Editorial

Words have been written in this space before now on the
desirability of maintaining some sort of balance in the B.B. between the varied
subjects appearing in it.  What we would
like to see each month is a nice blend of serious articles on caving, climbing,
archaeology and other types of scientific nature, mixed with lighter articles
and humour.  As it is, we have to print
whatever members and others send us and although we try to ration out the
material we have, so that too much of anyone type of article does not appear in
any one B.B., we cannot always do this. At the moment, we are getting rather too few of the more serious types
of contribution and hence the B.B. is becoming unbalanced.  We would sooner continue to print original
articles, than have to rely on reprinting from old B.B.’s or other sources, so
please, blokes, send in a few learned dissertations for the general uplift of
the B.B.

” Alfie. ”

Caving Log

Archaeology

Keith Gardner, our tame Archaeologist, is the Secretary of
the Clevedon arid District Archaeological Society, and sends us this note,
which may be of interest to readers of the B.E.C..

Cadbury Camp, Yatton

Excavation will commence on the morning of Saturday 9th May
(O.S. Grid Ref. ST/440.650.)  The camp
occupies the summit of a limestone hill, is defended by a double (?) line of
ditch and bank, and is presumably early Iron Age in date.

Many Roman remains have been discovered round the hill, and
in 1877, a Roman burial, a coin, Samian Ware, Castor Ware, and roofing tiles
were found on the North side of the hilltop. The latter particularly, were regarded as suggestive of the presence of
a substantial building.

An attempt will be made to locate this building, and also to
gain evidence of the Iron Age occupation, by making a series of small cuttings
over a large area.

Work will continue over May and early June, and arrangements
can be made for those wishing to camp. Facilities are available for those who would like to fly the site.  The cost will be 7/6 per person.

Letter to the Editor

U.S.S.R. Siberian Salt & Nut
Factory,
Spelaeological Society,
Siberial,
Russial.

Dera Sur,

With regard to the letter published in the B.B. from the
Kornish Kave Klub, I would like to clear up the darkness regarding the
ownership of the cave in question.  In
the manner of the imperialistic clubs throughout the world, this club is guilty
of enticing away of the cave from the U.S.S.R. Only three months ago, a party of cavers from the above factory went out
in the usual weekend way to spend their leisure hours in this old established

Russian
Cave and found to their horror that it
had gone.

We believe that it was coaxed and cajoled away by means of
subversive propaganda regarding lighting and concrete floors and hope that it
will be returned to us without delay. Will you please therefore send our cave back parcel post at your
convenience, within the next week or so. We hope to receive it in good condition, that is, without damage caused
by the bloated capitalist boots of your members.  If, however any damage is found on
inspection, we shall claim through the Cave Insurance Co of the U.S.S.R.  The Red Flag for ever, Up Checkov.

I am, sur,
The Servant of the state,
Ivan Ivanovitch Ivanovitchsky Popolofshichechipolishzxi.

The above letter, in spite of its formidable signature,
comes in fact from Anne Gardner

The K.K.K.

The letter last month from the Kornish Kave Klub seems to
have provoked the young ladies of our club to reply.  Here are letters received from two of them,
one on the previous page:-

The Editor, Belfry Bulletin.

Ignoring Mr. Dawe’s remarks about the origin of St.
Cuthbert’s Swallet, which are absurd, I must protest at the slighting reference
to ‘faithless Englishwomen’ in his recent letter.  (Incidentally, the word “English” is written
with a capital E and Mr. Dawe may like to note the shape of this letter, which
is obviously new to him.

Englishwomen are usually faithful to their menfolk, and Mr.
Dawe should not generalise from a particular case.  Any unfortunate English maiden espoused to a
Kornish Cing, and no doubt tormented by piskeys, should not be blamed if she
prefers to return to her natural level of culture and elope with one who
reminds her of a worthy Englishman.

The conditions in the small territory across the rivulet
whose name escapes me at present, but which debouches (*) into Plymouth, may be
imagined from its place-names, such as Hells Town, Lost-with-all, and Foulmouth
which still survive in a modified form.

Kornwall is notorious for its wild animals, which have
remained wild since they were first included in the rites of the furry
dance.  If Cing Arthur refused even to be
buried there, he could scarcely expect his wife to live amongst those primitive
and uneducated barbarians, next door to the Untied States.

It is surely not praiseworthy to accept inferior standards
when one can raise oneself to a better level and I feel that Guinevere was
fully justified in her flight towards a less rude domicile.     

Yours Respectfully,
Jill Rollason.

(*) Debouch. c.f. Debauch, v.t. Debauchery n.  These words became confused by the Early
English who came frequently into contact with the Trans-Tamarian aborigines.

Personal

We hear on good authority that JOHN LAMB will shortly be
back amongst us for a visit.

Mervyn Hannam was recently married, Ian Dear acting as best
man.  Congratulations, Merv.

SID HOBBS has offered to make a collection of limericks for
the club.  If any member thinks they know
one that Sid won1t have heard, he would be obliged if they would get in touch.

Committee Meeting

The April Meeting of the B.E.C. Committee gave Mo their
permission to continue to buy lamps and spares from the cash already
received.  This will ensure that a supply
of these is always available.  An offer
has been received for the making of club car and bike badges which will be
taken up.  The doors are now fitted to
the kitchen cupboards.  It was agreed to
urge the obtaining of mains water for the Belfry.  Nigel Clarke and Rowena Lewis were elected as
full members of the club.

Sonnet

For full a dozen years I’ve often
sat
Beside Ben’s table in the cavers bar.
Played Hunter’s Bridge on it, or stood a jar
Of ale to rest upon its surface flat.
With Beer and Screech t’was impregnated deep
No wood worm could attack its innards tough
Around it we would play at Card’nal Puff
While Johnny Lamb would underneath it creep.
Alas!  Last week a dreadful thing befell.

Quite suddenly, for everyone to see
The table split across from A to B,
Upsetting glasses, bods and booze as well.
I wonder if the table’s final role
Will be to act as shoring in a hole?

Odd Reminders

Lamp spares are now on sale at the Belfry.  Apply to the Hut Warden for details.

The club’s offer of free colour file for taking pictures of
caves for the club’s use still stands. The club will also pay half the cost of a film taken on a
one-for-me-and-one-¬for-the-club basis. Impecunious gentlemen will have to make their own arrangements with Mr.
Bagshaw about the cost of flashbulbs.

The club tent is available for hire by the weekend or longer
periods.  Norman Petty is the chap to see
about this.

HAVE YOU PAID YOUR SUB???  SEND IT STRAIGHT TO BOB.

*****************************************

The Belfry Bulletin. S.J. Collins, 33
Richmond Terrace,
Clifton,

Bristol
8.
Secretary.  R.J. Bagshaw,

699 Wells Road,
Knowle,

Bristol
4.