Sarah Caffyn
‘I wanted to get in touch with you to thank you for the most interesting and inspiring hours that Tom and I had with you last Sunday – you gave us both a wonderful insight into a completely new field and judging from the tapping and chipping that has been going on in the kitchen ever since, a new area of inquiry and intrigue has come into our home. Thank you too for bringing down all your specimens – a very useful way of consolidating what we had learnt and found – still hard to believe that we have such a rich source of interest so close by!’
Guy Wilkinson
‘Dear Roy. I am just writing to say thank you SOOO much for a fantastic fossil hunt yesterday. EVERYONE myself included had an absolutely AMAZING day and it was ALL that the children could talk about today!! They all seem to have bought the entire rock face into school with them and the parents and children were still excited even this morning. I seem to have been deluged with photographs from parents and they are ALL asking when the next hunt will be!!! When I have compiled all of the photographs I will send you a copy. It was a truly wonderful day and it seemed like we order the weather as well. I look forward to seeing you again soon.’
Penny Ollosson
‘Hi Roy, I just wanted to let you know what a huge hit you were with my class yesterday. So many of the children say it was the best trip they’ve ever been on and parents have been seeking me out today to say what a fantastic time their children had. This was the last school trip I shall arrange as I am leaving class teaching at the end of term. Thank you for playing a significant role in my ‘swan song’ and for confirming in the minds of all that children learn best from: first hand experience; knowledgeable enthusiasts; enjoyment and their local environment. Many Rottingdean families will be visiting Cow Gap in the next few weeks.’
Rosi Viljoen
‘Hi Roy, Just wanted to send you a really BIG thank you for taking us Fossil hunting on Sunday. Despite the weather we had an amazing time. The kids were so enthusiastic about it, and having been telling all their friends at school, (Good PR for you!). Really, it was great and cant recommend it highly enough! You would go down a storm in the local primary schools as a ‘guest speaker’!!’
Sarah Edge
‘Dear Roy, I would like to thank you for a really most enjoyable day at Beachy Head and for all your care and attention to arrangements that made it possible. All members of the family, from youngest to oldest were really enthusiastic and unanimously agreed that it was one of the best days out ever! I particularly appreciated your strategy of delayed gratification – the leaving to the end the finding of the pyrite treasure trove! I am convinced that this kind of outing is really important for children (and indeed adults) and helps them to learn persistence and patience, encourages them to look closely at the natural world around them and enhances their sense of wonder when things are found. I have seen the photos and they are am excellent memento of the day. So a warm thank you from me and or best wishes to you and your wife for the coming arrival in June.’
Peter Balm
‘Hello Roy, thank you and Rob so much for a superb introduction into fossil hunting we so much appreciated both of your efforts in helping us find so many fossils which was far and beyond our expectations. We all had a wonderful afternoon, coming away with a greater knowledge and understanding of fossils and fossil hunting and the want to go on more fossil hunts as soon as possible. I very much appreciate Rob’s generosity in giving Alex the large Ammonite he found, Alex could not stop talking about it on the drive home and the wonderful experience he had. Alex summed up all of our thoughts of the fossil hunt very adequately “It’s the best day out I have ever had”. Thank you Roy for your excellent communications and arrangements you made for us all giving us an experience we will never forget.’
Caroline Woods
‘I just wanted to send a BIG thank you for the wonderful day on Tuesday. The children loved it – and can’t stop talking about it! They are also very proud of their fossils, and by the sound of it will be taking their parents back down there in half term! So thank you very much for all you patience, expertise and enthusiasm. It was a wonderful day and really brought history alive for them.’
Corey Fowler
‘Am currently in Edinburgh and the poor fellow who took me to the airport yesterday had to listen to me yammering on about fossil hunting… gosh, it is so much fun…wish I had been able to do it my whole life… Anyway, thanks a million for taking us. You are such a wealth of information and don’t act bored at all even though you must be tired of talking about it at times!’
Helen Short
‘A very belated thank you for a wonderful day. We all had a great time, and have been looking at, and talking about all the fossils that were collected. All the kids were inspired, and I am sure that we will do it again soon. Please let me know if you would like any contributions from the children for your website. We would definitely recommend it.’
Nathalie Mineau
‘I wanted to thank you for the lovely day the children spend with you yesterday. My son Lucas came back from the trip yesterday with a box full of shells and great memories. Thank you again. Their teacher Caroline was full of praise for all the hard work you have put into it and your ability to make their whole experience fun. I am very sad I could not make it but am sure Lucas will want to take me back to the beach very soon.’
Jane Gaines
‘Thanks for a wonderful day yesterday. It was so interesting and fun; I can’t say I’m tired of ammonites yet, and I’m so thrilled with what I was able to find yesterday.’
Sam Lucas
‘Just a quick thank you for such a great day. When you know what to look for and why a day on the beach is so much more interesting. The verdict from my son and his friend was “as good as Diggerland” which is high praise indeed.’
Timothy Byard-Jones
‘Just wanted to say thanks for running such an enjoyable fossil hunt on Saturday – my daughter and I both enjoyed it immensely. It was great having such a knowledgeable and approachable expert on hand to help point out locations and identify finds.’
Clare Blades
‘I just wanted to thank you for a fantastic day fossil hunting. Our party included a wide range of ages – from four to mid-60s – and everyone commented on what a great time they had had. The day was well-organised and very informative. We were delighted with the fossils we found and the enthusiasm with which you taught us about them.’
Julie Constain
‘Thank you so much Roy, we had a brilliant time on our fossil hunt. Aeden has proudly shown friends and family the new additions to his collection. Thank you also for your offer of assistance with the project and we may have taken you up on that but the deadline was close and we had almost finished anyway. We handed it in yesterday and it has been very well received by all, I’ll let you know what mark he gets! Your assistance on our fossil hunt was integral to the section on ‘how to find a fossil’ so you actually did help already. Thanks again for a great day, best wishes.’
Annie Honjo
‘I want to say thank you for such a great day. It was a superb kick-off to my five days in Dorset, definitely a holiday to remember. I have spent hundreds of pounds flying to exotic locations where I have admittedly also had a good time, but this short break has been truly memorable. Thank you once again, for a great day that I will not forget in a hurry. I am determined to do another fossil-hunting day sometime in the future, perhaps in a different location.’
Matt Starling
‘Just a quick note to say thank you very much for a really enjoyable and interesting day. I was really impressed with the way you, and Lucinda, were able to pass on such a depth of knowledge, whether to an inquisitive five year old or to someone much older! You have certainly motivated us to go fossil hunting again soon and we’ll keep an eye on your website to do another day with you.’
Gary Davis
‘Thanks for this info and the photo. We had a great time with you on Sat. It was a bit hot that day for our son Justin, who has Autism, but he coped very well, given that and the length of time. We certainly would recommend you to others and we will consider it next year for Justin’s birthday. I am sure we will be coming with you again in the future, thank you so much for the information and hands on experience. Its also nice to mix with friendly likeminded people. Your safety was excellent. It was a lot of fun. We were worn out on our return, it must keep you very fit!’