To those members who were able to attend the Annual General
Meeting and Dinner, we must apologise for taking up most of this B.B. with news
of these events.  However, since the
point was once again made at the A.G.M. that the B.B. is the main link with all
our members who live in far flung parts, we feel that a fairly full description
of the A.G.M. at any rate is justified.

“Alfie”

October Committee Meeting

The first meeting of the 1962 committee was held according
to tradition on the day after the A.G.M. The committee re-elected its officers of last year which are thus:  Committee Chairman & Hut Warden R.A.
Setterington.  Hon. Sec. & Treasurer
R..J. Bagshaw.  Caving Secretary &
B.B. Postal Dept.

C.A.
(Mo) Marriott.  Climbing Sec. A.J.
Dunn.  Hut Engineer (Spike) Rees.  Hon. Librarian J. Ifold.  Editor B.B. S.J. Collins.  New members elected were Mike and Liz
Thompson, Pete Faulkner and Pete Blogg has become a life member.  Other matters dealt with included the Belfry
floor; the window frames; the new staplers; the Belfry drainage scheme; the new
Cuthbert’s entrance; the library list; Cuthbert’s leaders; the map for the
Belfry; the Cuthbert’s phones and the club tent.

Financial Statement for the year to the 31st August 1961

The A.G.M

A quorum, was reached at 2.55 pm at which time the meeting
started.  Dan Hasell was unanimously
elected Chairman.  “Pongo”
Wallis, “Prew” Pritchard and Frank Darbon volunteered to act as tellers,
for the ballot, and the minutes of the 1960 Annual General Meeting were read
and adopted.

The Hon. Secretary gave his report.  In a brief statement he announced that we had
27 new members during the year, but that the paid up membership of the club
had, in fact, dropped by two to the number of 110.  He mentioned that the Charterhouse Caving Area
appeared to be working out with little practical restriction on caving
activities.

The Hon. Treasurer reviewed the club’s finances.  A financial, statement will be found on page
one of this B.B.  He pointed out that the
deficits shown against Caving Reports and club ties were due to stocks in hand,
and that these items should show a small profit by the next meeting.

The results of the ballot were then announced.  The club committee is unchanged from last
year.  “Spike” asked how many
members had, in fact, voted.  The
Chairman replied that 33 members had.  It
was agreed that this represented a low poll.

The Caving Secretary then gave his report.  There had been an increase in caving with 230
entries in the club log.  There had been
a large number of visitor’s trips arranged down Cuthbert’s and the new entrance
was well on its way to being completed. The club had taken some part on six digs on Mendip.

The Climbing Secretary announced that there had been five
organised trips to
North Wales and that climbing
in the Avon Gorge had been well attended on most Thursdays throughout the
summer months.  He reported that an
attempt to organise a climbing log had not met with much success.

The Tackle Officer reported that all sisal rope had now been
scrapped and that we had some 370′ of nylon line and 225′ of ladder.  A further 300′ of ladder is under
construction.  During the discussion on
the report, Spike announced, that he would no longer be able to turn up bungs
for new ladder and an appeal for volunteers having lathe capacity was met by
“Sett” and Tony Dunn, who agreed to take over this job.

In his report, the Hut Warden announced that we had paid off
the cost of installation of mains water to the Belfry and that the surcharge
had been dropped.  There had been an
improvement in tidiness at the Belfry due to a new system of arranging the
washing up.  Work on the new hut had now
reached a stage where the main construction was almost complete and the
woodwork in the living room had just been repainted.  A rubber floor was being laid in the living
room and the outside of the Belfry re-creosoted.  Bed nights were 1,431.  This is an all time record.

The B.B. report followed. The editor stated that the paper and cover position was now secure, and
that new stapling arrangements, were under way. He mentioned the possibility of a Joint Christmas issue.  This was favourably received.  In the discussion which followed, Llew
offered some additional duplicating capacity and the editor agreed to contact
Llew and work out a suitable arrangement. There was, once again, a large preference for the B.B. to continue to
appear monthly.

The Hon. Librarian announced that Sid Hobbs had begun the
cataloguing of the books but had not completed the job.  After some discussion about the library, the
meeting adjourned for tea.

After tea, member’s resolutions were discussed.  A resolution “that the A.G.M.be held at
Priddy Village Hall next year as a trial for subsequent A.G.M.” was put to
the vote after some discussion and defeated.

A resolution “that part or all of the club library be
transferred to the Belfry under the supervision of two librarians who shall be
responsible for the safe keeping of the books” was also defeated.

A resolution “that the Hut Warden be issued with a key
to St. Cuthbert’s for use in emergency only” was passed, as was a
resolution “that the committee be empowered to nominate a sub-committee to
administer archaeological matters on behalf of members of the B.E.C.”

Several suggestions came up under “Any Other Business”
but none of these were passed by the meeting. A suggestion that the committee should look into the possibility of
having to find another meeting place in

Bristol
when Redcliffe Hall is demolished was passed to the committee.

The meeting closed at approximately 5 pm.

The Photographic & Song Competitions

by the Editor.

I think it is no exaggeration to say that the 1961 club
dinner was amongst the best we have ever held. Those of us who have been to every club dinner would certainly compare
it with the first dinner held at the Whiteladies Hall, which is reckoned up
till now to have been our best dinner.

The success of this year’s dinner was due, very largely due,
to the efforts of the organiser – Jim Giles – and those members who backed him
up by entering for the competitions.  Jim
has received vote of thanks from the committee.

The standard of both the competitions was extremely
high.  This should not deter members from
starting NOW to take even better pictures for next year’s competition for which
an organiser – Mike Baker – has already volunteered.  Members will be reminded of this at intervals
throughout the year!

The song competition seems to have set an entirely new
standard for caving songs, although the proceedings at the dinner were slightly
offset by a sudden attack of the “20 minute ‘flu”.  The winning song – written by George Weston –
is reproduced in this B.B. on the next page. Many of us think that it may well supersede “We are the exploration
Club” as the club song, and heartily recommend all members to learn it
before they next come to the Hunter’s.

If any of the winning photographs prove suitable we will try
to reproduce these also in the B.B., but the quality of printing by stencil may
not be good enough.  Here is the winning
song, which is sung to the tune of “The Lass of Richmond Hill.”

A local bloke from Rodney Stoke,
more fond of beer than labour
Was recommended by a friend to go and be a caver.
He said, “Your thirst is not the first of such capacity.
I know a crowd who’ll do you proud – go join the B.E.C.
Go join the B.E.C.  Go join the B.E.C.
That boozy crew will do for you, so join the B.E.C.”

The M.C.G. brew splendid tea which makes them rather merry
The spelaeos look down their nose at tipple worse than sherry.
The Shepton brood are rude and crude when drinking at the local
But worse by far – the

Wessex
are – exclusively teetotal.
We are the B.E.C.  Down with sobriety.
Throw out your chest, cry “Beer is Best” and join the B.E.C.

Each Friday night we all get tight as soon as we are able.
By half past eight we lie in state beneath the Belfry table.
At nine o’clock our knees may knock – we stagger out despite ’em
By half past ten we’re sloshed again. And so ad infinitum.
We are the B.E.C. and this we must confess.
Whatever is worth doing, we will do it to excess.

Note: All references to other Caving Clubs are entirely
coincidental and bear no relation to any actual clubs, either living or half
dead.

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

Don’t forget there are only fifty one weeks left before the
1962 Photographic and song competitions close.

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

If you were one of the people who wanted a bigger B.B. WHEN ARE
YOU GOING TO SEND IN YOUR LONG ARTICLES FOR IT???????

Book Review

by P.M.Giles, Esq.

A Survey of Headwear and Lighting available for Caving

B.M. Ellis.  B.E.C. Caving Report No 5.

A very comprehensive and perhaps
unique report on two major aspects of caving. Details of most types of headwear and lighting available on the market
today are given, and the author adds some very sound arguments.  Appendices at the end of the report list
reliable manufacturer’s quotes from British Standards Specifications; Legal
considerations and, for the first time in a B.E.C. Caving Report, photographs
of items mentioned.

As the B.E.C.’s first answer to
“‘Which?” the report is first class and by far the best in the series
to date.

Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal. Series 3, Number 1.

Edited by F.J. Davies.  Price 1/3 from S.M.C.C. pedlars.

The Shepton’s journal is now on
sale to the general public and at a bargain price too, since it contains
details of two important discoveries in Swildon’s Hole – Trouble Series and
Shatter Passage.  It should thus be of
great interest to both Mendip and ‘foreign’ cavers alike.  The springhead rising at Rodney Stoke is also
reported by members of the C.D.G.  The
journal may be obtained from the editor for a subscription of 3/- per annum,
post free.  The journal is published
every six months.

Underground Adventure. 

By Arthur Gemmel and Jack
Hyers.  Dalesman and Blandford Press Ltd
at 8/6  (illustrated)

Hull
Pot, Simpson’s Pot, Hensler’s Passage, G.G.,

Lancaster Hole etc. etc.  These and many other of the
Yorkshire
pots are graphically described from the point of view of the explorer in this
excellent book.  The thrills of setting
foot where no man has trod before take the reader through some arduous crawls
and squeezes in the dales and return him safely to the surface with memories of
beautiful formations; dark forbidding sumps and pitches wet and fearsome.

This book makes good reading and
the photographs, mostly taken by Jack Myers, add the final touch to skilful
writing.

Personal

Congratulations to Shirley and George Weston on the birth of
their son, Henry George on the 20th September.    The baby’s weight at birth was 91hs 1oz.

Knots

by John Ransome

No 2. The Sheet Bend.  This can be used as a quick hitch for lifting ladders and other gear. It
can be doubled by following the short end round again.

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

The Belfry Bulletin. Secretary. R.J. Bagshaw, 699,

Wells Rd, Knowle ,

Bristol 4.
Editor, S.J. Collins, 33,
Richmond Terrace,
Clifton,

Bristol
8.
Postal Dept.
C.A. Marriott,
718,

Muller Rd,
Eastville,

Bristol.