The Long Term Plan.

After a very well attended Annual general Meeting, the club
has passed the Long Term Planning Committee’s Report with a few comparatively
minor amendments and reservations.  It is
now necessary to swing straight into action, and the following notice from the
Hut warden should therefore be carefully noted:

The following notice is also of great importance to all club
members: –

As from NOW, subscriptions rates have been increased to the
following rates: –

Life Membership                               £ 10.10.0.
Full Membership                              £   1.05.0. Annually
Joint Full Membership                       £   1.15.0. Annually
Junior Membership                           £      15.0. Annually
Joint Life membership                       £
14.14.0

Special arrangements involving the Belfry will be notified
as and when applicable as the scheme gets under way.

“Alfie”

AGM

The 1967 Annual General Meeting opened with a quorum present
at 10.45am.  Later, a total of 42 members
were present.  It was proposed by Alfie
and seconded by Frank Darbon that “Sett” be elected as chairman.  This was carried.  The Chairman then asked for three volunteers
for the ballot.  Frank Darbon, Sybil and
Pat Ifold came forward.  The Chairman
then asked the meeting whether, in view of the business to get through, the
minutes of the 1966 meeting should be taken as read.  This was agreed.

The Hon. Secretary’s Report followed.  This was read by the Chairman.  The report described the year past as a Year
of Achievement and described briefly the main features which had justified this
title.  He finally thanked all who had
helped him during his year of office. There was no discussion, and the report was adopted after being proposed
and seconded by Alfie and Mike Luckwill.

The Hon. Treasurer’s Report followed.  He said that the accounts showed a healthy
position although he would have welcomed a little more expenditure on
tackle.  The report was adopted without
discussion by a proposal from Dave Irwin seconded by Gordon Tilly.

The Caving Secretary’s Report followed.  A high level of caving activity had been
maintained throughout the year, and this included much work of a serious nature
as well as plenty of the more usual sporting caving.  The report was adopted without discussion.  The proposal was by Phil Townsend seconded by
Dave Irwin.

The Climbing Secretary’s Report came next.  Climbing had been adequately practiced during
the year and a number of trips organised. The adoption of the report was moved by Roy Bennett and seconded by Bob
Bagshaw.

The Tacklemaster then gave a verbal report.  We now possessed 905 feet of ladder and none
had been lost during the year.  We also
possessed 1,500 feet of rope and ten karabiners.  There was a good collection of Maypole pieces
thanks to Bill Smart.  The Chairman asked
whether this amount of tackle was adequate. Alan Thomas thought not, but a general discussion revealed that the
meeting thought it was.  Kangy asked if
we were in the habit of loaning tackle to other clubs, and if so, on what
conditions?  He was against the use of
club tackle by cavers who might come to regard this system as an alternative to
joining the club.  The Chairman asked
Kangy to bring this up later as a member’s resolution.  Dave Irwin asked about the condition of the
rope.  This led to a long discussion on
the subject of the best type of rope and the conditions under which it should
be used and maintained.  Dave Irwin
finally proposed “that next year’s committee be asked to look into the problem
of ropes and instruct the Tacklemaster to purchase recommended ropes.”  This resolution was seconded by Gordon Tilly
and passed.

The Hut Warden then gave his report.  The bed nights were 1,607 – as compared with
the last two years of 1,431 and 1,527. The report was adopted after a proposal by Phil Townsend and seconding
by Bill Smart.

The B.B. Editor then gave his report.  He said that the year had not been a
particularly good one for the B.B., and that on one occasion; two months had to
be combined into one issue.  It was
mainly this difficulty of getting material which had led him to announce his
retirement.  He said that a new Editor
had been found – Dave Irwin – and he was sure that members would give him their
full support.  Alan Thomas suggested that
a vote of thanks be given to the editor for his work over the past years.  Kangy said that in his opinion, regularity
was a very important feature of a club magazine, although the editor had often
been short of material, he had only slipped two issues during his term of
office.  A unanimous vote of thanks was
accorded by the meeting.

At this point the Chairma announced the results of the
election for the 1976 – 1968 Committee. Votes, in order of numbers cast in favour were as follows: – Dave Irwin,
Bob Bagshaw, Alfie Collins, Andy MacGregor, Norman Petty, Gordon Tilly, Alan
Thomas, Eddie Welch and Phil Townsend. These were thus the members of the Committee.

The Editor of the Caving Publications then gave his
report.  The big job of producing the
parts of the Definitive Report on Cuthberts was well under way, with some of
the parts out and more in the pipeline. Sales of other reports had done well and more were now completely sold
out.  The report was adopted after being
proposed by Dave Irwin and seconded by Frank Darbon.

The Librarian then gave his report.  There was, in fact, little to say, since very
few borrowings have occurred since the library had been moved to Dolphin
Cottage.  The Chairman urged him to
attract more members to the library.  The
report was adopted after being proposed by Alfie and seconded by Pat Ifold.

The Belfry Engineer’s Report followed.  He said that the new carbide store had been
completed and much useful renovation work done. So much, however, depended on the result of the Long Term Planning
Report, that it did not seem worth doing a lot of work at this stage.  During the subsequent questions,

Roy asked whether it
would be worth getting a charging bank from a colliery.  After some discussion, it was agreed that the
charging facilities were adequate and they could be got into working order.  The report was adopted after this had been
proposed by Gordon Tilly and seconded by Phil Kingston

Members’ resolutions were taken next.  The first was on behalf of the 1966 Committee
to the effect that “A period of five consecutive years full membership shall precede
any application for life membership. Life members shall hereafter be required to write annually to the Hon.
Sec. to confirm their address.”  An
amendment by Alan Thomas seconded by Phil Kingston to reduce the proposal to
its first half was carried by all except 1 member   A vote on the amended proposal was again
carried – only one member voting against. 

A proposal by Dave Irwin “That this meeting accept in
principle the extension of the Cuthbert’s Leader system to include members of
other clubs was carried 29 – 5.  A third
resolution, again by Dave Irwin, that in principle tackle should not be lent
was carried unanimously.  The Chairman
then adjourned the meeting for lunch.

The afternoon session was concerned with the report of the
Long Term Planning Committee – a copy of which had been sent to all
members.  After some detailed queries,
the plan as a whole was accepted by the meeting on a unanimous vote, with the
proviso that the Chairman of the L.T.P.C. convene a meeting within one month of
the A.G.M. to listen to queries.  The
remainder of the time was taken up with discussion of the finance.  The Hon. Treasurer was not optimistic about
the possibility of a mortgage and the problem of raising money therefore
remained.  So far, some 10 bankers orders
had been taken out with a further ten promised. John Stafford said that it looked as if the club needed to lay its hands
on 1,700 – 2,200 pounds.  The Chairman
suggested that the sum could be borrowed from members and there had been offers
of £100 towards this.  The treasurer said
that loans on a goodwill basis were possible. It was finally agreed that if no grant was forthcoming, an E.G.M. should
be held but in the meantime, the committee should proceed with the building of
a new Belfry.

Club Officers

Once again we have a new Hon. Secretary.  His address is: –

A.R. Thomas,
Westahven
School,
Uphill, Weston-Super-Mare,

Somerset.

The full list of club officers for 1967-1968 is as follows
(Members of the committee are in capital letters.)

Hon. Secretary	A.R. THOMAS
Hon. Treasurer	R.J. BAGSHAW
Caving Secretary	A. MACGREGOR
Climbing Secretary	E. WELCH
Belfry Planning Secretary	S. COLLINS
Hut Warden	G. TILLY
Tacklemaster	N. PETTY
Belfry Engineer	P. TOWNSEND
Committee Chairman	D. IRWIN
Minutes Secretary	P. TOWNSEND
Editor, Belfry Bulletin	D. IRWIN
Editor, Caving Publications	B. Ellis
Producer, Caving Publications	G. TILLY
Hon. Librarian	D. Searle

Notice

The lending of club tackle to cavers other than agreed
representatives of caving clubs is NOT ALLOWED. Members are reminded that ONLY CLUB MEMBERS may sign out tackle in
future.

Editor’s Note.

A combination of time and space limitations on this B.B. has
not permitted the inclusion of the article on Contour Cavern which has been
received.  Members may like to be
reassured that this will appear in next month’s B.B. and meanwhile we should
like to thank the author for his most welcome contribution.

Monthly Notes No 8

by Dave Irwin

Ireby Cavern (Yorks.)

Entrance passage reported to have
collapsed above first pitch. The way on is completely blocked (9.10.67.)

Sandpit. (Mendip).

J. Cornwell and members of the
B.E.C., W.C.C. and E.S.C.C. have dug various sites in the sides of this huge
collapse.  All efforts are now
concentrated on one site in the S.E. corner. Partially choked phreatic tube is now being dug.  Length so far is 40 feet approx.

St. Cuthbert’s (Mendip).

Two hundred feet of new passage
has been found in the Mud Hall area by Meaden and Priddle. (Sept. ’67).

Little Neath

River
Cave. (
South
Wales)

Off prints of report and survey
available from Bryan Ellis.  Price
5/-.  Published by U.B.S.S.

Settle police

Telephone number is Settle 2542
and 2543.  Cavers can still use 999.  Ask for C.R.O. Settle.

C.R.G. Library.

All British periodicals are being
transferred to Mr. P.A. Haigh of

Halifax.  Enquiries should still be made to Brig.
Glennie.

“Aggy Aggy.”

Phil Kingston and other members
of the C.D.G. are planning to dive the terminal downstream sump on November
11th 1967.  Sherpas are required to carry
equipment to the sump area.  Any
volunteers should contact Phil or

Barry
Lane as soon as possible.

Swildons Hole.

In order to keep the Forty Foot
Pot reasonably dry under normal conditions and to reduce the quantity of water
on the pitch under near flood conditions, Oliver Lloyd has banged a hole in the
stal. at the head of the pitch.  The
water is now free to use the rift that runs parallel with the main pot.  It is hoped that this ‘mod’ to the pitch will
reduce the number of M.R.O. callouts to the cave.  Whether this re-rerouting of the water will cause
further hazards will be seen during the coming winter months.

Nine Barrows Swallet.

The survey made by Warburton and
others is published in the September issue of the Wessex Journal.  Also included is Warburton’s sketch survey of
(Contour, Boveways, Sludge Pit, etc.)

Port – yr – Ogof.

C. Gilmore has dived the upstream
sump.  (Sept. 1967) and explored more
submerged passage. 

Kingston and Lane (B.E.C.) dived this sump
earlier this year.

O.F.D. (
South Wales)

Since the discovery of O.F.D. II,
the amount of discovered passage seems limitless.  Recently (Aug. Bank Holiday) some 4 miles of
new cave was found at the upstream end of the main streamway which resulted in
the opening of another entrance.  The
latest news (8.10.67) is that O.F.D. III has been discovered.  It is said to have long passages and is
fairly extensive.  O.F.D. is now rumoured
to be about 10 miles in length.

Eastwater Cavern.

As many members will already
know, the ruckle at the entrance to the cave collapsed earlier this year.  An inter club meeting was held at the Hunters
on September 24th and the following agreed. “Shaft to be sunk near the depression to break through to an aven near
the Boulderr Chamber.”  Warburton has
staked the area.  Phil Romford (S.M.C.C.)
has volunteered to organise the dig. Banging to be done by professionals. Mr and Mrs Gibbons were present and said that when the cave was
re-opened, all cavers must call at the farm and that 2/- would be charged to
all cavers.  Work has commenced on the
dig.  (8.10.67.)

Hut Fees.

S.W.C.C. hut fees for visitors
are 4/- per day from November 1st 1967.

Council of Northern Caving Clubs. (Address changes.)

Assistant Secretary responsible
for meets on Leck Fell, Casterton and Fountains Fell.  J. Morgan,

23 Runnington Ave., Colne, Lancs.  Assistant Secretary for Penyghent, Fountains
Fell (except Mr. Coat’s land) and Mongo Gill. J. Rasdell,

6 Monkroyd Ave.,
Barnoldswick, Colne, Lancs.

M.C.G. Journal (Series 4 No. 3 June 1967.)

This contains useful information
including expedition planning and new survey of Holwell Cavern.  Obtainable from Bryan Ellis.

Ropes.

As a result of discussion at the
A.G.M., a sub committee has been set up under Norman Petty to decide the best
rope of rope the club ought to buy for such purposes as lifelining, hauling
etc.

Club Charger.

The charger is out of
action.  It is being repaired by Sett and
should be back in the Belfry shortly.

Bristol
Avon
River
Authority.

This body has circulated the
following letter: –

I am writing to ask the
co-operation of your members with regard to a rather ominous problem which has
arisen on Mendip.  Oil and other waste
liquids are being tipped into swallets, old mine workings and other depressions
on the Mendip Hills and if this practice is allowed to go unchecked it will
cause irreparable damage to cave systems and, far worse, to the water supplies
derived from these rocks.

It is obviously impossible for
the water authority to maintain a constant watch over the entire Mendip Hills
and so I am hoping that if any of your members sees either oil or other wastes
being tipped, or signs that oil has been tipped, they will note the location
and telephone the River Authority (Mondays to Fridays 8.45 to 5.30 at BATH
24275).  You may reverse the charges and
ask for Mr. Knight of the Pollution and Fisheries Department.”

                                                            Signed
R.J. Whittaker, F.G.S. Bath.

Are you any good at Cave Surveying?

The diagram below represents a genuine problem in the
surveying of Cuthbert’s, and is given by Roger Stenner to Dave Irwin.  The distance which is required to be worked
out is that between survey stations 15 and 4A (the top sloping line on the
diagram).  It should be assumed that the
lines joining 4A, 14 and 14A and 15 and 15A are both vertical and hence
parallel to each other.  The angle of 41
degrees is measured downwards from the horizontal.  Solutions may be sent to the Editor (Alfie at
present until the New Year) or to Dave Irwin of Kangy King.  It is understood that there is some form of
prize for the best solution.

 

Caving Reports

Please note that the B.E.C. caving Reports and a wealth of
other useful literature of caving, including many surveys are available from: –
 

B.M. Ellis,
Knockauns
Combwich,
BRIDGWATER,

SOMERSET.

Send S.A.E. for full list. You may also put your name down for the full quantity of the parts of
the Definitive Report on Cuthbert’s and avoid the risk of missing some of these
parts as they come out and get snapped up.

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

YOU OWE THE BELFRY ANY MONEY?  See the Hut Warden if you do.

Financial Statement for the Year to 31^st August, 1967.

Annual Subscriptions			£  92. 6.6
Redcliffe levy			£  17. 1.3
Interest: on National Development Bonds			£   11. 3.6
Sales of Car Badges			£    3.10.0
Goods for Resale:	Sales	£48.19.7
	Less Purchases	£40.14.6	£    8.  5.1
Annual Dinner:	Receipts	£99.15.0
	Less Cost	£93.0.0	£    6.15.0
Belfry	1965-1966 Receipts		£  17.15.10
	1966-1967 Recepits	£150.3.10
	Less exp.	£ 145.6.4	£    4.17.6
Donation etc.			£    9.17.0
New Belfry Fund			£    6. 0.0
			£177.11.8
Postages and Stationery			£   6.16.9
	Paper, etc.	£ 1.2.6	£    1. 2.6
	Postage	£22. 6.0	£  23. 8.6
Tackle	Expenditure	£37.17.3
	Less Fees	£15.  3.3	£   22.14.0
Ties	Cost	£35.  8.8
	Less Sales	£  6.15.0	£   28.13.9
Public Liability Insurance			£    8.10.0
Cave Research Group (two years)			£    6. 0.0
Charterhouse Caving Committee			£    5. 0.0
Upper Wharfedale Rescue Organisation			£    5. 0.0
Council of Southern Cave Clubs (2 years)			£    1. 0.0
Exhibition expenses			£   3.10.6
SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR			£ 66.18.2
			£177.11.8
Total Club monies at 31.8.66			£232.15.0
Add surplus as above			£ 66.18.2
			£2399.14.0
Post Office Savings Bank Account			£261. 9.2
Cash Overdraft			£ 38. 4.10
			£299.14.0