Belfry Destroyed By Fire

Members living in the

Bristol
area will already know the terrible mews when it appeared in the Evening
Post.  The ‘Belfry’ was destroyed by fire
late on Monday 15th September 1969.

The loss of the Belfry will mean much to most members of the
B.E.C; now it can only be kept alive in the memories of members who spent many
enjoyable hours there.  That black,
twisted ‘old shed’ just off the road to Priddy was on of the homeliest caving
hunts in the country; it was warm (in both senses of the word); comfortable;
the ‘homing’ point for cavers past and present and above all it was the ‘centre
of the universe’!

Now it has gone what now? Your Committee are well ahead with their plans and the reports and
announcements that appear else where in this issue of the B.B. will outline to
members what is taking place.  A second
Committee Meeting will be held in the very near future when definite plans will
be drawn up to present members with a clear picture at the Annual General Meeting
on the 4th October 1969.  What is emerging
is far from black and it is hoped that members will respond to help put the
emergency plans into operation as quickly as possible.

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To get the news and latest information out to members as
fast as possible the October B.B. (already printing) has been completely
re-hashed and I hope that members will bear with your Editor with rather a
hotch-potch arrangement of material. Apologies are given to contributors, many of them harassed by the Editor
to get them in on time, for holding back their material until the November or
December B.B.

Precis Of Special Meeting

A special meeting of the Club Committee, with some
additional members was held in

Bristol
two days after the fire.  This enabled
the meeting to hear the first reactions from the insurers, and to see the
letter which ‘Alfie’ wrote to the government grant body asking for immediate
priority.  The meeting took some
immediate decisions to press ahead rapidly with the insurance claim; to obtain
a definite reply from the granting authority and to go ahead with emergency
plans for the Belfry site.  A further
meeting has been scheduled one week from the first meeting, and at this
meeting, those present will be in a position to formulate definite plans to put
before the Annual General Meeting.  The
immediate response by members attending the meeting – giving it priority over
all their other engagements – and the speed and orderly fashion with which the
business was conducted speaks well for the future.  As many members as possible are urged to
attend the A.G.M. where they will hear the up-to-date position and have the
approved scheme put to them for their approval.

Members present: Messrs Bagshaw, Irwin, Thomas, Riley,
Townsend, Petty,
Stafford, Collins, Orr and
Sybil Bowden Lyle.

What Happened?

The fire was discovered by members staying at the Belfry;
they had intended to stay until Wednesday. At eight o’clock they banked the fire up and went to Wells for a
meal.  At eleven o’clock, when they
returned, they found the Belfry on fire. As the all windows and doors were closed the building was probably in
smouldering state and would remain so until the windows broke due to the
heat.  The lads opened the door and saw a
blaze in front of the fire place. Filling a dustbin full of water from the ‘Drinking Pool’ they threw it
onto the Belfry floor but to no avail. The smoke and heat was too great for them to do anything but call the
Fire Service.

Apart from the three lads, the Searle’s and ‘Jok’ Orr were
soon on the spot.  By the time they had
arrived the Belfry was burning well – although the fire was still contained
within the building.  The first problem
that faced the firemen was – ‘where were the gas cylinders?  Luckily Dave Searle soon supplied the
answer. 

In the search for the mains electricity point the firemen
broke into the stone Belfry and the tackle store.  By about 1.30am on Tuesday morning the fire
was out leaving a smouldering ruin of a Belfry.

‘Jok’ returned to

Bristol
and woke ‘Wig’ at 2.15am and being ‘Wig’ he took the news as a pretty bad joke
so early in the morning.  However, Jok
eventually managed to get through to him and they went and woke Bob Bagshaw at
2.45am.  Having delivered the message
they went out to the Belfry, calling on John Riley on the way.  The three and John’s brother went to the
Belfry and recovered as much of members valuables as could be found.  Several tins of money were collected and
given, later to Bob and other items from the lockers, except food, was
collected into plastic bags and put into the changing room.  Under nife cell lights, thick fog and a
smouldering Belfry produced a miserable picture indeed.  The three returned to

Bristol for work on time.  Later in the day the three plus Dave Turner
returned to the site and generally cleared up the debris left by the firemen
and left it in separate piles for the Assessor who visited the site on
Wednesday accompanied by Bob and Alan Thomas. During the rest of Tuesday several members came up to the site and
several ‘phoned through to the ‘Hunters’ for information.  More information will be given at the A.G.M.
and in the November issue of the B.B.

Insurance Claims

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

All members who had personal gear at the Belfry at the time
of the fire should identify and recover their property as soon as possible.

Insurance claims should be made as follows: –

Most members will probably hold insurance on the contents of
their dwelling.  These policies normally
cover belongings against fire damage whilst temporarily removed from home, usually
with a limit of 15% of the total sum insured. Persons in this category should notify their insurers as soon as
possible and recover their loss from them. Members normally residing with their parents will be covered under their
parents policy.

Members insurers will probably require to know that the club
hold policy number 11/7760021 with Pearl Insurance Co. Ltd., and that the claim
is being dealt with by Cunningham and Gibaud of Baldwin Street, Bristol 1.

Damaged articles for which claims are being made should be
retained for inspection by insurers if required.

Members who hold no insurance of their own may be able to
make a partial recovery on the club policy. Those persons should draw up their claims setting of the details as
follows:

Item No.

Description

Date purchased

Original cost

Salvage value (if any)

Amount claimed

Articles should be retained for inspection (if found).

All claims should be sent to Bob Bagshaw,

699 Wells Road, Knowle,

Bristol 4 by 30th September 1969 at the very
latest.

Important Notices

Alfie’s ‘Spelaeodes’, Part 1 will be published on 4th
October 1969 – the proceeds are going to the Hut Fund.  The price has now changed to 4/- minimum and
after the 31st October the price will be 5/- minimum – please give generously
to the HUT FUND

Late News

September 25th is probably the last time that the Club will
be meeting in the Waggon and Horses.  A
presentation will be made to Mrs Suter who will soon be eighty.  Future meetings on a Thursday will probably
be at the ‘Seven Stars’ near

Bristol
Bridge.  More details in the NOVEMBER B.B.

 

Monthly Notes No.28

by ‘Wig’

Cuthbert’s Leader –  John Riley is the latest member
to become a Cuthbert’s leader.  On his
final trip he was leading the writer around the Coral Series when he almost met
his match in the Coral Squeeze.  After
many ‘blue’ words and one hell of a lot of thrutching he managed to get through
throwing the challenge to the writer to get through more quickly.   When the writer shot up the only thing that
could be heard through the clouds of steam was ‘Christ! You’re through’ – in a
very broad
Yorkshire dialect!  I could only add that this waffle is only to
allow ‘Doodles’ a chance to produce another of his cartoons below.

 

‘Aye oop lad, appen we’ll get through t’squeeze yet!

TWIN TITTY  After the
collapse of the first 2ft. deep shaft, Mike Thompson and Co. have tackled the
‘bull by the horns’.  With the help of
Luke Devenish they have blasted a 5ft. square, 20ft. deep shaft adjacent to the
old one which is now filled in.  All this
was done over two weekends.  It would
seem that they are determined to find Mendip’s largest system yet.

Dave Searle came up with another reference to Wookey Hole
the other day.  It is from the Somerset
Medley for January.  Friday January 29th
1731.

“Mendip Hills were hereto found rich in lead but now in
Lapis Calaminaris, and for a large Cave, call’d Ockie Hole, which contains in
it Petrifying Water.

LAMP SPARES  In the
very near future Dave Irwin will be restocking the spares box with the usual
assortment of carbide lamp spares together with a selected assortment of nife
and
Edison spares.

Jok Orr has kindly donated several plastic helmets to the
club.  These are on sale to members;
prices Texolex 12/6 and plastic 10/- each. None have lamps brackets but are fitted with adjustable inners.  The proceeds will be given to the Hut Fund.

SWILDONS HOLE: Readers will remember that the ‘Great Flood’ of 1968 cleared out the
Water Rift allowing the caver to follow a much lower path (B.B. No.244) at the
end of which is a 6ft. climb to the bottom of the old 40’ pitch.  The climb is easy and only under heavy water
conditions would a rope be needed to assist one back up the climb.  During the middle of August a chain suddenly
appeared!  During the Autumn Bank Holiday
this chain was removed (Biddle was in

Edinburgh)
by persons unknown.  It has been rumoured
that Tony Oldham was responsible for its installation and that Dr. G.K.
Crummock of the Mendip Karst Police entered the cave at some ungodly hour to
remove it! – I wonder!

A new key has been put onto the Cuthbert’s lock.  Members with Cuthbert’s keys should contact
Phil Townsend to exchange their old one.

 

National Association of Caving Clubs

On the 28th September 1969 the Council of Southern Caving
Clubs meets to discuss the constitution of the national body.  As the B.B. will be out before this date the
Constitution has been reprinted in full for member’s comments.  If you have any please do not waste any time
and send your notes to Alan Thomas so that they can be discussed at the
C.S.C.C.

Draft
Proposed Constitution For The National Caving Association

1.      The body shall be called the National Caving
Association.

2.      Aims

2.1.   To foster the sport of caving and the scientific
study of caves.

2.2.   To support the constituent bodies in ensuring
and maintaining access in accordance with regional practice.

2.3.   To support cave conservation thorough the
constituent bodies.

2.4.   To promote the exchange of information between
cavers.

2.5.   To make contact with other National bodies; to
provide information on behalf of its constituent bodies.

3.      Limitations

3.1.   The association shall not interfere in any way
with the affairs of its constituent bodies and their members.

3.2.   The association shall not arbitrate between
caving organisations or between cavers.

3.3.   The association shall not be called upon by the
National Sports Council or any other body to assess the merit of caving
organisations or their projects.

4.      Membership

4.1.   Membership shall be open to any constitutionally
elected body which is representative of a caving region, to the scientific
bodies C.R.G., B.S.A. and W.P.C.S.A. and to any other constitutionally elected
body which is representative of a particular aspect of caving.

4.2.   Representation at the Association’s meetings
shall be four delegates from each of the Regional Councils and one delegate
from each of the constituent bodies.

4.3.   Applications for membership shall be put to the
Annual General Meeting.  Any body
satisfying the conditions above (4.1) shall become a member if its membership
is acceptable to the Association.

5.      General Secretary

5.1.   The association shall have no executive
officers.

5.2.   A General Secretary shall be elected annually by
the delegates to carry out the correspondence of the Association on behalf of
the members and to circulate information to the constituent bodies.

6.      Meetings

6.1.   The Association shall meet not less than once a
year, the Annual Meeting to be arranged by each of the Regional Councils in
turn in its own region.

6.2.   A quorum at all meetings shall consist of not
less than 50% of the delegates provided that each Regional Council is
represented by at least two delegates.

6.3.   The Regional Council acting as hosts shall
provide an independent chairman and recorder for the meeting in addition to
their four delegates.  Neither Chairman
nor Recorder shall be entitled to vote.

6.4.   A special meeting shall be called if this is
requested in writing by not less than three of the constituent bodies.  In this case not less than four weeks notice
shall be given to all members.

6.5.   At least five weeks notice shall be given to the
General Secretary of any matters to be raised at any meeting of the
Association.

7.      Procedure

7.1.   An agenda shall be circulated to the constituent
bodies by the General Secretary not less than four weeks before any meeting of
the Association to give notice of date and place of the meeting and the
subjects to be discussed.

7.2.   Minutes shall be kept of all the meetings of the
Association and these shall be circulated to all members of the constituent
bodies.

7.3.   When a vote is taken each delegate present shall
have one vote.

7.4.   Voting…. See note below.

8.      Finance

8.1.   The expenses of the Annual Meeting shall be
borne by the Regional Council acting as hosts.

8.2.   The expenses of the General Secretary shall ne
borne in the first instsnt by the constituent body to which he belongs, and an
account rendered at the Annual general meeting, which the constituent bodies
shall be asked to pay equal shares.

9.      Amendments to the Constitution

9.1.   The Constitution may only be amended at an
Annual meeting or at a Special Meeting called for that purpose.

9.2.   Full details of any amendments to be considered
shall be circulated to all members of the constituent bodies at least four
weeks before the meeting.

 

NOTES

Note 1.

The Cambrian Caving Council have
suggested amending section 2.5 to read: “To make an contact with other Nation bodies in order tom provide
information on behalf of its constituent members.”

Note 2.

Two main alternatives have been
suggested for the voting procedure and these are both given below for
consideration. There have also been other suggestions which really amount to variations
on one or the other of these alternatives.

a.      Procedural questions can be decided by a simple
majority, but other decisions must be unanimous.

b.      Any motion shall be passed of not less than 75%
of those present and voting are in favour.

Note 3.

No mention has been made in the proposed constitution of the
question of inviting to meetings observers from interested bodies which are not
in themselves eligible for membership. This should perhaps be considered though it need not necessarily be
covered by the constitution.

17.7.69.  J.E. Potts, Hon. Sec. Derbyshire Caving
Association

Editors note:      Members wishing to comment on this
constitution should send their notes to Alan Thomas as soon as possible.  The Council Of Southern Caving clubs meet on
the 28th September and your views can be put to the meeting then.  Dr Oliver Lloyd has circulated some comments
on the constitution but it would be better if members made up their minds on
the subject as it stands at the moment.

 

Just a Sec

By Alan Thomas

A number of courses run by the University of Bristol
Department of Extra-Mural Studies may be of interest to members.  ‘Geology of Mendip’ by Dr. F.F. Wallis in the
Town Hall, Axbridge on Tuesdays; ‘Structure and Scenery of the South West’ by
R. Hicks at

West
Huntspill
County
Primary School on Mondays
and ‘The Wedmore Area’ by A.B. Hawkins on Tuesdays are things of interest of
which I have details.

Steve Grime had landed himself a job at the West Highland
School of Adventure, Applemore, Nr. Kyle at Lockhals,

Rosshire,
Scotland,
which is now his new address.  He and
Dorothy would be delighted to see any of the B.E.C. at any time of the year –
though Steve points out that the Schools equipment cannot be used for private
purposes.

There will be a Committee meeting on Sunday 28th September
at 2.15pm in the New Inn, Priddy, of the Council of Southern Caving Clubs.  Its main object will be to discuss the
Proposed Constitution of the National Caving Association (I have copies if
anyone wants one).  Now is the time to
air your views on this highly political subject.

The Cambrian Council, on which we are also represented,
meets on 21st September for the same purposes as the Southern Council

A Register of Environmental Research on Mendip has been set
up.  The idea is to avoid duplication of
effort.  Anyone conducting and form of
scientific investigation on Mendip can get details from me.

Among visitors from the distant past to the Belfry recently
was Pete Miller on leave from

Malta. 
Malta
is all limestone but the biggest cave is like an ‘
Upper
Goatchurch’.

Apologies Department

The Editor would like to offer his apologies to Roger
Stenner for ‘inverting’ the curve accompanying his article in the August B.B. –
The Use of barometers in Cave Surveying.

Articles for the Christmas B.B. should be sent to the Editor
as soon as possible.  This will be the
largest B.B. ever – 40 pages approx.

 

AGM – Officers Reports

As the A.G.M. draws near, the Club Officers are in the
throws of preparing reports for the meeting. It occurred to your Editor that it would be a good idea if these reports
were published in the B.B. and hope that members attending the A.G.M. would
accept them as being read.  It’s well
known that none of our Officers have ‘musical’ voices, most tend to drive one
to sleep, and in an effort to shorten the meeting just a little the Officers
were asked to submit their reports to the B.B. Editor for publication
beforehand.  All Officers were asked, but
unfortunately not all have been received – food for thought?

HON. SECRETARY’S REPORT – Alan Thomas.

The club’s correspondence has shown no sign of
diminishing.  Enquiries from prospective
members and from members living away from the Mendip area, requests for ‘this
and that’ to be passed on to other people and, of course, our dealings with other
organisations, have kept me busy.

The purchase of the old barn has been completed and so has
the lease of the additional land from the paper mill at Wookey.  The agreement with Mr Foxwell over the track
has now been completed and it is hoped that he will be making use of it any day
now.

If I itemise a few aspects of the work I would mention the
C.R.G. Southern Meeting to which we acted as host.  The arrangements for the meeting, tea and
dinner and the Exhibition in

Wells
Museum which we put on in
that connection were considerable; but the whole effort was thoroughly
worthwhile and did much to enhance our reputation both locally and
nationally.  The C.R.G. were pleased with
the meeting and the Museum with our exhibit.

The new Constitution has been discussed by the Committee,
advice sought from ‘Digger’ Harris and a new draught prepared.

At the request of the Village Hall Committee, a slide show
was given a Priddy Village Hall which was well attended and appreciated.

The not inconsiderable work in connection with the
Ahnenschacht Expedition also involves me.

Finally, the secretarial work in connection with the
Election of the 1969-70 Committee was very welcome as the large number of
candidates indicates that perhaps, after all, there is some interest in the
poor old B.E.C.

Alan Thomas

CAVING SECRETARY’S REPORTS – Andy Mac-Gregor

Starting with the home field, the St. Cuthbert’s Dining Room
Dig is still progressing steadily with tons of gravel and sand being
removed.  The total length is now about
150ft.  The dams for the sump assault are
being built by a dedicated few.  It was
hoped that they would be finished by the summer 1969 but it appears that they
will not be completed before next year.

The St. Cuthbert’s Leaders, at their Annual Meeting last
November, agreed that the leader system ought to be opened to members of other
clubs throughout the country provided that they had adequate insurance
cover.  It was agreed not to ask around
but to let it be known by means if the B.B. and other publications.  If any caver was really interested they would
contact the B.E.C.  This proposal was
agreed by the Committee and it now has to be presented as a Committee proposal
at this meeting.

There has been quite a number of trips to Yorkshire and
South Wales this year and members are going further a field more frequently;
Sutherland and

Austria
being the other major points of interest.

The Ian Dear memorial fund was used for the first time this
year by one of our younger members.  Dave
Yeandle received the grant and went with Alan Thomas to the Ahnenschacht.

On the whole it has been a quiet year in the caving
activities except perhaps for the regular Tuesday and Wednesday digging
evenings when the dining Room Dig and the Chepstow digs were worked.

I would like to offer my best wishes to the next Caving
secretary.

Andy MacGregor

HUT ENGINEER’S REPORT – John Riley

It has been assumed for some time that the new ‘Belfry’ will
be quite some time before it materialises and we must therefore continue to
maintain the present hut in a habitable and serviceable condition, and in fact
to carry out any improvements worthwhile.

Progress towards opening up the new track has been
slow.  Although the fencing off of the
track on the Belfry site has been completed, we are still awaiting Walt Foxwell
finishing concreting at his side of the wall before the wall can be
breached.   Once the wall has been
breached the cattle grid, which is complete, can be fixed.  More hard core was put down on the old track
– thanks to Henry Oakley and ‘Jok’ Orr for this gift.

During the early part of the year much tidying up was
carried out around the Belfry site and a considerable amount of scrap and
rubbish dumped.  Scrap aluminium from the
caravan was salvaged for possible use as working tops in the new Belfry.

Rotten timbers around the window frames in the hut have been
cut out and replaced.  Also new wall
panels have been fitted in the men’s room where necessary.  Both the living and men’s room were
redecorated with emulsion and gloss paints.

A new stove was fitted, although generates less heat than
the old one, is quite adequate and far more economic to run.

The external timbers of the hut were treated with creosote
and the roof with tar and sand.

The response to the recent working weekend (Sept 6/7 1969)
was quite promising although there was a conspicuous absence of Belfry
regulars!  A new window was fitted by the
sink (both sinks have now been fitted with U traps) and much of the rotten
timber work in the area removed, this included the adjacent lockers and draining
boards.  At the time of writing the
lockers have not yet been replaced but it intended that they should be
constructed as a separate unit so that they may be moved into the new Belfry.  Modifications were made to the tackle store
to prevent theft of tackle, the exterior of the Belfry was creosoted again and
part the ceiling replaced.  This just
shows what can be done when a few lend a hand.

Much more work needs to be put in to maintain the hut in
good condition and members are asked to spare as much time as possible to help
in repairs and improvements.

J.G. Riley
19 – 9 – 69

TACKLEMASTER’S REPORT – Norman Petty

The Clubs Tackle is as follows:

18 standard 20’ ladders.
2 standard 10’ ladders.
4 light weight 50’ ladders.
6 light weight 20’ ladders.
12 ultra light weight 20’ ladders.

A total of 940’ ladder.

The lifelines total approx. 1,400ft. including 350ft. of new
nylon purchased to replace old and lost rope.

We have 20 tethers, mostly in 5’, 10’ and 20’ lengths and a
dwindling number of karabiners.

N.J. Petty
9 – 9 – 69

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

Two other reports were due to be published but at the time
of printing had not been received.  Bob
Bagshaw sends his apologies for not having his accounts completed.  Apparently he’s in the middle of chasing some
mistakes in the final draft.

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

LONGWOOD/AUGUST SYSTEM KEY – obtainable from Dave Irwin,

23 Camden Road,
Bristol
3.

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

Here is a complete list of candidates for the 1969-1970 Committee

‘Fred’ Atwell	Joined club a couple of years ago; recently active climber: NEW CANDIDATE.  When actively caving found a new extension to Sidcot Swallet.
‘Alfie’ Collins	Needs little introduction to members.  Past long standing Committee member and editor of the B.B.  Currently following through the Long Term Planning Committee recommendations.  Although not actively caving is interested in various aspects of Cave Surveying.  Member of M.S.C. and is ‘inventor’ of Route Severity Diagram.
D. ‘Wig’ Irwin	1969 Committee Chairman; Editor B.B. & Caving Reports; currently surveying Cuthbert’s; resigning from post of Editor at end of year; writing his own potted notes ends here!  M.R.O. Warden; member M.S.C.
Mike Luckwill	Well known to older members; member of Ian Dear Memorial Committee; member of Ahnenschacht team 1967-69; particularly interested in geomorphology and cave surveying.  NEW CANDIDATE.
R. ‘Jok’ Orr	NEW CANDIDATE; Belfry regular; has devoted many hours to upkeep of the hut.  Interested in cave photography and development of the Belfry site.
Norman Petty	Needs no introduction.  Long standing member of B.E.C. Committee as Tacklemaster
John Riley	Joined B.E.C. two years ago; climber but now active caver; 1968-69 Hut Engineer when spent many hours keeping Belfry in good repair.  Active digger in Cuthbert’s.
Pete Franklin	Cuthbert’s leader; NEW CANDIDATE; interested in cave rescue methods has several times been ‘victim’.
Bob Bagshaw	Needs no introduction to members; long standing Club Hon. Treasurer since 1951(?); still interested in caving when family commitments allow.
Gordon Tilly	Needs no introduction; past Hut Warden; Minutes Sec. 1968-69.  Currently active engaged in preparation of plates and printing Caving reports.
Mike Palmer	NEW CANDIDATE; past Committee member; interested in various aspects of the Club.  St. Cuthbert’s leader.
Phil Townsend	Well known member of B.E.C.; Hut Warden 1968-69.  Interested in many aspects of the B.E.C.
Alan Thomas	Hon. Sec. 1968-69; leader of the Ahnenschacht expedition; past Hut Engineer; particularly interested in stimulating the image of the B.E.C. by organising exhibitions and giving lectures.  Last but not least!

 

Space Blankets

Some time ago I received a letter from Geoff Bull which I am
sure will be of interest to members:

 “I think you will
have come across the American ‘Space Blanket’, aluminium on polythene sheets
now being imported into this country.  We
(W.S.G.-Ed.) used one most successfully on our last practice rescue in Longwood
and found it better than a ‘goon suit’. I have managed to get the offer of a discount for bulk purchase from the
importers.  If you, or anyone else in

Bristol is interested I
can offer.

a)                  The ‘Rescue Blanket’ for 15/- (usual price
£1).  This is the lightweight once-only
version, fold to pocket handkerchief size. P&P 6d.

b)                  The ‘Sportsman Blanket’ for 55/- each + 9d
P&P.  Orders for 6 or more 50/- each.

Yours sincerely, Geoff Bull.

 

Address List Of Members

Ed. Note:          Please check your address is
correct.  If by any chance it has been
omitted please contact Alan Thomas immediately so that it can be added to a
correction list in the November B.B.  If
your name does not appear in this list it could be that you have not paid your
sub??!!  If you haven’t then you know the
remedy!

306	T Andrews	186 Courtlands Ave., London S.E.12
665	G. Atwell	57 Sandy Leaze, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
20	R.J. Bagshaw	699 Wells Road, Knowle, Bristol 4
393	M. Baker	22 Riveside Gardens, Midsomer Norton, Somerset
358	D Balcombe.	36 Rotherwick Close, Horley, Surrey
617	R. Bater	4 Butterfield Close, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
618	Mrs. R. Bater	4 Butterfield Close, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
214	R. Bennett	8 Radnor Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
390	J. Bennett	8 Radnor Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
417	P. Bird	City Museum, Queens Road, Bristol
364	P. Blogg	Hunters Field, Chaldon Common Road, Chaldon, Surrey
145	Miss S. Bowden-Lyle	17 Rokeby Ave., Redland, Bristol 6
663	B. Britton	180 Cheltenham Road, Bristol 6
696	R. Brooks	87 Wyatt Road, London SW2
707	R. Brown	24 Cranleigh Gardens, Luton, Beds.
687	V. Brown	3 Cross St., Kingswood, Bristol
689	J. Bugler	Dudley College of Education, Castle View, Dudley, Worcestershire
551	G.A. Bull	37 Norlands Square, London, W11.
607	G. Butler	58 Tuthill Street, Minster, Ramsgate, Kent
679	R. Chandler	83 Spring Plate, Pound Hill, Crawley, Sussex
705	B. Chappell	The College of Education, Bognor Regis, Sussex
526	J. Churchward	1 Jamaica Street, Bristol
655	C. Clarke	18 Church Lane, Bedminster, Bristol.  BS3 4NE.
398	A. Coase	4 Sutton Close, Oadby, Leicester
211	Mrs. C. Coase	5 Mandalay Flats, 10 Elsiemer St., Long Jetty, N.S.W., 2262, Australia
89	S. Collins	Homeleigh, Bishop Sutton, Bristol
377	D. Cooke-Yarborough.	Lot 11, McKay Crescent, Orange, New South Wales, Australia
576	N. Cooper	3 West Terrace, Westbury, Sherborne, Dorset
405	F. Darbon	444 Meinnis Ave. Fraserview Sub. Div., Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
350	Mrs A. Davies
423	L. Dawes	223 Southwark Park Road, Bermondsey, London S.E.10
449	G. Dell	5 Millground Road, Withywood, Bristol 3
164	K.C. Dobbs	85 Fox Road, Pinhoe, Exeter, Devon
601	N. Downes	18 Coombe Street Lane, Yeovil, Somerset
331	J.A.Etough	116 Newbridge Road, Brislington, Bristol
322	B.M. Ellis	‘Knockauns’, Combwich, Bridgwater, Somerset
269	T. Fletcher	The Old Mill House, Barnack, Nr. Stamford, Lincs.
404	A. Francis	22 Hervey Road, Wells, Somerset
469	P. Franklin	93 Devonshire Road, Bristol 6
569	Mrs P. Franklin	93 Devonshire Road, Bristol 6
676	M. Fricker	36 Summerhill Road, St. George, Bristol 5
709	R. Gander	see address changes at end of list
470	P. Giles	Manor Farm Cottage, East Lydford, Somerton, Somerset
459	K. Gladman	29 Shenfield Road, Brentwood, Essex
647	D. Glover	‘Longwood’, 30 Forest Lane, Tadley, Basingstoke, Hants.
648	J. Glover	‘Longwood’, 30 Forest Lane, Tadley, Basingstoke, Hants.
660	P. Godley	Officers Mess, R.A.F. Leckming, North Allerton, Yorkshire
434	D. Greenwood	42 St, David’s Drive, South Anston, Sheffield
478	S. Grimes	West Highland School of Adventure, Applemore, Nr. Kyle at Lockals, Ross-Shire
582	C. Hall	12 Churchleigh Road, Bristol
432	N. Hallett	26 Cotham Vale, Bristol 6
104	M. Hannam	‘Lowlands’ Orchard Close, East Hendred, Berks.
304	C.Harris	Diocesian registry, Wells, Somerset
581	C. Harvey	‘Byways’, Hanham Lane, Paulton, Somerset
4	Hasell D.H.	‘Hill House’, Moorlynch, Bridgwater, Somerset
638	Miss A. Henley	23 Maynard Road, Hartcliffe, Bristol
691	D. Herbert	33, Triangle East, Oldfield Park, Bath, BA2 3HZ
671	T. Hodgson	26 Danet Road, Henlease, Bristol 8
387	G. Honey	Droppsta, 19044 Odensala, Sweden
588	B. Howe	48 Martins Road, Hanham, Bristol
631	P. Hudson	15 Glantawe Park Estate, Wind Road, Ystradgynlais, S. Wales
540	D. Irwin	23 Camden House, Southville, Bristol 3
51	A. Johnson	Warren Cottage, Station Road, Flax Bourton, Bristol
694	D. Jones	24 Shortwood View, Kingswood, Bristol
560	F. Jones	8 York Gardens, Clifton, Bristol
438	Mrs. P. Jones	13 Braichmelyn, Bethesda, Bangor, Caernarvon
567	A. Kennett	92 Broadway, Henlease, Bristol
316	R. King	21 Rue LionelTterray, 31 Blanac, France (or c/o Eddy Welch)
542	P. Kingston	3 Kingsely Road, Eastville, Bristol 5 BS5 6HF
413	R. Kitchen	Plot 18, Mill Close, Trimley st., Martin Felixtowe, Suffolk.
667	T.E. Large	16 Meade House, Wedgewood Rd., Twerton, Bath, Somerset
657	P. Littlewood	257 Chichester Road, Bognor Regis, Sussex
656	Mrs. Littlewood	257 Chichester Road, Bognor Regis, Sussex
574	O. Lloyd	Withey House, Withey Close West, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
495	M. Luckwill	8 Greenslade Road, Sedgley Hall Estate, Sedgley, Dudley, Worcs.
58	G. Lucy	Pike Croft, Long Lane, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.
550	A. MacGregor	The Railway Arms, Station Road, Theale, Reading, Berks.
651	P. MacNab	121 Gilmore Place, Edinburgh 3
561	J. Major	Saint Cross, Green Down, Litton, Bath, Somerset
573	Mrs. J. Major	Saint Cross, Green Down, Litton, Bath, Somerset
591	J. Manchip	3 Blackthorn Court, Barton, Edinburgh
275	C. Marriott	Brulbergstrasse 15, Apt. 21, 8400 Winterhur, Switzerland
662	R. Marshall	23 Highbury Villas, Bristol 2
415	T. Marston	50 The Deans, Downlands, Potishead, Bristol
106	E. Mason	11 Kendon Drive, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
558	A. Meaden	127 Mudford Road, Yeovil, Somerset
704	D. Metcalf	A.S.F., R.A.F., Wittering, Hants
706	S.J. Miller	27 Walnut Way, South Ruislip, Middelsex
640	N.J. Monk	7 Little Soke Road, Bristol 8
557	D. Palmer	29 John Wesley Road, St. George, Bristol 5
396	M. Palmer	27 Roman Way, High Park Estate, Paulton, Bristol BS18 5XB
492	Miss S. Paul	6 Cricketers Close, Chessington, Surrey
702	R. Perrin	30 Cotham Grove, Cotham, Bristol 6
22	L. Peters	21 Melbury Road, Knowle, Bristol 4
160	N. Petty	12 Bankside Road, Brislington, Bristol
499	A. Philpott	3 Kings Brive, Bishopston, Bristol
56	G. Platten	‘Rotherfield’, Fernhill Lane, New Milton, Hants.
337	B. Prewer	East View, West Horrington, Nr. Wells, Somerset
622	C. Priddle	367 Fishponds Rd., Bristol 5
481	J. Ransom	21 Bradley Road, Patchway, Bristol
668	I. Rees	30 Ramsey Road, Horfield, Bristol 7
452	Mrs J.P. Rees	7 Coberley, Footshill, Hannam, Bristol
343	A. Rich	c/o Pox 126, Basham, Alberta, Canada
701	N.E. Rich	Bishop Manor Road, Manor Farm, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
682	J. Riley	School Farm House, Chew Stoke, Nr. Bristol
616	A. Rushton	Cpl., Rectification Flight, R.A.F. Conningby, Nr. Sleaford, Lincs.
237	B. Scott	59 Fairthorne Rise, Basing, Nr. Basingstoke, Hants.
577	D. Searle	‘Dolphin Cottage’, Priddy, Nr. Wells, Somerset
578	Mrs. D. Searle	‘Dolphin Cottage’, Priddy, Nr. Wells, Somerset
482	G. Selby	913 N. Olive St., Corona, California, U.S.A., 91720
213	R. Setterington.	4 Cavendish House, Cavendish Road, Chiswick, London, W 4
78	R. Setterington	4 Galmington Lane, Taunton, Somerset
565	W. Smart	P.O. Box 121, Muscat, Muscat and Oman, Arabia
473	D. Smith	Flat 15, 193 Wensley Road, Coley Park, Reading, Berks.
276	J. Stafford	‘Bryher’, Badgworth, Somerset
38	Mrs. I. Stanbury	74, Redcatch Road, Knowle, Bristol. 4.
1	T.H. Stanbury	31, Belvoir Road, St. Andrews, Bristol
575	D. Statham	22 maleney Ave., Balerno, Midlothain, Scotland
365	R. Stenner	38 Paultow Road, Victoria Park, Bristol 3
381	Mrs. Stenner	38 Paultow Road, Victoria Park, Bristol 3
690	D. Stuckey	34 Allington Road, Southville, Bristol 3
572	P. Sutton	56 Arley Hill, Redland, Bristol 6
583	D. Targett	16 Phillis Hill, Midsomer Norton, Bath, Somerset
284	A. Thomas	Westhaven School, Uphill, Weston s Mare, Somerset
681	A. Thomas	83 Coronation Rd., Southville, Bristol 3
348	D. Thomas	‘Mantons’, 2 St. Paul Road, Tupsley, Hereford
571	N.L. Thomas	Holly Lodge, Norwich Road, Salhouse, Norwich, Norfolk
693	S. Thompson	51 Hayward Road, Redfield, Bristol 5
699	B. Tilbury	256 Cressex Road, High Wycombe, Bucks
700	Mrs Tilbury	256 Cressex Road, High Wycombe, Bucks
502	G. Tilly	‘Gable’, Digby Road, Sherborne, Dorset
74	J. Tompsett	11 Lodge Avenue, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex
80	Mrs. D. Tompsett	11 Lodge Avenue, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex
326	E. Towler	5 Boxgrove Gardens, Aldwick, Bognor Regis, Sussex
544	P. Townsend	154 Sylvia Avenue, Lower Knowle, Bristol 3
157	Mrs. J. Tuck	48 Wiston Path, Fairwater, Cwmbran, Monmouthshire
678	D. Turner	12 Westbourne Place, Clifton, Bristol 8
646	P. Turner	21 Northfield, Stanshawes Estate, Yate
654	R. Voke	8 Pavey Road, Hartcliffe, Bristol 3
175	Mrs. D. Waddon	32 Laxton Close, Taunton, Somerset
695	Miss C. Warren	2 The Dingle, Combe Dingle, Bristol BS9 2PA
703	P. Waterfall	9 Filton Grove, Horfield Bristol
627	G. Watts	13a Hampton Park, Redland, Bristol 6
645	M. Webster	43 Shroud Road, Patchway, Bristol
553	R. White	33 St. Cuthbert’s Street, Wells, Somerset.
608	R. Wickens	2 Amy street, Southampton
593	P. Wilkins	51 Constable Road, Lockleaze, Bristol
549	A. Williams	Hendrew Farm, Llandevand, Newport, Mon, NP6 2AB
683	D. Yeandle	59 Egerton Road, Bristol 7 BS7 8HN

Additions and changes
to Members list

711	M.J. Thomas	5 Woolcot St., Redland, Bristol 6
	J. Cornwell	26 Russell Rd., Bristol 5
680	R. Cross	41 Jason Rd., Shirley, Southampton
+	J. Churchward	15 Jamaica Place, Bristol 2
710	C.H. Dooley	28 Somerford Place, Willenhall, Staffs
709	R.C. Gander	2 Rock St., Croscombe, Nr. Wells, Somerset, BA5 3QT
97	J. Ifold	5 Rushgrove Gardens, Bishop Sutton, Somerset
?	Miss M. Linnell	47 Berkeley Rd., Westbury Park, Bristol 6
568	Miss B. Plumber	2 Hogarth Place, Locklease, Bristol
708	Miss D. Randford	39 Winchester Rd., Oldfiled Park, Bath, Som
559	B. Wilton	22 Wedmore Vale, Bristol 4
646	P. Turner	1 Rolleston Rd., Hornington, Burton-on-Trent, Staffs

 

 

New Austrian Discovery

By Dave Yeandle

While on a walk in the Fuertal, after the Ahnenschacht
expedition, a pothole entrance was noted and because it looked promising we
returned the next day.

 

Trusting my reliable belay (Alan Thomas and Bob Craig) I
started climbing down the ladder – a wooden rung and wire rope ladder belonging
to the Austrians which is much more bulky than our lightweight electron
ladder.  Having descended to the bottom
of the 35ft. ladder there was still some 10ft. or so to the deck.  Alan and Bob lowered me, which proved to be
an interesting ride, to the boulder slope. The chamber I had entered was a fair sized chamber with several side
passages leading from it.  I explored
these but none went far.

The cave is situated some 500 yards from the turning to the

Feurtal
Ice
Cave
on the path to the Ahnenschacht.  It is
about 10 yards from the path at the start of a zigzag in the path.  The top of the

Muselhorn
Mountain
appears to be at the same height as the cave entrance.  A little further up the path, towards the
Ahnenschacht, is a small cave entrance to the left of the path and about 6ft.
up.  The end of this cave does not seem
far from point ‘A’ on the plan shown on the previous page.

Surveyor’s take note!

Martin Mills (Milch) of the S.M.C.C. recently came across
the following in Ruth Neill in ‘Climbers Club Guide’:

Cornwall, Vol.1 by P.H. Biven & M.B.
McDermott (1969) p.35.  abridged by
Milch.

If you ever require an illustration of the importance of
making due allowance for the effect of the Annual Change in magnetic variation,
you can recount the disaster in 1893 at Wheal Owles Mine in west Cornwall when
20 men were drowned when a party of miners broke into an adjacent flooded
working after a mistake in calculating the effect of the annual change in
magnetic variations.

 

Club Announcements

Caving Logs 

The current Caving Logs were destroyed in the Belfry
fire.  Members are requested to help
reconstruct the logs.  If they keep
personal diaries (giving caving details of course!) or any information in any
other form would they send it to Dave Irwin who is arranging a typescript to be
prepared from this information.  The log
commenced during March 1967.  As you will
see we have lost a great deal of valuable information here.

Personal Gear At The Belfry

Would members remove ALL their personal gear from the Belfry
site as soon as possible to enable modifications to take place in the stone
Belfry and on the site in general.  There
is so little room around the site that we cannot hope to store members gear as
well as the club tackle.

‘GET YOU HOME SERVICE’ from the Dinner

A coach has been booked by Bob Bagshaw .  Picking up at the ‘Old Duke’ at 6.30pm
(October 4th) and at the ‘Hunters’ at approximately 7.15pm.  Coach fare 6/- each.  The coach will tour

Bristol only and not to outlying places such
as Yate etc.  The coach is expected to
leave the restaurant at about midnight.

B.B. Collection Given To Club

A complete collection of B.B.’s has been given to the Club
by John Ifold.  This collection includes
several duplicates of the rarer earlier issues. The Committee, on behalf of the Club, would like to express its sincere
thanks to John for this magnificent gift. Before the B.B.’s are placed in the Club Library they are first being
bound in volumes.  This set will be used
as a reference set only and will not be taken from the Library.

Library

The Club Library is kept at Dave Searle’s cottage (Dolphin
Cottage, 4 The Beeches,

Wells Road,
Priddy, Nr. Wells,

Somerset)
– two minutes walk from the Belfry (site). Members wishing to borrow books from this collection can have them out
on loan for ONE MONTH only.  If longer
periods are required then prior arrangements must be made with Dave first.

A.G.M. and  Dinner

AGM at the ‘Old Duke’ King’s Street,

Bristol 10.30am

Agenda below….

Dinner is being held at the Wookey Hole Cave Restaurant 7.30
for 8.00pm

Book now with Bob Bagshaw,

699 Wells Road, Knowle,

Bristol 4

1969 Annual General Meeting

of the

Bristol
Exploration Club…..Agenda

1.                  Election of Chairman.

2.                  Collection of Ballot Papers and Members
Resolutions.

3.                  Election of Tellers.

4.                  Adoption of Officers Reports: Sec., Treas.,
Caving Sec., Climbing Sec., Tackle Master, Hut Warden, Hut Engineer, B.B.
Editor, Publications Editor, Librarian.

5.                  Committee Resolutions: – including new Constitution.

6.                  Long Term Planning Report.

7.                  Members Resolutions.

8.                  Result of Ballot.

9.                  Any other business

FULL DETAILS OF A ‘GET YOU HOME’ SERVICE ON PAGE 126

November B.B.

Due to changes to the October B.B. the material available to
the Editor will be spread over the next two issues.  November B.B. will include: – A.G.M. report;
recent trip to Black Shiver Pothole (
Yorkshire):
and I hope the first of an important series of articles.  December will include ‘Ahnenschacht 1969’;

Ireland 1969;
cave photography and many others.  The
December B.B. PROMISES TO BE THE LARGEST EVER – some 40 – 50 pages.