QUODCUMQUE  FACIENDUM : NIMIS  FACIEMUS

Editorial

Membership List

November is, of course, the month in which the club’s annual
membership list is published and in the event it turns out to be the biggest
list ever, with 224 names.  We seem to
have stopped the rot which happened when the sub was suddenly doubled to catch
up with inflation and are back to our steady turnover of twenty members per
year.  It is hoped, however, that the
committee have learned the lesson as to what happens when the sub is shifted
upwards by what turned out to be too large a step for many members to take.

Affiliation

The committee has been charged by the A.G.M. to look into
the possibility of allowing school caving groups to become affiliated to the
B.E.C.

The reasons behind the resolution which was proposed by Dave
Irwin (who is secretary of the Council of Southern Caving Clubs) was that the
Somerset Local Education Authority felt that the B.A.C.I. scheme for cave
leadership was probably beyond the ability of many of its teachers and that the
C.S.C.C. scheme – ‘Caving for Beginners’ – was too informal.  They suggested some sort of compromise on the
understanding that, if C.S.C.C. was not willing to look into such a compromise,
then the Somerset L.E.A. would be forced to run an entirely independent scheme.

Unfortunately, there are aspects of caving which cannot be
ignored however much somebody may decide to ‘go it alone’.  No one, for instance, would expect the M.R.O.
to refuse to rescue people who refused to comply with the C.S.C.C. recommendations
on novice training.  Since we are all
involved with M.R.O. when required, we may feel that we cannot entirely ignore
an ‘outside’ body like the local L.E.A.

Thus, C.S.C.C. will, no doubt, find a compromise which is
acceptable to both sides – although not quite what either side would really
like.  This compromise will undoubtedly
involve the use of caving clubs – a point on which C.S.C.C. will probably
insist.  Hence, Dave Irwin’s resolution.

The scheme, of course, will not stand or fall by what the
B.E.C. decides to do.  The Wessex, for
example, already have an affiliation scheme and would be able to take part
without any change to their constitution or rules, thus C.S.C.C. would be able
at once to steer any school caving groups towards the Wessex.  The question, as far as we are concerned, is
whether we want the B.E.C to become involved or not.

The reason for spelling all this out at some length is
because strong feelings were shown at the A.G.M. both for and against the
idea.  Of the 34 members who voted at
all, ten of these were so strongly against the idea that they did not even wish
the committee to consider it.  A further
ten were so strongly in favour that they said they would be happy for the
committee to act without consulting them again. The remaining 24 said that they would not mind the committee looking
into it, and would make up their minds when the committee had produced its
findings.

As far as can be shown, the committee have no strong
feelings, and are probably amongst the 24 who wanted to see what was being
proposed.  Under these circumstances it
would be a good thing if those who hold strong views used the B.B. to let
others know their reasons, so that the club and the committee may get a better
idea of what the thinking is on this subject. The editor is prepared to accept nom de plume providing that the author
gives his real name to the editor.

“Alfie”

 

Bristol
Exploration Club – Membership List October 1975

828	Nicolette Abell	Ardtraskart, Greenway Lane, Bath
741	J.M. Bacon	12 Marine Road, Pensarn, Abergele, Wales
20 L	Bob Bagshaw	699 Wells Road, Knowle, Bristol, Avon
392 L	Mike Baker	22 Riverside Walk, Midsomer Norton, Bath, Avon
856	M.D. Barker	Hunters Lodge, 4 Heath Road, Pamber Heath, Nr. Basingstoke, Hants
295	Arthur Ball	4 Charlotte Street, Cheadle, Cheshire
617	R. Bater	4 Butterfield Close, westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
618	Mrs Bater	4 Butterfield Close, westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
818	Chris Batstone	8 Prospect Place, Bathford, Bath, Avon
390 L	Joan Bennett	8 Radnor Road, Wesbury-on-Trym, Bristol
214 L	Roy Bennett	8 Radnor Road, Wesbury-on-Trym, Bristol
860	Glenys Beszant	190 Hinkler Road, Thornhill, Southampton.
731	Bob Bidmead	63 Cassell Road, Fishponds, Bristol
720	Martin Bishop	Bishops Cottage, Priddy
734	E. Bishop	Bishops Cottage, Priddy
364 L	P. Blogg	5 Tyrolean Court, Cheviot Close, Avenue Road, Banstead, Surrey
336 L	Alan Bonner	Crags Farm Close, Little Broughton, Cokermouth, Cumberland
145 L	Sybil Bowden-Lyle	9 Beverley Close, Crithill Park, Frome, Somerset
751 L	T.A. Brookes	87 Wyatt Road, London, SW2
707	R. Brown	Cranleigh Gardns, Luton, Beds.
732	Mrs Brown	Cranleigh Gardns, Luton, Beds.
687	Viv Brown	3 Cross Street, Kingswood, Bristol
819	G. Buckham	13 Grosvenor Place, London Road, Bath
756	Tessa Burt	66 Roundwood Lane, Harpendon, Herts.
849	Alan Butcher	Address to follow
777	Ian Calder	Plas Pencelli, Pencelli, Brecon
778	Penelope Calder	Plas Pencelli, Pencelli, Brecon
679	R. Chandler	6 Blackcap close, Southgate, Crawley, West Sussex
785	Paul Christie	67 Keswick Driove, Lightwater, Surrey
655	Colin Clark	186 Cranbrook Road, Redland, Bristol
211 L	Clare Coase	5 Mandalay Flats, 10 Elsiemer Street, Long Jetty, N.S.W. 2262, Australia
780	J. Coleman	Little Green, Bunwell, Norfolk
89 L	Alfie Collins	Lavendar Cottage, Bishop Sutton, Nr Bristol, Somerset
821	J, Cooke	Lancaster house, Tondu, Nr. Bridgend, S. Wales
377 L	D. Cooke-Yarborough	Lot 11 McKay Crescent, Orange, New South Wales, Australia
585	Tony Corrigan	48a Talbot Road, Knowle, Bristol 4
827	Mike Cowlishaw	Hilston, Cleveland Walk, Bath
858	S. Craig	49 Stepney Drive, Southcote Reading
680	Bob Cross	42 Bayham Road, Knowle, Bristol
609	I.M. Daniels	Handsworth, Pilgrims way, Chilham, Canterbury, Kent
405 L	Frank Darbon	PO Box 325, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
423 L	Len Dawes	223 Southwark Park Road, Bermondsey, London, SE10
449	Garth Dell	5 Hillground Road, Withywood, Bristol
815	J. Dibben	17 Nevill Road, Bramshall, Stockport, Cheshire
710	Colin Dooley	51 Osmaston Road, Harbourne, Birmingham 7
829	Angela Dooley	51 Osmaston Road, Harbourne, Birmingham 7
164 L	Ken Dobbs	85 Fox Rd., Beacon Heath, Exeter, Devon
830	John Dukes	4 Springford Crescent, Lordswood, Southampton
847	Michael Durham	11 Catherine Place, Bath
812	S. Durston	7 Estuary Park, Combwich, Bridgwater, Somerset
779	Jim Durston	7 Estuary Park, Combwich, Bridgwater, Somerset
771	P. Eckford	80 Wilton Gardens, Shirley, Southampton
322 L	Bryan Ellis	7 School Lane, Combwich, Bridgwater, Somerset
232	C. Falshaw	23 Hallam Grange Crescent, Sheffield
831	R.J. Fisher	19 Alma Road, Portswood, Southampton
269 L	Tom Fletcher	11 Cow Lane, Bramcote, Nottingham.
783	D. Foxwell	87 Okebourne Road, Brentry, Bristol
404 L	Albert Francis	22 Hervey Road, Wells, Somerset
569	Joyce Franklin	12 Avon Way, Portishead, Bristol
469	Pete Franklin	12 Avon Way, Portishead, Bristol
468	Keith Franklin	Address to follow
765	R.T. Gage	36 Woodland Road, Nailsea, Bristol
759	C. Gage	36 Woodland Road, Nailsea, Bristol
835	Leonard Gee	15 Warren Close, Denton, Manchester
265	Stan Gee	26 Parsonage Street, Heaton Norris, Stockport.
836	Bob Givens	Newstead Lodge, 1 Fields Green, Crawley, Sussex
459	Keith Gladman	29 Sheffield Road, Brentwood, Essex
752	E.M. Glanville	Jocelyn House Mews, Chard, Somerset
790	Martin Grass	14 Westlea Road, Wormley, Broxbourne, Herts
582	Chris Hall	2 Upper Radford, Paulton, Bristol
432 L	Nigel Hallet	144 Stockwood Road, Bristol 4
104 L	Mervyn Hannam	14 Inskip Place, St Annes, Lancashire
304 L	C.W. Harris	The Diocesan Registry, Wells, Somerset
581	Chris Harvey	Byways, Hanham Lane, Paulton, Nr. Bristol
4 L	Dan Hassell	Hill House, Moorlynch, Bridgwater, Somerset
866	A.P. Hicks	3 Regency Drive, Brislington, Bristol
857	M. Henderson	28 Newgreens Avenue, St.Albans, Herts.
773	Rodney Hobbs	Rose Cottage, Nailsea
373	Sid Hobbs	Hokerstone Cottage, Townsend, Priddy
736	Sylvia Hobbs	Hokerstone Cottage, Townsend, Priddy
793	Mike Hogg	32 Birchley Heath, Nuneaton, Warks
833	J.H. Hookings	32 Churchill Road, Catshill, Bromsgrove, Worcs.
387 L	George Honey	Droppsta, 19044, Odensala, Sweden
770	C. Howell	131 Sandford Road, Edgebaston, Birmingham
631	P. Hudson	22 Glantawe Park Estate, Wind Road, Ystradgynlais, Wales
855	Ted Humphreys	9 Mounters Close, Marnhull, Sturminster Newton, Dorset
808	J.A. Hunt	35 Conygre Road, Filton, Bristol
97	J. Ifold	5 Rushgrove Gardens, Bishop Sutton, Nr. Bristol
150	P. Ifold	The Cedars, Blackford, Nr. Wedmore, Cheddar
363	Maurise Iles	Waterworks Cottage, Gurmney Slade, Bath
73	Angus Innes	18 David’s Close, Alveston, Bristol, Aven
168	Margaret Innes	18 David’s Close, Alveston, Bristol, Aven
540 L	Dave Irwin	Townsend Cottage, Townsend, Priddy, Somerset
753	N. Jago	27 Quantock Road, Windmill Hill, Bristol 3
792	Ken James	5 Bay Tree Road, Weston-super-Mare
814	M. Jarrett	12 Edgecombe Hill, Hall Green, Birmingham
51 L	A Johnson	Warren Cottage, Station Rd., Flax Bourton, Bristol
560 L	Frank Jones	8 York Gardens, Clifton, Bristol 8
438	Mrs. P. Jones	50 Louisville Avenue, Aberdeen
285	U. Jones	Marsh Farm, Askem in Furness, Lancs.
567 L	Alan Kennett	92 West Broadway, Henleaze, Bristol
316 L	Kangy King	22 Parkfield Rank, Pucklechurch, Bristol, Avon
542 L	Phil Kingston	257 Pemona Street, Invercargill, New Zealand
413 L	R. Kitchen	Overcombe, Horrabridge, Yelverton, Devon
811	D. Knowles	35 North Road, Watleys End, Winterbourne, Bristol
667 L	Tim Large	15 Kippax Avenue, Wells
795	Peter Leigh	Address unknown
656	P. Littlewood	22 Brockhurst Avenue, Burbage, Hankley, Leics.
657	Mrs Littlewood	22 Brockhurst Avenue, Burbage, Hankley, Leics
846	I. Livermore	9 Leystone, Close, Frome, Somerset
574 L	Oliver Lloyd	Withey House, Withey Close West, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
58	George Lucy	Pike Croft, Long Lane, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks
495 L	Val Luckwill	8 Greenslade Road, Sedgeley hill, Dudley, Worcs.
848	T.A. McDonagh	Poole Meadow, West End, Gloucester
838	D. McFarlane	24 Greenbank Gardens, Wallington, Fareham, Hants.
550 L	R A MacGregor	12 Douro Close, Baughurst, Basingstoke, Hants
591	J. Manchip	Orwell Terrace, Edinburgh
845	A. Marchant	Manor Farm Cottage, Chilcote, Wells
788	I.K. Marshall	4 Kings Drive, Bishopston, Bristol
662	I. Marshall	7 Fairacre Close, Lockleaze, Bristol
106 L	E.J. Mason	33 Broadleys Avenue, Henleaze, Bristol
558 L	Tony Meaden	Highcroft, Westbury, Bradford Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset
704	D. Metcalf	52 Northfield Road, Peterborough. Northants.
308	K. Murray	17 Harrington Gardens, London SW7
794	A. Nichols	Address to follow
852	John Noble	15 Nash Close, Keynsham, Bristol
842	M. O’Niell	21 Wickford, Drive, Harrow Hill, Romford, Essex
624	J. Orr	Flat 2, Dorset House, Basingstoke District Hospital, Basingstoke, Hants
798	P.A. Palfree	10 Maynard, Clutton, Nr. Bristol
557	D. Palmer	29 St. John Road, Wesley, Bristol 3
396 L	Mike Palmer	27 Roman Way, Paulton, Nr. Bristol
637	A. Pearce	5 Colmer Road, Yeovil, Somerset
22 L	Les Peters	21 Melbury Rd., Knowle Park, Bristol Avon
160	Norman Petty	Bankside Road, Brislington, Bristol
499 L	Tony Philpott	3 Kings Drive, Bishopston, Bristol, Avon
724	Graham Phippen	Rock Cottage, Rock Road, Wick, Bristol
820	P. Preece	20 Belvedere Road, Moortown, Leeds 17
337	Brian Prewer	East View, West Horrington, Wells, Somerset
622	Colin Priddle	10 Franklyn Flats, Kopje Road, Gwelo, Rhodesia
481 L	John Ransom	21 Bradley Rd., Patchway, Bristol, Avon
452 L	Pam Rees	Address unknown
343 L	A Rich	Box 126, Basham, Alberta Canada
672 L	R Richards	PO Box 141, Jacobs, Natal, South Africa
844	J. Ridler	Beck Hall, 16/26 Sketty Road, Uplands, Swansea
682	J. Riley	67 Alfred Hill Drive, Melba, Canberra, Australia
712	Mrs Riley	67 Alfred Hill Drive, Melba, Canberra, Australia
787	I.P. Rogers	56 Charlton lane, Brentry, Bristol
816	P.G. Rodgers	56 Charlton lane, Brentry, Bristol
832	Roger Sabido	1 Longmead Avenue, Hoefield, Bristol 7
240 L	Alan Sandall	43 Meadway Ave., Nailsea, Avon
359 L	Carol Sandall	43 Meadway Ave., Nailsea, Avon
747	D.R. Sanderson	23 Penzance Gardens, Harold Hill, Romford
237 L	B. Scott	Merrymead, Havestock Road, Winchester Hants
577	Dave Searle	14 Silver Street, Midsomer Norton, Bath
578	Kathy Searle	14 Silver Street, Midsomer Norton, Bath
482	Gordon Selby	2 Dodd Avenue, Wells, Somerset
78 L	R.A. Setterington	4 Galmington Lane, Taunton, Somerset
213 L	R. Setterington	4 Cavendish Road, Chiswick, London W4
839	A.O. Sharp	Address to follow.
789	N.K. Shaw	Queens Head Walk, Wormley, Broxbourne, Herts
	C. Shaw	Queens Head Walk, Wormley, Broxbourne, Herts
764	M.B. Slade	230 Southampton Road, Reading, Berks.
473	Dave Smith	14 Severn Way, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.
823	Andy Sparrow	6 Downsway, Salisbury, Wilts
276	J.M. Stafford	Back Plaidy, King Edward, Nr Turriff, Aberdeen.
1 L	Harry Stanbury	31 Belvoir Road, St. Andrews, Bristol
38L	Mrs I Stanbury	74 Redcatch, Knowle, Bristol
840	G. Standring	71 Vienna Road, Edgeley, Stockport, Chester
575 L	D. Statham	The Bungallow, North Barrow, Yeovil, Somerset
365 L	Roger Stenner	38 Paulton Road, Victoria Park, Bristol 3
381 L	Daphne Stenner	Address unknown
837	Richard Stevenson	Greystones, Priddy
865	Paul Stokes	32 Manor Way, Bagshot, Surrey
572	P. Sutton	75 Brendon, Yate, Bristol
826	J.G. Talbot	52 Galley Lane, Barnet, Herts.
583	Derek Targett	16 Phyllis Hill, Midsomer Norton
800	M.D. Taylor	15 Kennington Avenue, Bishopston, Bristol
772	Nigel Taylor	Whidden Farm, Chilcote, Nr. Wells, Somerset
284 L	Allan Thomas	Allens House, Nine Barrows Lane, Priddy, Somerset
348 L	D Thomas	Lower Lodge, Bartlestree, Hereford
571 L	N Thomas	Holly Lodge, Norwich Rd., Salhouse, Norwich, Norfolk.
711	M. Thomas	5 Woolcot St. Redland, Bristol 6
699	Buckett Tilbury	256 Cressex Road, High Wycombe, Bucks
700	Anne Tilbury	256 Cressex Road, High Wycombe, Bucks
692	Roger Toms	18 Hoton Road, Wysemold, Leicester
803	R.S. Toms	18 Hoton Road, Wysemold, Leicester
80	J.M. Postle Tompsett	11 Lodge Avenue, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex
74 L	M.J. Dizzie Tompsett	11 Lodge Avenue, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex
544	Phil Townsend	20 Lime Close, Prestbury. Cheltenham, Glos.
157 L	Jill Tuck	48 Wiston Path, Fairwater Way, Cwmbran, Gwent, Wales
328	Steve Tuck	3 Colles Close, Wells, Somerset
768	Tony Tucker	Address to follow
769	Sue Tucker	Address to follow
678	Dave Turner	Moonrakers, Brewery Lane, Holcombe, Bath
646	P. Turner	11 Harper Court, Honnington, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire
843	M.F. Turley	13 Cresham Walk, Tilgate, Crawley, Sussex
635 L	S. Tuttlebury	28 Butts Road, Alton, Hants.
775	J. Upsall	Gable End, The Flying Horseshoe, Clapham, Lancashire
776	Mrs Upsall	Gable End, The Flying Horseshoe, Clapham, Lancashire
175 L	Mrs D. Waddon	32 Laxton Close, Taunton, Somerset
592	Eddie Welch	18 Station Road, Filton, Bristol
397	Mike Wheadon	91 The Oval, Bath
861	Maureen Wheadon	91 The Oval, Bath
817	C.D. Wheeler	13 Greywell Avenue, Aldermoor, Southampton
553	Bob White	Address to follow
559	Barry Wilton	27 Venus Lane, Clutton, Bristol
568	Brenda Wilton	27 Venus Lane, Clutton, Bristol
721	Graham Wilton-Jones	Ileana, Stenfield Road, Nap Hill, High Wycombe, Bucks
850	Annie Wilton-Jones	6 Meadow Road, Withyall, Birmingham
813	Ian Wilton-Jones	6 Meadow Road, Withyall, Birmingham
594	P. Wilkins	55 Eighth Avenue, Northville, Bristol
549	Alan Williams	Address not known
841	C.K. Williams	Whitestown Farm, Cheddar Cross Roads, Compton Martin, Bristol
738	R.F. Wing	Penzance Gardens, Harold Hill, Romford, Essex
859	J, Widley	15 Nash Close, Keynsham, Bristol
853	D.Wiltshire	31 Bath Road, Keynsham, Bristol

 

Note: Any member who knows any of the following omissions
from the list above will greatly oblige all concerned if they could please
supply any missing information.

Keith Franklin’s address.
Pete Hamm’s address.
Dr.A. Hicks’s membership number.
P.Leigh’s address.
Andy Nichols’s address.
Pam Rees’s address.
Tony Sharp’s address.
Daphne Stenner’s address. 
P. Stokes’s membership number
Doug Stuckey’s address.
The Tuckers’ address
Bob White’s address
A. Williams’s address

And who has the membership 854 ?

 

Down the Chute

A Novice’s First Trip – by Annie Wilton-Jones.

It is pleasant to welcome the
newest member of the Wilton-Jones clan to the pages of the B.B.  Not only do they all cave, but they write
about it as well!

The Chute

Caving was a completely new experience to me, and the nearer
we got to Cwm Dwr, the entrance which was to lead us into Ogof Ffynon Ddu, the
more nervous I felt.  My first sight of
the entrance confirmed my worst fears.  A
tiny metal door opened to reveal a concrete tube leading almost vertically
downwards.  I stared at this chute in
horror as the first three in the party disappeared down it.  Me next! My face was white; my stomach knotted in terror, but I couldn’t back out
now!  I slid down the chute into the
blackness and reached a narrow gap through which the head of one of the group
was passing.  (Why didn’t I stick to my
diet?).  Now the passage opened and I
relaxed before the next hazard.

The Crawls

We appeared to have reached an impasse.  Where could we go?  Oh, no! Not into that tiny hole there!  But
next moment, there I was, flat on my stomach, starting an apparently
never-ending slither along a tunnel just wide enough for my shoulders.  Every now and then, the height of the tunnel
increased and I was able to crawl (luxury!) but mostly I slid along using my
elbows as levers.  After a few yards my
elbows and knees felt really raw as the gravel floor bit into them, but this
was nothing compared with the final indignity – a puddle about five or six feet
long and filling the width of the tunnel, the roof of which, needless to say,
was now at its lowest point.  I slid into
the water like an ungainly water snake and heaved myself back onto dry lend
with my long suffering elbows.

Stal

Now, at last, I could stand and I forgot about the
appropriately named crawls as I moved into the underground caverns and passages
where the beauties of various stal. formations awaited me.  Now I knew why so many people spend so much
time burrowing underground like moles. Stalactites and stalagmites I had seen before but not the beauty of
straws nor the precarious strength of a false floor stiffened with stal.  Sand washed into pinnacles by the constant
drip of water or formed into a gigantic ledge through the years; these and many
other delights were revealed to us as we passed from passage to passage, cavern
to cavern.  To protect these natural
phenomena, tapes had been placed round them by previous cavers as a warning not
to get too close.  The manoeuvres
necessary to avoid taped areas were often incredibly complicated.

The Main Stream

Then we reached the Main Stream.  It was smaller than I expected but it made up
for its lack of size with the volume of noise it created.  The stream was shallow – no deeper at most
than knee level, but I still did not trust myself in it.  As I walked along the bed of the stream, I
felt carefully with each foot before daring to move.  I must here give full recognition to the
patience of my party; their feet froze as they kept down to my pace yet there
was no murmur of discontent.

“Up the Ladder and Down the Wall”

At last we climbed out of the water and into another tunnel
about thirty inches high.  The next big
challenge was there before me – a thirty three foot high wall of rock, twenty
feet of which we were to ascend on a wire ladder.  My turn came too soon. I put my hands in the
correct position and one foot on a rung; then, bravely, I moved the other
foot.  The ladder swung, taking my heart
with it, but once I got back in control I refused to be beaten and so, slowly
but surely, I approached the top of the wall and clambered, gleefully, to
safety.  “Now for a little
exploration!” We walked; climbed, clambered and jumped for nearly an hour,
stopping at one point for a much-needed snack. Then back down the ladder and into the stream again.

Home,
James!

As we had now been underground for four hours, we started
for home, but by a different route.  On
the way back I decided that I did not like straddling wide gaps over seemingly
bottomless pits – the knee tremble of the climber attacked me and I had to be
gently talked through each move.  One gap
was too wide for me even to straddle and I had to lean across it with my hands
on one side and my feet on the other, with only friction keeping me in
position.  “This is the life,”
I thought – wondering how long my life would last!

The Final Struggle

Soon afterwards, our passage met the passage we had entered
by and we were back in the Crawls starting at the puddle and working back.  After five hours in the cave I was really
tired.  My arms ached and pulling myself
along on my elbows nearly finished me off. I was faring better than one member of the party, however, as my caving
light was still reasonably strong whereas this poor unfortunate’s light had
faded to nothing.  His passage through
the Crawls was punctuated with crashings and exclamations as bends and jutting
rocks caught him unawares.  But now we
were nearly home and little mattered except the final effort to pull oneself
back up the chute.  Here, I failed
miserably.  My arms gave up altogether
and I had to be pulled from above and pushed from below until I finally emerged
like a Jack-in-the-Box into the fading daylight six hours after I had left it.

Covered in mud from head to foot, my wet socks full of water
and sand, my eyes half closed with tiredness, I made myself a promise – ‘I’ll
be back’

 

Mik’s Peregrinations

I was just thinking that it was time I took up my pen again
for another stroll over Mendip’s mighty gossip columns – particularly now that
Alfie tells me that ‘Wig’ is about to retire – although it could well be
Christmas by the time I complete this and get it published.  (And it could well be Christmas before the
November B.B. is out at the rate articles are coming in! – Editor.)

Now, where should I begin? Perhaps just a brief mention of our intrepid explorers John Dukes and
Graham Wilton-Jones, with their sucessfu1 P.S.M. summer expedition.  Modest though they both are, their exploits
were well in keeping with the normal excesses of the club, no doubt we can
expect even more next year.

Next, in geological order in my memory, comes the A.G.M.
which was once again reasonably lively even though there was no debate this
year on the periodicity of the B.B. – perhaps because Tim wasn’t there.  A further item absent from the agenda this
year was the election, for although Colin, ‘Wig’ and Tony Sharpe fled the
scene, the only replacements were Chris Batstone, Mike Wheadon and Roy
Marshall.  Unfortunately, as far as I can
see, there were several matters unresolved, such as insurance and affiliations.

Tony Tucker livened things up for a brief time by pointing
out that his legs were too long for him to assume a comfortable seat in the new
Belfry loos (big sighs of commiseration all round for Tony).  Anyway, the loos ARE installed and one of
them is operational.  John Dukes reckons
it will only be a short time before all the mods are complete and he plans to
hold a working weekend some time before Christmas, so keep working.

Having surprised myself by doing a separate article on the
dinner (that’s one of the drawbacks of being a syndicate) my sense of time has
been upset because it should slot into this column at about this point.  All the same, it seems to have been
reasonably successful though there are cries for changes of venue and menu and
a return of the traditional B.E.C. entertainment.

Still, if that’s all you have to worry about, not to
complain – you complacent bods.  Spare a
thought for our friendly neighbouring club the

Wessex, whose dinner on the 18th of
October at the Bishop’s Barn passed almost unnoticed.  What a far cry this is from the days not so
long ago when their dinner was the one event not to be missed in the Mendip
calendar.  Nowadays, the Absent Friends
list outnumbers the attendance list.  Sad
though this is, it is nevertheless true and whilst the reasons are not really
our affair, we should perhaps learn and ensure that our dinner never heads in
that direction.  One cannot but wonder
whether it has anything to do with their turning the affair into a coconut
shy.  Once again, their dinner was concerned
with throwing and the would-be diner has the agonising choice between a lounge
suit or a wet suit as dress for the occasion.

Changing the mood – it seems that the barrel season is
beginning to blossom again.  On the list
we had Chris Hallam and Martin G., Mike W. and Mike P. putting on two barrels
between them at the Belfry after hours. No one seems to recall the reasons for the barrels but they were much
enjoyed – though I think the exuberance of trying to extract day fees for
drinking guests sets a dangerous precedent which should be forgotten with
thanks to those too drunk to know what they were doing by contributing.

Finally, and to bring us up to date, I must mention the
Shepton Dinner/Buffet which was again held in Priddy Village Hall.  Once again, the dinner was excellent and a
great credit to the hard workers of the Shepton who organised it all.  There was plenty of food and plenty of
plonk.  After the meal, the customary
custard pie slapping sponsored affair (Butch v. Mr. N.) which, incidentally,
only spreads food on the participants, took place and a reasonable sum was
raised for M.R.O. finds.  Then came the
traditional games – this year in the early stages with perhaps too much
exposure – which demand a reasonable degree of skill and dexterity.  The Shepton were the victorious team, so
honour was satisfied and we all left feeling very merry.

Lastly, definitely, I must make note that our Treasurer has
finally lapsed by missing his first committee meeting since he was elected eons
ago – he forgot! 

Barrie is also working to try to get last
year’s expedition members to the Lakes again this year, so pray for some snow
for him!

 

Round and About

A Monthly Miscellany,
by Wig

192.      O.F.D.: Following several years of
negotiations, O.F.D.,

Britain’s
longest and deepest cave becomes a National nature reserve.  Due to threats of quarrying by Hobbs
Quarries, the Nature Conservancy has purchased most of the land above the
cave.  O.F.D 1 and Cwm Dwr lie outside
the Nature Conservancy boundaries. Access to the cave is being controlled as usual by South Wales Cave Club
but it appears that a management committee may be required in the future.

193.      Conservation and Access drop purchase
of Quarry Shares: At the 1974 Annual Meeting of N.C.A., it was proposed to
attack the quarrying companies ‘from within’. It was pointed out by C.S.C.C. representatives that this was a futile
method of going about the job, and that little, if any, information would be
available to shareholders.  In the South,
good relations and an understanding of each others problems has been a
framework built up over the years.  When
the C and A group investigated the situation in a little more detail, it was
found that the quarrying operations formed minute parts of large combines – so
small in fact that no details were available. Anyway, to try to attack firms by the back door would merely set their
backs up.  Once again, the south has been
proved right.

194.      C.S.C.C. “Chuck out” N.C.A.
Equipment Annual Report:  No doubt
the C.S.C.C. will be in its usual position of ‘the baddy’ after the N.C.A.
Annual Meeting on December 5th at Ingleton. At the C.S.C.C. meeting on November 29th, the annual report of this
controversial special committee on equipment was discussed.  The report is couched in vague generalities
such as “We should like to carry out testing on ropes.”  In fact, there are no less than seven
examples of “We should like… ” A committee of four or five, living in various parts of the country,
have suggested enough work to keep a well organised laboratory happy for many
years!  In addition, the committee is to
ask the N.C.A. for £200 for travel and administration expenses next year.  As most of these expenses are NOT covered by
grants, this alone would mean a doubling of the annual subscription from
regions.  For what?  A mountain of paperwork of NO DIRECT USE TO
THE CAVER.  If this committee is allowed
to carry out testing (and their technical ability is strongly criticised by
C.S.C.C.) then a considerable sum of money is going to be required.

As a result, the C.S.C.C. has
instructed its delegates to refer this report back to the special committee for
re-writing to include details of costs and times for the work it wishes to
do.  It is essential that cavers have any
useful information that may be available, but the work must be carried out by
people that have the confidence of the grass-roots caver and at a price that
the caving world can afford.

Wally Wilcocks, the C.S.C.C.
representative on this Committee has requested clubs to search their membership
to find any professionally qualified technicians who might be able to
help.  Also, let him know your views on
equipment testing.  Do you want a
committee to do it for you?  Are you
prepared to trust the findings of people you’re not certain about?  Do you want a potentially expensive body set
up for which, indirectly you will have to pay? Let Wally, or Mike Cowlishaw know your views on these and related
question.

195.      Southern Reps at N.C.A .Annual Meeting:
Six people are attending this meeting. They are Tim Reynolds (W.C.C.) Fred Davies (N.H.A.S.A.) Mike Jay,
(S.V.C.C.) Dave Irwin and Alfie Collins (B.E.C.) and Wall Wilcocks
(W.C.C.).  The official minutes will not
be available until late in January.

196.      New Book published by B.C.R.A.: The
B.C.R.A. have withdrawn the text of Bryan Ellis’s new book ‘

Surveying
Caves‘
from David and Charles and are publishing it themselves.  Available about January price £1.50.

197.      ‘Descent’ in political trouble: As
readers of Descent will know, the Editor – Bruce Bedford – has given over two
pages to the N.C.A., thus enabling them to publish news of latest
activities.  The retiring Hon. Sec.
(Jenny Potts) has criticised magazine for its irregular publishing dates and
suggested that N.C.A. should spend money on a propaganda sheet.  Really, you know – beggars can’t be choosers!

198.      Burrington Atlas: The B.E.C.’s
popular ‘best seller’ is being reprinted with corrections.  Price and to be announced shortly.

199.      A History of Swildons Hole:  After three years in the preparation stage,
this book has finally appeared.  It costs
£12 bound in leather or £9 in rexine covers. Intended to raise £1,500 to finance the building of a workshop at Upper
Pitts, it is being sold at about three times its production cost.  For a prestige book, as this is intended to
be, it is very lacking in proof reading. I must admit here that I have only looked at the pictures and have not
yet read the text.  The layout is untidy
and there are some mistakes that should never have been passed – an inverted
photograph; bad layout of photographs; small portions of text tucked away into
corners; too much name dropping of people not really notable for the activities
in this cave, and so on.  However, those
with £9 – £12 to spend on a limited edition (300 copies) might be interested in
obtaining a copy.  There are many
interesting record photographs, but are these worth the money to assist

Wessex build a
workshop?  A good idea that has not met
its specification due to bad editing.  A
pity.

200.      Whernside Manor: As many of you
already know, the Scout Association is withdrawing financial support to the
centre as from next March.  Without any
financial support to cover its annual deficit of about £15,000 the centre will
have to close.  Various ideas have been
looked into, including the possibility of forming a trust with NCA on its management
board.  The Sports Council have stated
that they do not intend to bail the centre out of financial trouble should the
trust be formed – so the idea has been abandoned.  The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
have expressed their interest in the site with a view to diversifying its
activities.  They are going to include
Whernside in their budget for 1976/7 and hope that the North Yorkshire County
Council will cough up the necessary money. At the moment, Ben Lyon and his associates are biting their nails hard.

201.      Further protection for Mendip caves:
Rich Witcombe, C and A Officer for the Southern Council, has been quietly
working away to get SSSI cover for Thrupe Lane Manor Farm and Fairy Cave Quarry
caves.  The Nature Conservancy has agreed
to extend the boundary of Stoke Lane SSSI to cover the Fairy Cave Quarry caves,
but they are not entirely convinced of the importance of Thrupe or Manor.  Rich is now awaiting the publication of an
accurate survey of Thrupe before taking any further action.

202.      More to be found?: Tim Large
recently visited St. Cuthbert’s little known Marble Pot to find that a hole had
opened up at the bottom of the shaft.  A
rift led up dip(?) and off this a tight tube led with a promising draught
coming from it.  Later pushing showed
that it became too tight.  However, more
work here might give more cave passage.

Secretarial

Once again this month we welcome both new members and two
who have rejoined after having been away for many years: –

Margaret and Angus Innes, 18
Davids Close, Alvestion,

Bristol.

Mike McCarthy, Flat 5, 26
Elgin Park, Redland,

Bristol.
Nigel George,

Homestead
Garden Cottage, Wookey
Hole, Wells.
Gary Cullen,

47 Eversfield Rd.,
Horsham,
Sussex.

 

Monthly Crossword – Number 62

 

Across

1. O, limited cod!
(Conglomerated, perhaps?) (9)
6. Negative expression. (2)
7. See 5 down
9. Knot. (5)
12. Gruff was originally this according to some. (6)
13. Exist. (2)
15. Low pubs that sell anything? – No, sumps, in fact. (4,5)

Down

1. Gay R.N. food?  Welsh rarebit perhaps! (3-2-4)
2. Short pound. (2)
3. A G.B. chamber contains mother? (4)
4. Worker, perhaps, in a place of mine in Cuthbert’s. (6)
5. and 7 across. You might well be reduced to crawling after this – but not in
August, surely? (9,6).
8.  – or beef, coming first. (6)
11. Keen, like an old six and five hundred. (4)
14. Cider drinkers will recognise this abbreviation. (1,1)

Solution to Last Month’s Crossword

 

 

Club Headquarters

The Belfry,

Wells
Rd, Priddy, Wells,

Somerset. Telephone WELLS 72126

Club Committee

Chairman          S.J.
Collins

Minutes Sec      G.

Wilton-Jones

Members           Chris Batstone, John Dukes, Chris
Howell, Tim Large, Mike Wheadon, R. Marshall, Barry Wilton.

Officers Of The Club

Honorary Secretary        M.
WHEADON, 91 The Oval, Englishcoombe,

Bath.  Tel :

BATH
713646

Honorary Treasurer         B.

WILTON, ‘Valley View’,

Venus Lane,
Clutton, Nr. Bristol. Tele :

TEMPLE
CLOUD
52072

Caving Secretary            TIM
LARGE,

15 Kippax Avenue,
Wells, Somerset

Climbing
Secretary         R. MARSHALL, 7 Fairacre
Close, Lockleaze,

Bristol

Hut Warden                   C.
BATSTONE,

8 Prospect Place,
Bathford,

Bath..

Belfry Engineer              J.
DUKES,

4 Springfield Crescent,
Southampton. SO1 6LE  Tele : (0703) 774649

Tacklemaster                 G.
WILTON-JONES, ‘Ilenea’,

Stonefield
Road. Nap Hill,
High Wycombe,
Bucks. Tele : (024) 024 3534

B.B. Editor                    S.J.
COLLINS, Lavender Cottage, Bishops Sutton, Nr. Bristol. Tel : CHEW MAGNA 2915

Publications Editor         C.
HOWELL,

131 Sandon Road,
Edgebaston,

Birmingham
17.  Tele : (021) 429 5549

B.B. Postal                    BRENDA

WILTON  Address as for Barry

Spares                          T.
LARGE,  Address already given

Membership Sec.           Mrs. A.
DOOLEY, c/o The Belfry.  TO WHOM ALL SUBS
SHOULD BE SENT.

 

All views expressed by contributors to the Belfry Bulletin,
including those of officers of the club, do not necessarily co-coincide with
those of the editor or the committee of the Bristol Exploration Club, unless
specifically so stated.

The Editor would like to appeal URGENTLY for more material
for the B.B.  Small items are always useful
for filling up odd spaces.  Of course,
long articles are even better!