delegates, some of whom had travelled long distances from the Shetland Isles and other outposts... Set up my room in the Baxter Suite of the Tower building, and got the AV sorted. Met up with Ollie Bray and Ian Balcombe, who were in the Tower Building along with me. Ollie was doing a session on citizenship and Ian was demonstrating work on the IWB: which was a very nice rear projection Smart Board. They were good company during the morning.

Into Bonar Hall to hear the opening remarks and the start of Vanessa Lawrence's lecture. Coffee and pastries. Back to direct people into my seminar, or Ian or Ollie's... The seminars seemed to go well, albeit too quick, and I didn't get through everything I wanted to. But then if people only use one idea from my seminar..... I shall be very upset! You can see some of the resources on the site, and others will be distributed as part of the SAGT CD series which is co-ordinated by Malcolm McDonald.

Images in this section of the page by Val Vannet. Thanks VV. Links to big pictures may work

After my 2 consecutive sessions there was time to nip into some of the other seminars, and then it was down for late lunch. Some of the delegates missed lunch so that they could catch an extra seminar - that's dedication! Down to Bonar Hall to watch David Lambert's fraternal greetings from the GA, and Eleanor Rawling's speech on the Future Curriculum. Earlier we'd heard about the plans for the Scottish CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE which will hopefully have a large Geography input.

The conference concluded with a chat to some of the delegates and exhibitors, and then in for the President's Reception surrounded by portraits of eminent folk. A few glasses of wine and chat, as presentations were made and 'offices' were transferred. Very pleasant and informal. Out onto wet cobbles, and back to West Ferry.

The evening of the conference, following tea and rather nice fruit cake was celebrated with a bit of bubbly. It had been a superb day - very positive feedback, and worth all the efforts and anticipation leading up to it.

Out for a walk past the various beaches between West Ferry and to Broughty Ferry. The Sandy beach and the Pebbly beach. We took a moment to take in the story of the Tay lifeboat which was lost at sea while attempting a rescue of the crew of a lightship. To the 'Ship Inn' in Broughty Ferry, which had a rather nice restaurant with panelling and picture windows on the first (or is it second ?) floor. Pre-prandial drinks and then an excellent meal. Everyone very pleased with their food. Back in the mizzle, as a hen do spilled out onto the streets from a nearby pub. Back for a wee dram.

The following morning was very windy, but it was out early to have a walk with the dogs into the hills above Dundee, with a view (on a clear day) to Lochnagar and Glen Clova. Goodbyes, then on the road across the Carse of Gowrie (loads of plastic greenhouses with soft fruits growing...) and towards the Forth. Went to see Frank Gehry's Maggies Centre up at the hospital. Had been to the Guggenheim in Bilbao a few months earlier, and the centre had a mini Guggenheim roof, looking like a crumpled piece of silver foil laid on top of the building. Well worth the detour.

Into Edinburgh, across the Forth bridge, and into the traffic. Along Princes Street, and down to the new Scottish parliament building, which recently won the Stirling Prize for architecture. Into the building and the debating chamber - very impressive. Out to the airport, and sat and had a coffee. A long queue at the security gates, and as I emerged through the other side heard my name being called for the last time. Had to run to the gate to avoid them taking my luggage off. Flight back was turbulent. Some great images through the window, worthy of the 'Cloud Appreciation Society'. Over the Broads, and back into the airport on schedule. Adventure over...


The Norfolk Broads	Goodbye to Norfolk - Cromer at the top of the screen...

Whitby	Wind Farm in Northumberland


Vanessa Lawrence, Director General of the Ordnance Survey	AP in full flow... or as full as it gets...