June 2009 page 31
Patrick Powers

The BSS photographic competition 2008-9

A report on the society's 2008-9 photographic competition, announcing the winner, Mike Cowham, and runners-up. It details the judging process and criteria and showcases several of the winning and highly-rated entries, while also noting the competition will become biennial.
The BSS and Members

September 2009 page 38
Patrick Powers

The BSS photocompetition 2008-09: The conference vote

Describes the introduction of a 'Conference Vote' for the BSS Photocompetition, allowing members to choose their favourite entries alongside the formal judging panel. The article details the voting method and presents the results, noting that the members' choice for first place mirrored the judges' decision.
The BSS and Members

June 2008 page 95
Patrick Powers

Photographic Competition 2007

This article reports on the 2007 BSS Photographic Competition, detailing the judging process, scoring criteria, and the results. John Davis's 'Ship's Time' won first place, with Mike Isaacs and John Lester as runners-up. It encourages members to participate in the upcoming 2008 competition.
The BSS and Members

March 2007 page 18
Patrick Powers

Beccles—an epilogue ‘milestone’

This note follows up on a previous discussion regarding curious holes in the lettering of an old dial at Beccles Church. It reports on a milestone discovered 20 miles from Bury St Edmunds where a similar technique (holes for lead infill) was used, with some lead still in place.
Historical Dials

March 2007 page 45
Patrick Powers

Book review

Patrick Powers reviews the 'Catalogue of the Fixed Dials of Austria – 2006 (3rd edition),' edited by Karl Schwazinger. The review highlights the catalogue's comprehensive coverage of over 3500 dials, its German language, and the included CD-ROM version with HTML-based content and PDF explanations.
Book Reviews, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

June 2007 page 56
Patrick Powers

BSS Photographic Competition 2006

This report details the 2006 British Sundial Society Photographic Competition, noting a record entry, high standards, and the judging criteria. It announces Paul Shaw as the overall winner and Ian Butson and David Hawker as second and third prize recipients respectively, also commending seven other photographs.
The BSS and Members

June 2007 page 63
Patrick Powers

Chatsworth and our Chairman...

This article recounts the discovery of an unrecorded horizontal sundial at Chatsworth House, initially prompted by a film, and reveals that BSS Chairman Chris Daniel had photographed it 30 years prior but not recorded it. It highlights the importance of Peter Baxandall's observation.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

September 2007 page 123
Patrick Powers

The Strange Case of Half a Motto

This article describes an unrecorded, vertically split sundial on St Andrew's Church, Kenn, Devon, with its left half missing. Only a partial date (??83) and motto fragment (...eagum) are visible, which doesn't match known mottoes. The author seeks help from members to solve this mystery and complete the record.
Historical Dials, Mottoes

December 2007 page 191
Patrick Powers

Obituary: Margaret Wilson Stanier

This obituary commemorates Margaret Wilson Stanier (1919-2007), a distinguished physiologist and former Editor of the British Sundial Society Bulletin. It highlights her academic career at Oxford, Makerere College, and Cambridge, her scientific publications, her involvement with the Newnham College observatory, and her various hobbies including bell-ringing and botanical interests. It emphasizes her significant contributions to gnomonics, joining the BSS in 1990, editing the Bulletin with rigor, and writing seminal monographs on Oxford and Cambridge dials.
The BSS and Members

February 2006 page 20
Hal Brandmaier
Tony Wood
Patrick Powers
Doug Bateman
Norman Darwood

Readers’ Letters

This section contains various reader contributions. Hal Brandmaier and Tony Wood discuss vector methods for sundial delineation. Patrick Powers and Douglas Bateman exchange views on a longitude error on the Kew Garden Cross Dial inscription. Norman Darwood briefly comments on the potential effects of changes in Earth's rotation on sundials.
Dials: Horizontal, Mathematics of Dialling, Equation of Time

June 2005 page 63
Patrick Powers

Reader’s Letter

Letter recommending WinEphem software for calculating moon transit times useful for moondials. Notes features such as rise/set/transit data and accuracy for dialling purposes.
Dialling Tools, Dials: Nocturnals

June 2005 page 64
Patrick Powers

The Curious Holes in the St Michael’s Church Dial, Beccles

Investigation of unusual rows of holes in a declining painted dial partially obscured by a church clock. Considers possible purposes such as securing plaster or transfer of design, raising questions about early construction methods.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

September 2005 page 119
Patrick Powers

The Holes and History of the Beccles Church Dial

This article examines the history and features of the Beccles Church Dial, focusing on the holes in the stonework. The author notes that the date of its installation is unknown and corrects a previous suggestion about its history using old church accounts.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

June 2004 page 69
Patrick Powers

Reflections on True North, Large Dials and the Apparent Sun

Discussion on the challenges of aligning large sundials to true north, focussing on accuracy and discrepancies in tools to calculate solar azimuth
Dialling Tools, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2003 page 145
Patrick Powers

Finding True North by Compass in 1927–40

Extracts and commentary from a 1940 British military manual on map reading, with practical relevance for aligning sundials using compass and astronomical techniques.