A brief history of the Freelance Geological Association (FGA), 1948–1967

The Freelance Geological Association (FGA) (1948–1967), formerly Society, was a group of amateurs based in south and south-east London. Enthusiastic early members founded the FGA shortly after World War Two, and defined its direction and form. The original driving interests were caving and fieldwork. At that time there were many quarries that were still working and a few discarded underground mines, popularly known as caves, which were still accessible close to south London, in Kent, Sussex and Surrey. Gault Clay and London Clay pits (for brick and tile manufacture), and tips from the deep mines of the Kent coalfield were still easily accessible, as were quarries in Cretaceous chalk. The FGA thrived on fieldwork (including caving), public exhibitions, frequent indoor meetings at members’ houses and scientific publication. A strength of the group was the stratigraphy and palaeontology of south-east England, particularly the Cretaceous and Tertiary. Members developed specialist interests, such as the Gault, its ammonites and their stratigraphy; various aspects of archaeology; and the systematics of fossil crustaceans. They also forged links with other experts. The Proceedings (later Journal) of the FGA was a vehicle for publication of the research and observations of the membership, which, unfortunately, only a few fully exploited. Nevertheless, these few included several who developed into active members of the Geologists’ Association, and contributors to its Proceedings and/or field meetings.