The Grizzly Bears - the dining club of the geologists of the Geological Survey of Scotland. 1869.

The Grizzly Bears - the dining club of the geologists of the Geological Survey of Scotland. Their first meeting was in Dejay's Hotel in Edinburgh on February 16th 1869 and they continued up to 1970. The records of the dinners are held in the three volume 'Dinner Books', an amazing informal record of the songs, recitations, sketches and other ephemera relating to activities at the dinners. The usually humorous songs and recitations were written by the geologists themselves and they relate to geology, their work, and life in the Geological Survey.

Dining clubs were common in late-Victorian Britain. A dining club based in London for the England and Wales staff of the Survey was called 'The Royal Hammerers'. 

Note the Grizzly Bear at the head of the table - he is holding a geological hammer - no doubt to call order!

Bob McIntosh

Geological Survey of Scotland staff on the steps of Sherriff Court, Edinburgh



BGS image ID: P008688

Early group photograph, Geological Survey of Scotland staff, from left to right H. Miller, B.N. Peach, W. Gunn, L.W. Hinxman, [Unknown]  sitting on steps, unknown.

BGS image ID: P008720

Later group photograph of eight Geological Survey of Scotland staff including H. Miller, L.W. Hinxman, B.N. Peach, J. Horne and J. Dakyns. 

These two photographs were taken on the steps of Sherriff Court in Edinburgh, the home to the Geological Survey of Scotland between 1879 and 1906. Perhaps these two pictures were taken on those two dates. The third photograph: The other residents!

BGS image ID: P008690

Sharing the offices with the Geological Survey at Sherriff Court, Edinburgh were the Sherriff's attendants in full regalia - I wonder if this was everyday dress for them.

Bob McIntosh