The Natural Stone Institute, which is intended to replace the Scottish Stone Liaison Group (SSLG) in due course, held its first annual general meeting in September in Prince Street, Ediburgh.

During the meeting Andrew McMillan, CGeol, FGS, who has been acting Convenor of the Institute since its launch last year, was given a vote of confidence and asked to continue in the position. Alan McKinney, chief executive of SSLG, was elected secretary of the Institute. The rules and bye-laws were approved by the meeting.

There were two presentations accompanying the AGM: Professor G Benson spoke about the new extension to the National Museum of Scotland and John Sutherland from Caithness Stone Industries explained the innovative way in which stone is being used in new build.

John Sutherland explained how had tackled the problem of \'waste\' by turning it into usable product and gave a case history of a house built using Caithness stone on all external elements - walls, roof, quoins, cills, steps, lintels, facings... even the driveway was laid out in Caithness setts.

Inside, the stone was used as floor borders, wall tiles, worktops, a breakfast bar, and a kitchen cooker base.

In a lively question session a lot of interest was expressed at the innovative ways the stone had been used in the house.