Memories of the Ver- A collection of stories and poetry about the Ver
Ver Valley Fossils
( Ilustration to be added)
The fossil illustrated here is the third of its kind I have found in the fields close to the Ver as it flows on its way through Redbourn Parish.
I found the first when, as a fourteen year old schoolboy, I was one of group of local lads employed by Farmer Weir at Redbournbury for the potato gathering season. It was hard work, but great fun, and we did the work in schooltime – and even got paid for it; very welcome in 1953.
My classmate Graham and myself took our find to the science teacher at school, but he showed little interest, and we left school not so long after without getting this intriguing find back. However, I did remember its curious heart shaped form, and the lovely patterns on it.
Thirty plus years later, when looking for a stray golf ball in the field to the north of Luton Lane, close to Redbourn Golf Club’s par three course, I found another almost identical fossil.
This time we researched it as a family project, and found that our fossil was formed in the chalk laid down on a tropical sea bed in the Cretaceous Formations, some one hundred and twenty million years ago. It is an echinoid (sea urchin) known as a micraster, and was formed when sediments entered the dead creature’s shell-like casing and solidified to form a solid cast, called a “test” by palaeontologists.
Just a few weeks ago, when walking towards Fiars Wash (M I Jnc. 9) along the Ver Colne footpath to check river flows, I found my third example of this still intriguing object, which has prompted these notes. What, I wonder, can it tell us about the conditions in those remotely far off days.
If there is anyone out there who can tell us more about these ancient objects, or who has found other fossils in the Ver valley, do please get in touch with us. Perhaps the findings could form the subject matter for a future open meeting speaker.
Reference British Cretaceous Echinoids, Smith & Wright, Palaeontographical Society 1989-2000.
Peter Fox- March 08.
TO THE VER, VERLAM OR MUSE
by Duncan Gardiner
Over to you my Muse! My humble verse
Convert to veritable poetry
Conversant with your lengthy history,
Conversely, as your very length is, terse.
Once your names were several. How perverse,
To discover such versatility.
Old maps aver that you are Muse or Lea,
Others Mure, Verlume, Verolam or, worse,
Verlum. Strip maps name you for Michael’s mill;
One plan, severely, “The River”. Some own
You as the one true Colne. Some too clever,
Sever you from names. We however will
Revere our Muse, lovers of mills and bourn
And ever verdant verges of the Ver.
THE RIVER
by Valerie Bloom
The river’s a wanderer, a nomad, a tramp.
He doesn't choose any one place to set up his camp.
The river’s a winder, through valley and hill.
He twists and he turns, he just cannot be still.
The river’s a hoarder and he buries down deep
Those little treasures that he wants to keep.
The river’s a baby, he gurgles and hums
And sounds like he’s happily sucking his thumbs.
The river’s a singer, as he dances along
The countryside echoes the notes of his song.
The river’s a monster, hungry and vexed
He’s gobbled up trees and he’ll swallow you next.
(This poem is not necessarily about the Ver!)
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