Cover of the 1st Issue of the Rockwatch magazine published Spring 1992.
The Magazine Over the Years
When was the first issue of the Rockwatch magazine published, and what was in it?
Peter: The first issue was published in Spring 1992, over 33 years ago!!! That issue had an amazing article on the dawn of the dinosaurs written by world-famous vertebrate palaeontologist Mike Benton. There was also an interview with the legendary broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, who collected fossils as a boy, pictured handing over a Rockwatch Membership card to 18-year-old member Chris Martin (who will be at least 50 now!). Under the title ‘things to do’, there was a chance to ‘make your own magma’, which sounds great, as well as a first article in the magazine from our long-standing editor Susanna Van Rose. My own first article came in issue 2, Summer 1992, on fossil preservation!
Can you tell us about some of the standout highlights from the last 100 issues?
Covers from some previous issues of the Rockwatch Magazine.
Peter: There are so many! We have had articles that include famous geologists as well as Rockwatchers themselves, all of them really important. What is great is that in Rockwatch, we have articles that look at all aspects of geology. This means that as editors and readers we are really getting the best and most up-to-date stories about this amazing science. Some interesting highlights from the early days are the geology of the Channel Tunnel which wasn’t finished when the article was written in Summer 1993; Roger Mason telling us about his adventures finding one of Britain’s rarest fossils (Charnia masoni)(Spring 1994), and Martin Litherland searching for Inca gold in the Andes (Summer 1996).
Of the geological adventures you’ve written about in the magazine, which have been the most memorable and why?
James sat on a dinosaur footprint at Hanover Point, Isle of Wight in 2017
James: One of my recent favourites is a feature I wrote for the magazine a few years ago, even before I became a science editor! The article was focussed on the Eocene sea snails I used to find in a small stream bed in a forest in southern England, where I grew up. I have a particular fondness for those fossils as they were the reason I studied geology and ultimately became a geologist! I also had the privilege of having a couple of my winning Rockstar entries published in Rockwatch magazine over 20 years ago, when I was a member. That gave me great satisfaction and is something the current Rockwatch membership can aspire to as well!
You’re both professional geologists. How did you get involved with editing the Rockwatch magazine, and what inspired you to take on this role?
A young James and his ammonite find on his first trip to Charmouth Dorset in the 1990s
James: I have always wanted to give something back to the club I was a member of as a child. Rockwatch played a huge role in my successful career as a geologist. Even before becoming a science editor, I enjoyed writing the odd article for Rockwatch magazine from time to time. It also presented the perfect opportunity to combine two of my passions – geology and writing. So, when Peter asked me if I would be interested in taking on the role when (former long-standing science editor) Susanna van Rose stepped down, I jumped at the chance! Two magazines in and I’m really enjoying it too!
How do you decide what goes into each issue? What’s the editorial process like?
James: Peter and I frequently travel around to different parts of the country and even the world, during our holidays and as part of our jobs, so we always have plenty of inspiration to write about. Ahead of writing the articles for each issue, we meet with the publisher (Seabury Salmon) to discuss potential ideas we have. These don’t just include articles from us either – we are fortunate enough to also receive contributions from other scientists and even the Rockwatch membership too. Winning Rockstar entries form great magazine features. This is a great thing for the Rockwatch membership to aspire to – there is nothing more satisfying than seeing your hard work published in print for everyone to see! Once we have the articles which will form the next magazine issue, Peter and I will edit each other’s articles. It always helps to have a fresh pair of eyes! We then send on the articles and accompanying images to Seabury (the publisher), who puts the magazine together with the materials we give him.
Plans for the Future
What geological topics would you like to include in future issues and why?
James: When I was studying geology, I soon realised that there was no substitute for getting into the great outdoors and visiting some classic geological localities. Therefore, we are planning to start a series in Rockwatch magazine focused on ‘must see’ geological locations in the British Isles. So you, the Rockwatch membership, can learn about and visit some of the best geological localities in our wonderful country! As a keen fossil collector, I’m personally looking forward to sharing some of my favourite fossil hunting localities. But we will also be covering localities where you can see certain geological landforms and structures, as well as igneous and metamorphic rocks!
We’d like to say a huge thank you to our Science Editors Peter Doyle and James Barnet; former Editor Susanna van Rose; former Chair Susan Brown; to Seabury Salmon for brilliant design and production; and to the many wonderful contributors over the years—including our talented young Rockwatch members. Keep an eye out for the next issue, coming your way in December 2025!
