Editor’s Notes.

As part of the process of tidying up the B.B., a distinction
will be made between notes about the B.B. (like this one) and the occasional
‘Editorial’.  The latter type of article
will appear from time to time under the title ‘Comment’ and the first of these
appear in this B.B.  These articles will
normally represent the personal opinions of the editor, but the one which
follows has been written at the request of the recent A.G.M.  Whilst it cannot be held to represent the
views of the club word for word, its general tone may be so regarded.

“Alfie.”

Comment

As most readers will know, the pipe – which for many years
deflected the flow of water away from the ladder on the Forty in Swildons – was
recently removed by some cavers who, presumably, wished to increase the
‘sportiness’ of the cave.

A similar situation has occurred in Eastwater, where the
M.R.O. guideline has been removed for, one imagines, a similar reason.

The provision of fixed aids in caves is one of the perennial
talking points amongst cavers and one which will always find supporters and
opponents.  This is one of a number of related
topics in what might be called Cave Ethics to which there is no absolute
answers.  Unless special arguments can be
produced in any particular set of circumstances, one imagines that the guiding
principle must be that of catering for the majority.

Both Swildons and Eastwater are open to all cavers from all
areas, whether club members or not.  In
the case of Swildons users of the cave include novices doing their first real
pitch, as well as highly experienced cavers engaged in exploration and extension
of its lower limits.  One imagines that
both these groups would approve of the pipe on the Forty.  In the first case it is pretty essential –
there has already been a callout on the 19th September due entirely to the
pipe’s absence – in which a novice was unable to climb back against the flow of
water.  In the second case, the cavers
involved have undoubtedly had enough strenuous caving not to worry about the
easing of their return journey up the Forty.

The situation in Eastwater is somewhat different.  With our entering into a discussion as to
whether the Ruckle should have been interfered with in the first place and
whether or not it would have been more or less stable by now than it is, the
fact remains that its present stability is highly questionable and that it has
already claimed one victim.  The
guideline is for cavers’ safety and one wonders how the removers would feel if
someone else had pranged as a result of the removal.

Can it be that some so-called ‘Tigers’ – however much
courage and fitness they posses – are rather weak on imagination?  There are places in most Mendip caves where
tigerish feats can be performed without increasing the difficulties of either
novices or rescue parties or those who are passing through to do a strenuous
job further on.  Cuthbert’s has a
multiplicity of fixed aids and yet this leaves room for feats like the recent
climbing of High Chamber to a height of 200 feet.  Enough to satisfy any person with ambitions
to become a tiger.  (There are also
places where one can become a ferret too!)

If there remains some to whom these arguments are not
acceptable, then, surely, in the open Mendip caves, fixed aids should only be
installed or removed with the owner’s permission.  Admittedly this raises the question as to
whether the owner has been correctly advised, but, correctly advised or not, if
a fixed aid is installed with his permission, then that fixed aid becomes his
property and its unauthorised removal cannot be justified.

Finally, it should be remembered that any irresponsible act
– especially if an accident results – can hasten the day when all caves on
Mendip will be gated and subject to entrance restrictions.  If being a ‘tiger’ involves such
irresponsible acts, such people should be confined to tanks rather than caves.

“Alfie.”

An account of the Annual General Meeting etc. now follows,
for which we make no excuse for its length. Very few club members were actually at the A.G.M. and it is felt that a
full account will at least enable those who were not able to be present to
learn what went on

Report on the AGM

The 1965 Annual General Meeting did not open at the
advertised starting time, as there was not a quorum present.  It was not until Kathy Searle entered amid
cheers at 3.20 that the meeting could begin. Oliver Lloyd was elected Chairman nem, con, and he asked the Hon. Sec. to
read the minutes of the 1964 A.G.M. There were no amendments or objections to the minutes and it was
proposed by A. Collins that they should be adopted.  This was seconded by G. Tilly and carried.

The Hon. Sec. then gave his report.  The club had gained 26 new members during the
year.  This was slightly down on the
annual average of 30, but this was more than balanced by the fewer
resignations.  The actual paid up
membership stood at 183 which was an increase of 11 over last year.  Attendance at the Dinner was also up by 9 to
129.  The main event of the year from the
Secretary’s point of view was the formation of the Council of Southern Cave
Clubs, which was progressing favourable.

Bob then dropped his bombshell – one he has threatened for
some time now – but which we hoped might never materialise.  He announced that he would be retiring from
the post of Hon. Sec. as from next A.G.M.

Arising from the report, Gordon Tilly said that the
impending resignation of the Hon. Sec. was a shame but, he presumed, couldn’t
be helped.  Kangy asled Bob if he could
not reconsider, to which Bob replied that he was sorry but his mind was made
up.  Gordon Tilly then proposed with
regret that the report be adopted.  This
was seconded by Tony Philpotts and carried.

The Hon. Treasure then gave his report.  He said that the revenue from subscriptions
was lower that last year as less life memberships had been taken out.  The receipts from tackle included £5 from
T.W.W.  Joan Bennett asked if any
provision was being made to acquaint new members witch provisions of the Ian
Dear Memorial Fund.  Bob suggested that
the Committee could take care of it. Roger Stenner suggested that each new member be given a copy of the
rules of the fund with his membership card. At the Chairman’s suggestion, Roger made this into a formal
proposal.  This was seconded by Joan Bennet
and carried.

Alan Thomas announced that the profits from the Barbecue,
which were to have been for prizes for the Juniors Cavers’ Competition could
well be added to the Ian Dear Fund, since he had had no entries for the
competition.  The Chairman thanked Alan
for this suggestion and it was agreed to add this sum to the Fund.  Kangy asked why the subscription to the
British Mountaineering Council was not included in the fictional statement.  Bob replies that it was because he had not
yet paid it.  It was proposed by Gordon
Tilly that the report be adopted and this was seconded by Roy Bennett and
carried. 

Roy then asked Bob if he would be prepared to
carry on as Hon. Treasurer.  Bob replied
that he would and the Chairman suggested that it would be a good idea for the
treasurer to be a person whose work is of a financial nature.

The Caving Secretary then gave his report.  The year had been an extremely active one,
with work on Cave Rescue, Radio Communication, the Austrian trip and caving all
over the
British Isles.  There had, however, been no active outdoor
digging.  Entries in the caving log had
shown an increase.  St. Cuthbert’s
remained the most popular cave.  New
discoveries had been made in this cave and another round of survey work was due
to start.  A collection of cave fauna is
also being carried out, as are further water temperature studies.  A number of weirs are being constructed to
study water flow.  A Cuthbert’s Library
is being set up, and the Leaders’ Newssheets revived.  The Flood Control system is about to be
completed.  A new method of selection of
leaders has been agreed.  The meets have
been well attended, as an example 26 people turned up for the Cow Hole trip.  The trip to the Dachstein area was a
success.  On the subject of cave communications,
he understood that a fully working prototype was feasible in 9 to 12 months
time.  Slide shows had been held, the
show given by the C.S.S. on Triglav being very well attended.  It was proposed to hold more of this
type.  The club is purchasing surveying
equipment and it is proposed during the coming year to dig both Nine Barrows
and Emborough.

The Chairman said how pleased he was to see the amount of
interest being taken in rescue work.  Bob
said that it seemed that the communications committee were rather dead at the
moment to which Alfie replied that this was perhaps understandable since there
was little more to discuss until someone produced a prototype.  Mike Luckwill proposed that the report be
adopted and this was seconded by Frank Darbon.

The Climbing Secretary then gave his report.  There has been weekend meets arranged for
every month, but 5 out of the last 11 had to be cancelled.  Private arrangements appeared to fill the
gap.  The Thursday climbing was quite
well attended and some climbs near Frome on Sandstone were investigated.  It was proposed by Kangy that the report be
adopted.  This was seconded and carried.

The Tackle Officer then gave his report.  The total Bed Nights were 1,441 as against
1,800 last year.  On this year’s total,
club members had contributed 1,012.  He
was sorry to say that, after extensive redecoration, the standard of
cleanliness had not improved.  There is,
he said, an element which regards the Belfry as a hotel.  We warned these people that they might well
find themselves paying hotel prices. There had been no breakages during the year, but the usual number of
cups had been lost during the barbecue. All the blankets had been cleaned during the year.  In the discussion which followed, the Hut
Warden was asked to what he attributed the fall in bed nights.  He replied that fewer people had taken
holidays at the Belfry.  It was also
suggested that perhaps the Hut Warden should be prepared to charge 2/- normally
and only reduce this to the 1/- fee on evidence of work done.  The Chairman summed up by saying that a
mixture of good example and big stick was the only practical solution.  It was proposed by Alfie that the report be
adopted.  This was seconded by John
Ransom and carried.

The Belfry Engineer’s Report followed.  This was read by Mike Luckwill and the B.E.
was suffering from a sore throat.  The
response to labour requirements had been very good.  A set of tools had been obtained, but more
tools could be out to good use.  A very
successful working weekend had been held in which the wooden Belfry had been
renovated.  A new washbasin had been
fitted in the woman’s room.  A display
table had been added to the amenities of the living room, and the Belfry roof
repaired.  The new flush toilets were
almost complete and would be opened soon. The showers had been postponed as it was considered that the toilets
should have priority, but in any case, the stone Belfry was now thought to be
unsuitable for them.  A sub committee had
been set up to look at the long term development of the Belfry site.  A vote of thanks was proposed to the Belfry
Engineer by Alfie and seconded by Gordon. It was then proposed by Roger Stenner that the report be adopted and
this was seconded by Gordon and carried.

The B.B. Editor then gave his report.  It had been a very average year for the B.B.
– neither good nor bad.  He was reluctant
to discuss proposed improvements, but showed the meeting some designs for the
new coverts.  It was agreed to adopt the
design sponsored by the Editor.  A vote
of thanks to the Editor was proposed by Kangy and seconded by Gordon.  The adoption of the report was proposed by
Gordon, seconded and carried.

The Hon. Sec. then read the report of the Editor of Caving
Publications. 
Bryan
said he was not certain that he should be giving a report as he thought that he
had resigned but he understood that Gordon Tilly was now in charge of the
production and the

Bryan
retained the sales and editing.  A new
report had been published during the year and the sales of earlier reports continued.  It was proposed that the report be adopted by
Gordon Tilly and seconded by Roger Stenner.

The final report was that of the Librarian.  She announced that it had been quite a year
with 77 borrowings.  Additions to the
library had been mainly magazines and guides etc.  Roger Stenner asked whether a list of all
books in the library could be published. Alfie said that such a list had been published when Sybil was librarian,
but that there had been no demand for copies. It was agreed that there was no case for duplicating such a list, but
the Librarian said that she would endeavour to let Roger have a list.  The adoption of the report was proposed by
Roy Bennett and seconded by Kangy.

The first of the members’ resolutions followed.  It was proposed that, “The Tackle Officer
hereinafter be known as the Tacklemaster”, the proposer and seconder being Dave
Irwin and Alan Thomas.  The Chairman
asked what would happen if a female ever took over the job?  The Hon. Sec. was heard to mutter that this
would mean another alteration to the rules, but that it was a well deserved
compliment to

Norman.  The Chairman asked

Norman what he though of it, and he replied
that, “It had a good solid Victorian ring.” The resolution was carried unanimously.

The second resolution was put forward by the 1965 committee
and proposed, “That the category of Associate Membership be abolished.”  The motion was carried unanimously.

A third resolution, aimed at putting tolerance on the quorum
figure, was discussed and finally withdrawn.

Under “Any other business”, Mike Luckwill asked what the
club’s insurance cover actually provided. It was established that it was a third party policy and did not cover
injuries to members themselves.  After a
discussion, the meeting felt that it was up to the individuals to arrange
personal cover if they considered this to be necessary.

Tont Philpotts then proposed a vote of thanks to Bob for his work over the years as Hon. Secretary
which was seconded by the entire meeting. Finally, Roger Stenner brought up the question of the club’s attitude to
the removal of the pipe from the Forty in Swildons.  The editor was instructed to write an
editorial deprecating this action.

There being no further business, the Chairman declared the
meeting closed at 5.10pm.

The Dinner

One of the best things about the B.E.C. dinners is that they
do not follow to set a pattern.  This
year’s dinner was well attended and the food was extremely good.  This was followed by what must be a club
record for the size of a caving trip with a total of 104 people in Goughs.  One blot on the horizon was the fact that the
club appeared to have drunk the restaurant out of most drinks before the rather
generous extension finished.  On the
whole, there seemed to be few complaints. The Mendip Dinner season is now open. Who is going to be diner of the year this year?

Club Officers

The following are the official appointments for the year
1965 – 1966….

CLUB COMMITTEE.

S.J. Collins (chairman), R.J.
Bagshaw, N. Petty, A. Thomas, G. Tilly, D. Irwin, R. Bennett, K. Franklin and
P. Kingston.

IAN DEAR MEMORIAL FUND COMMITTEE.

R.A. Setterington (Chairman),
R.J. Bagshaw, D. Irwin, R. Bennett and M. Luckwill.

BELFRY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

A. Thomas, G. Tilly and S.J.
Collins.

CLUB OFFICERS.

Hon Secretary and Treasurer        R.J.
Bagshaw.

Caving Secretary                         D.
Irwin.

Climbing Secretary                      R.
Bennett.

Hut Warden                                G.
Tilly.

TACKLEMASTER                        N.
Petty.

Belfry Engineer                            A.
Thomas.

B.B. Editor                                  S.J.
Collins.

Hon. Librarian                              J.
Bennett.

Assistant Caving Secretary          K.
Franklin.

Assistant Hut Warden                  K.
Franklin.

Minutes Secretary                       P.
Kingston.

On Crossing the Gour Fault….

by Roy Bennett.

The picture of St. Cuthbert’s with the main development
running into Gour Hall Fault line leaves the question of extensions beyond the
boundary open.  Clearly cave water must
leave this line somewhere to get to Wookey (or perhaps, earlier to Ebbor) and
does so now at the Duck.  The sump is
quite near the line however, and the stream could perhaps flow into the fault
further on.  In this case, digging right
at the end of Gour Rift could be an easier alternative to digging at the sump
itself.

The holes in the roof of Gour Hall do not appear to cross
the fault and the Pyrolusite Rift tends away from this line.  In the higher parts of the cave, in the
Marble Hall area, streams coming down dip have been completely intercepted by
the fault and there appears less chance of crossing.

This leaves the Cerberus Series where the water diverted
form the Main Stream Passage appears, disappears apparently for good.  It could perhaps be lost through the
fault.  There are tubes, too small to get
into, between
Lake and Mud Ball Chambers,
going in the desired direction.  Some
digging has been done in a small tube off the high level connection between the
latter chamber and Cerberus hall.  The
largest effort so far has been on the dig behind the Dining Room where the
choked passage is much larger.  Either of
these places are worth effort, though there is unfortunately no way of telling
how extensive the fill is without digging it out!

Financial Statement for the Year to the Thirty First August 1965.