The
Exploration Club, The Belfry,
Road
Editor: D.J. Irwin, Townsend Cottage, Priddy, Nr. Wells,
Contents
News in brief
Congratulations to John and Sue Dukes who were married this
month at the Shepton Mallet Registry Office. The formalities were followed by a ‘Folk’ evening at the Priddy Village
Hall.
Descent – the next issue will see another price rise – it
will cost you 75p
.
ADDRESS CHANGES: – Jim Watson, c/o 15 Farm Grove,
Southfields,
New Member: – 971. Colin Houlden, c/o HM Prison, Shepton, Mallet,
BCRA 1980 Symposium at the
day Saturday in the
practical session on Sunday in the University Gymnasium.
This will be held on March 8 and 9th. Lecturers include: Dave Elliot, Andy Eavis,
Daye Brook, Steve Foster, Brian Smith, Paul Ramsden and John Forder. Application to the ‘Bookings Manager Dr.
R.G. Picknett,
Laverstock,
Wilts, SP1 1PX tickets are £1.50 each (non-members of BCRA) and £1.00
(members). Members of member clubs are
able to purchase tickets at members rates – BEC is a Member club.
Swildons Sump 1 is given as 5ft (Mendip Underground); 6ft
6ins (
conditions, 30 inches. This length of
2½ft has been thought to be the general length of the sump.
Banwell Bone and
Redwood,
Banwell. Telephone: 823867.
Stop Press
Following the very successful weekend caving in
all arrived back on Mendip very late on the Sunday night.
Next day Martin Bishop rang Stu McManus, I did get my
caving gear out of your car and leave it by the gate did I?
Yes, said Mac. Shit, the dustmans taken it!
Bristol
Exploration Club – Membership List February 1980
828 Nicolette Abell Michaelmas
Cottage, Faulkland,
20 L Bob Bagshaw
Knowle,
392 L M. Baker 10
Riverside Walk, Midsomer Norton,
295 Arthur Ball
818 Chris Batstone
Bathford,
390 L Joan Bennett
Wesbury-on-Trym,
214 L Roy Bennett
Wesbury-on-Trym,
860 Glenys Beszant
Harptree,
364 L Pete Blogg
Cheviot Close, Avenue Rd., Banstead,
336 L A. Bonner Crags
Farm Close, Little Broughton, Cokermouth,
145 L Sybil Bowden-Lyle
959 Chris Bradshaw
Wells,
868 Dany Bradshaw 7
Creswicke,
967 Michael Brakespeare 7 Red
Pit, Dilton Marsh, Westbury. Wiltshire
751 L T.A. Brookes
891 Neil Raynor Brown 25
Lingfield Park, Evesham, Worcs.
956 Ian Caldwell 44
Strode Road, Clevedon,
955 Jack Calvert 4
The Hollow, Dilton Marsh, Westbury, Wiltshire.
965 Gary Childs Wheels,
Southwater, Nr. Horsham,
785 Paul Christie 7
The Glen,
Sunninghill,
782 Pat Christie 7
The Glen,
Sunninghill,
655 Colin Clark
211 L Clare Coase The
Belfry, 10 Shannon Parade,
89 L Alfie Collins Lavendar
Cottage, Bishop Sutton, Nr Bristol,
377 L D. Cooke-Yarborough No known
address
862 Bob Cork 25
The Mead, Stoke St. Michael,
827 Mike Cowlishaw 14
Plovers Down, Olivers Battery,
890 Jerry Crick Whitestones
farm, Cheddar Cross Roads, Compton Martin, Nr. Bristol
680 Bob Cross
Knowle,
870 Gary Cullen
405 L Frank Darbon
423 L Len Dawes The
Lodge,
Minster Matlock, Derbyshire
449 Garth Dell BLD
47 (Press), COD Donnington,
164 L Ken Dobbs
Heath,
830 John Dukes Bridge
Farm, Dulcote, Wells,
937 Sue Dukes Bridge
Farm, Dulcote, Wells,
847 Michael Durham
322 L Bryan Ellis
Westonzoyland, Bridgwater,
269 L Tom Fletcher
Bramcote,
947 Phil Ford CPOs
Mess, RNAS Yeovilton,
404 L Albert Francis
Wells,
569 Joyce Franklin
Stoke Bishop,
469 Pete Franklin
Stoke Bishop,
265 Stan Gee
Heaton Norris,
648 Dave Glover c/o
Leisure,
Pamber Green,
860 Glenys Grass
790 Martin Grass
432 L Nigel Hallet
104 L Mervyn Hannam
Annes,
4 L Dan Hassell Hill
House, Moorlynch, Bridgwater,
935 Lynne Henley
Wells,
917 Robin Hervin 12
952 Robert Hill 32
Ridings Mead, Chippenham, Wiltshire
905 Paul Hodgson 15
Cromwell Terrace,
793 Mike Hogg 32
Birchley Heath,
898 Liz Hollis 1
Bugle Cottage, Milborne Wick, Nr Sherborne,
899 Tony Hollis 1
Bugle Cottage, Milborne Wick, Nr Sherborne,
920 Nick Holstead Little
Maplecroft,
387 L George Honey Droppsta,
19044,
971 Colin Houlden c/o
HM Prison, Shepton Mallet,
770 Chris Howell
Cadbsoton, Birmimgham
923 Trevor Hughes Wardroom,
HMS Bulwark, BFPO Ships,
855 Ted Humphreys Frekes
Cottage, Moorsite, Marnhull, Sturminster Newton, Dorset
73 Angus Innes 18
Davids Close, Alveston,
Aven
969 Duncan Innes 0
540 L Dave Irwin Townsend
Cottage, Townsend, Priddy,
922 Tony Jarratt Alwyn
Cottage,
Congressbury,
51 L A Johnson
Rd.
966 Pete Johnson R
& IT Section, HMS Daedelus, Lee-on-Solent, Hants.
560 L Frank Jones
Wells,
285 U. Jones Woking
Grange,
Woking,
907 Karen Jones Room
63, New Ednd Nurses Home, New End Hospital, Hampstead, London NW3
567 L Alan Kennett 9
Hillburn, Henleaze, Brsitol
316 L Kangy King 22
Parkfield Rank, Pucklechurch,
542 L Phil
413 L R. Kitchen Overcombe,
Horrabridge, Yelverton,
946 Alex Ragar Knutson
874 Dave Lampard Woodpeckers,
667 L Tim Large 53
Portway, Wells,
958 Fiona Lewis 53
Portway, Wells,
930 Stuart Lindsay 5
Laburnum Walk, Keynsham, Bristil
574 L Oliver Lloyd Withey
House, Withey Close West, Westbury-on-Trym,
58 George Lucy Pike
Croft, Long Lane, Tilehurst,
Berks
495 L Val Luckwill
Sedgeley hill, Dudley, Worcs.
550 L R A MacGregor 12
Douro Close, Baughurst,
725 Stuart McManus
Wells,
106 L E.J. Mason
Henleaze,
957 Dave Morrison 27
Maurice Walk,
NW1
558 L Tony Meaden Highcroft,
Westbury, Bradford Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset
963 Clare Merritt
Chippenham, Wiltshire
704 Dave Metcalfe
308 Keith Murray 17
936 Dave Nichols
880 Graham Nye
Horsham,
938 Kevin ONeil
964 Lawrie ONeil
396 L Mike Palmer
22 L Les Peters
499 L A. Philpott
Bishopston,
961 Mick Phinister
337 Brian Prewer East
View, West Horrington, Wells,
622 Colin Priddle
Wadeville 1422,
481 L John Ransom
Patchway,
452 L Pam Rees No
Known Address
343 L A Rich
672 L R Richards
Africa
945 Steve Robins 16
Hillcrest, Knowle,
970 Trev Roberts
Yatton,
921 Pete Rose 2
The Beacon, Ilminster
832 Roger Sabido 15
Concorde drive, Westbury-on-Trym,
941 John Sampson 8
Hillcrest, Knowle,
240 L Alan Sandall
Nailsea,
359 L Carol Sandall
Nailsea,
760 Jen Sandercroft 5
Eastcroft, Henleaze,
237 L B. Scott Merrymead,
78 L R.A. Setterington
213 L R. Setterington
Chiswick,
W4
915 Chris Smart
Woking,
851 Maurice Stafford 28
Rowan Close, Sonning Common,
Berks.
1 L Harry Stanbury
St. Andrews,
38L Mrs I Stanbury 74
Redcatch, Knowle,
575 L D. Statham The
Bungallow, North Barrow, Yeovil,
365 L Roger Stenner
Weston super Mare,
865 Paul Stokes
Bagshot,
968 James Tasker 281
Canford lane, Westbury-on-Trym, Brsitol
772 Nigel Taylor Whidden
Farm, Chilcote, Nr Wells,
284 L Allan Thomas Allens
House,
Priddy,
348 L D Thomas Pendant,
Little Birch, Bartlestree,
571 L N Thomas Holly
Lodge,
Salhouse,
876 Nick Thorne
Wells,
699 Buckett Tilbury 15
Fernie Fields,
700 Anne Tilbury 15
Fernie Fields,
80 J.M. Postle Thompsett
Great Baddow,
74 L M.J. Dizzie Thompsett
Great Baddow,
381 L Daphne Towler 7
Ross Close, Nyetimber,
157 L J. Tuck 33
Crown Rise, Llanfrechfa, Cwmbran, Gwent,
768 Tony Tucker 75
Lower Whitelands, Tynings, Radstock,
769 Sue Tucker 75
Lower Whitelands, Tynings, Radstock,
678 Dave Turner Moonrakers,
Holcombe,
912 John Turner Orchard
Cottage, 92 Church lane, Backwell,
635 L S. Tuttlebury 28
Beacon Close, Boundstone, Farnham,
887 Greg Villis The
Oaks,
Cheddar,
175 L D. Waddon 32
Laxton Close,
949 John Watson
Westbury-on-Trym,
953 Jim Watson c/o
15 Farm Grove, Southfields,
397 Mike Wheadon 91
The Oval,
553 Bob White Cedar
Hall,
Wookey, Wells,
878 Ross White PO38389Y,
5 Troop, B. Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines,
939 Woly Wilkinson
Melksham, Wiltshire
940 Val Wilkinson
Melksham, Wiltshire
934 Colin Williams Whitestones
Farm, Cheddar Cross Roads,
885 Claire Williams Whitestones
Farm, Cheddar Cross Roads,
559 Barry Wilton Valley
View,
Clutton,
568 Brenda Wilton Valley
View,
Clutton,
721 Graham
Redland Way
850 Annie
813 Ian
943 Simon Woodman Link
Batch, Burrington, Nr Bristol,
914 Brian Workman 11
Moreland, 11 New
772 Nigel Taylor Whidden
Farm, Chilcote, Nr. Wells,
919 Tom
Hants.
284 L Allan Thomas Allens
House,
Priddy,
348 L D Thomas Pendant,
Little Birch, Bartlestree,
571 L N Thomas Holly
Lodge,
Salhouse,
876 Nick Thorne
Wells,
699 Buckett Tilbury
700 Anne Tilbury
692 Roger Toms
Wysemold, Leicester
803 R.S. Toms
Wysemold, Leicester
80 J.M. Postle Tompsett
Great Baddow,
74 L M.J. Dizzie Tompsett
Great Baddow,
381 L Daphne Towler 7
Ross Close, Nyetimber,
157 L Jill Tuck 48
Wiston Path,
Cwmbran, Gwent,
328 Steve Tuck Colles
Close, Wells,
768 Tony Tucker 75
Lower Whitelands, Tynings, Radstock,
769 Sue Tucker 75
Lower Whitelands, Tynings, Radstock,
678 Dave Turner Moonrakers,
Holcombe,
912 John Turner Orchard
Cottage, 92 Church lane, Backwell,
635 L S. Tuttlebury
887 Greg Villis The
Oaks,
Cheddar,
175 L D. Waddon 32
Laxton Close,
397 Mike Wheadon 91
The Oval,
861 Maureen Wheadon 91 The
Oval,
553 Bob White Weavers
Farm, Binegar
878 Ross White
Lightwater,
916 Jane Wilson University
Laboratory of Psychology,
Road
559 Barry Wilton Valley
View,
Clutton,
568 Brenda Wilton Valley
View,
Clutton,
721 Graham
850 Annie
813 Ian
738 Roger Wing 15
Harold Hill, Romford,
877 Steve Woolven 21
Three Acres,
914 Brian Workman 11
Moreland, 11 New
Trappiste As Newts – A tale of the B.E.C. in
Belgium
was the January meet for the Belfry regulars
.
By Tony Jarratt
The weekend of 18th – 20th of January heralded yet another
historical assault on the continental mainland by the forces of British
imperialism. In the hirsute and motley
forms of the Belfryites and the Geriatric Cave Club. The advance party (with their uniforms and
pennant bedecked staff car) of Macannus, Barry Wilton, Colin Dooley and Martin
Bishop established themselves in various bars in the
on Friday evening. Meeting up with
Pieter Staal, and his Speleo Nederland irregulars,
all got swiftly arseholded.
The bright and calm morn that followed was marred for the
inhabitants of the
another carload, fresh from the hill – Alan Thomas (straight out of retirement)
Trefor Roberts and the Uglies (sometimes known as Dany and Bob). Also, direct from a huge Belgian
refrigerator, masquerading as a caving hut, came the remainder of the Expeditionary
Forces:- Buckett Tilbury, Graham Wilton-Jones, Jeff Price, J’Rat and organiser
of the whole issue Big John Watson.
After a series of cock-ups regarding rendezvous, Belgian
cavers, etc., the team sample some local ale, got a cheap visit to the
caving/archaeological museum at Han-Sur-Lene and eventually got underground.
Led by one Dominique, we were taken into the impressive
Grotte de Pierre Noel for a two hour trip. Hydrologically part of the long and fascinating Grotte de Han system,
the cave consists essentially of a roomy breakdown tunnel with white columns,
bones and curtains – all on a grand scale and, in a reasonable state of repair
considering the muddy path through the cave and grotty fingerprints on the
lower pretties. We were informed that a
film was being made here in anticipation of the site becoming a show cave in the
near future.
Barry, Buckett and Bassett photographed the place to death
while the rest pottered about the place comparing it with Otter Hole, the
Bergerete. A short and easy cave but
well worth a visit.
Intending to buy Dominique a beer for his troubles, all were
prepared for an onslaught on the nearest bar. This became unnecessary when it was found that Trappiste (local
nonentity brewed high Octane Newcastle Brown) and Stella
Dominiques club hut!
Refreshment was duly obtained, B.E.C. sticker emplaced and
the entourage moved off for a vast meal of sauerkraut, mash and donkeys
dickwurst provided by the Dutch lads at their cosy wooden hut (behind a caravan
site and almost underneath a motorway!) Much of the rest of the evening has been pieced together from others
memories. Extreme field trials of
various brews and-octane ratings washed down with Frog speleos wine have
forever erased it from the writers memory. A packed bar in Hochofort emptied exceedingly fast on our arrival – as
did the little bowls of peanuts provided by the landlord. Two Belgian lorry drivers looked on
bemused. The local monks worked overtime
on Sunday
..
Dawn – 10am. Those staying in the fridge (amidst bits of
French carrot and tomato skins) were up early and across to the Dutch hut,
where the others were still in their pits. What they did that day is doubtless another story but Graham
Wilton-Jones, Jim Watson, Jeff Price, Buckett Tilbury and J’Rat managed a trip
into the Grotte de Fontaine River with a mixed team of Belgians. Again, a short and well decorated cave but
very notable for its huge, deep lake at the end where the wet suited Englishmen
played for some time, all but one oblivious to the fact that a Belgium caver
they had rushed past when he fell in the water had a dislocated shoulder. !Great fun.
Back to the Whitemans country – on the Sunday night boat –
hangover, knackered and broke. An
excellent weekend.
Our thanks to Big Jim for arranging it all, to our Dutch
colleagues for the grub and the hospitality, our drivers.
somewhere who remain oblivious to the havoc and moral decline that they caused.
Lifeline
By Tim Large our Hon.
Secretary
Everyone receiving this B.B. is now a paid up member. There are 147 of us. Hopefully some of these
who are perpetually late payers will pay their sub sometime in the near
future. It does make the Treasurers job
more difficult as we cannot finally calculate haw much money is available for
various needs. This was part of the
reason for altering the club year in the new constitution. Perhaps another change in the constitution
will encourage members to pay up earlier. Suppose we had a £5 joining fee besides an £8 subscription. Then once the latest date for payment of subs
had past, lapsed members would have to reapply and pay the £5 joining fee the
same as new members. This should also
increase the clubs income – Any comments?
TACKLE: – As you all should know most of our ladders,
lifelines etc., are stored in the new Tacklestore/Workshop. Minimal tackle is kept in the wire basket in
the showers for midweek caving by those who occasionally come to the
Belfry. Those caving on a frequent basis
can apply for a tackle box key to enable access to the main supply. Since the introduction of the system all
seems to be working well, except that some members are taking tackle from the
store, but on finishing their trip are leaving it in the showers. It is important to put the tackle in the
store even if you do find it in the showers. Only 1 ladder, 1 lifeline and 1 tether shall be kept in the showers also
please complete the tackle book in order that we know where all our tackle is
and what usage it gets.
SHATTER CAVE ACCESS:- In the January B.B. (The ODD
NOTE) written by Wig he mistakenly published that we now have 2 leaders to
time Chris Batstone and myself are being assessed by the Cerberus S.S. along
the same lines as to our leadership system for St Cuthberts. Once this is completed we have to wait for
the C.S.S. decision as to whether we qualify as leaders.
LIBRARY: – has recently purchased copies of the
following: –
‘Complete Caves of Mendip’
‘Mendip Underground’
‘Lead Mining in the Pea District’
The two Mendip Guidebooks are for reference at the Belfry
only and on no account be taken away.
The Lead Mining book has been compiled by members of the
Peak District Mines Historical Society, and makes very interesting
reading. It covers the history and
geology of many mines. Those of
particular interest are Knotlow, Magpie, Hillocks and Odin Mines.
Camping Trades Exhibition 1979
To start the year
Chris. Bradshaw, our friendly shopkeeper of Rocksport has sent in this report
of the
For those who are not familiar with this show, it is the
event of the year where the camping, climbing and now the cave trade can see
new wares displayed by manufacturers and wholesalers. It is held at the exhibition centre in
It would be impossible to review all the items on display
(or even see them in the four days available) so I will give a brief
description of a few of the items of interest. No attempt is made at evaluation and most items will not be available
until 1980.
Bonatti Self Locking Descender.
This is based on the single Petzl type descender, but the
lower roller is connected to an arm which rotates it by about 20% of its
circumference. This is then connected by
an arm to a brake block acting against the fixed, upper roller. The action of the rope on the rotating roller
operates the brake unless a handle, which runs from it, is held against the
body.
Down and Out Descender/Ascender.
On show as a prototype only, this is yet another
self-braking descender. This time
working on an off-set cam trapping the rope when the ‘deadman’s handle’ is
released. The really interesting
feature, however, is that the device can be turned, upside-down, and the rope
fed straight through to form an ascender.
CMI ‘Shorti’ Ascender.
From the same stable (Colorado Mountain Industries) as the
‘5000’ Ascender, this is a non-handled jammer type ascender. It is made from a super-strong extruded and
machined body, but still has the very weak spring that has caused so much
trouble on the ‘5000’. When this problem
is solved, it will be a useful tool, as it is easily chest mounted, and the cam
can be removed for cleaning etc, and reversed if required to give either left
or right hand operation.
Clog
In the same year that Bridon Ropes and Fibres have launched
a direct copy of the Clog Fig. 8, marketed under their brand name of ‘Viking’,
Clog have revamped the principle to bring out a simple descender that need not
be unkrabbed to get on or off the rope. Comparable in cost to their Fig. 8, it usefully doubles a Knuckle-Duster
when getting to the bar for that last drink!
They have also introduced a new lock for their spring gated
krabs. Available as a very expensive
option, it is a pull and twist operation, which makes locking the gate fast and
automatic. Whether a good dose of mud
will destroy it remains to be seen!
‘Sprung-Rung’ Ladder
At present the only commercially available ladder is either
pin and araldite (which is expensive) or pressure bonded, which is finished so
badly that it tears clothing to pieces. The new ‘sprung-rung’ ladder uses the well tried taper pin fixing, then
the rung end is spun over to give a smooth finish. Cost is similar to the pressure bonded
ladder, with 25ft, 3mm wire with 10″ rung spacing.
‘High-Efficiency’ Caving Lamp Bulbs.
As cavers generally tend to break, loose or otherwise
destroy their bulbs before enjoying the 350 hours that should be expected from
a mining lamp bulb, a new concept will be introduced to cavers. This bulb is designed to give a life
expectancy of 100 hours, and so can be burned with a proportionally higher
efficiency. Three versions will be
available: 2.4v, .6amp and 4v, .6amp., which more or less retain the light
output of the normal 1amp bulbs, but almost doubles the burning time of NiCads,
3 – cell Nifes, and Lead Acid batteries, and a 2.4v 1amp which burns brighter
on NiCads. They are sold, however, with
the warning that they must be expected to occasionally ‘blow’ underground, so a
spare must be carried or a pilot bulb relied upon. Also, they should not be turned on within
about six hours of the battery being charged, as the extra voltage will
overload them too much. The price is
about 70p each.
MOLE
Brendan Brew, who manufactures under the trade name of
‘Mole, is having his own specification polyester tape made. Rumour has it that it is to be called
Mole-ester’ .
Goretex
The 8th November, saw the official launch in this country of
Goretex Mk.II. It is claimed that it
requires a less rigid standard of cleanliness to keep it working – someone has
heard of cavers?
Raw Material Prices
Leather is still increasing rapidly in price. Italian boots more susceptible than others,
but DOWN is DOWN. February should see
the first shipments of Chinese made Duvets (under £40) and vests (about £17.50)
to join the already cheap sleeping bags on the market. This makes them competitive with ‘hollofil’
which is up in price!
Tents
The usual people displayed their usual wares, the
‘Hi.Pakker’ and ‘Mountain’ from Saunders being of interest and obvious
‘winners’ to join their range. The real
stir of the show was not actually in the show itself, but tucked away in the
basement of the Majestic Hotel. This was
the ‘Hi-Tech’ range of tents from a company called N.R. Components. These are lightweight tents (from 4lb. 6oz
for Z-man) which have hollow fibre glass poles permanently fixed to the outside
of the tent. The fixing is by a
patented, hinged mounting, connected to a tough rubber tube which holds both
fly-sheet and inner tent. The tent is
unrolled, pegged out around the edge, the half holes connected and then the
tensioning straps at front and rear tightened. It takes 45 seconds.
There are three basic models, two man, large two man (90
seconds to erect) and a big rhomboid which will seat 10 to 12 people (120
seconds to erect!) They are due to be in
the shops from February 1980, at about the same time as a spot on the BBC TV
programme ‘Tomorrows World’
Shinabro Stoves
By sheer co-incidence, Blacks are importing these stoves
from
which have a remarkable resemblance to the Optimus 8R (petrol) and OO
(paraffin). The price is, about £10
cheaper in each case.
Survey Of Wookey Hole
Reproduced by kind permission of C.D.G.
Radio Location Of Wookey 24
A general article for the uninitiated!
The published surveys of the far reaches have been put to
the test by ‘Prews’ transmitting equipment and found, in some instances to be
up to 30 degrees in error. After the
valuable work in the cave by Bob Cork and Dany Bradshaw the story can now be
told
..
by Bob Cork and Alan
Thomas
The radio-location of Wookey Twenty Four was part of a
continuous programme to fix a survey point in each dry section of the cave
necessary because of the inaccuracy of underwater surveying.
In order to radio-locate an underground point the
transmitter, with its coil or aerial and its batteries, must first be taken to
that point. The coil must be laid out in
an approximate circle as horizontally as possible. The point located will be the centre of the
circle. The surface apparatus consists
of the receiver and a box aerial used in the vertical plane. Once the signal is received this aerial is
rotated until minimum strength is achieved. Two stakes mark its direction. The aerial is moved to another position, usually at 90 degrees, and
another direction obtained. Where they
converge is an approximate fix. The
process is repeated. This time a silent
point is obtained which is the exact fix. This point is marked with a stake and the aerial carried, and slowly
rotated in the vertical plane, until a second silent point is found; the
distance between these two points is the depth of the location underground.
Our practical problem was the physical effort of two divers
transporting the transmitting apparatus and sufficient air to get them to
Wookey 24 and back safely. There was no
lack of willing helpers as far as Wookey 9!
Accordingly, Bob Cork and Dany Bradshaw took in the coil and
set it up in Wookey 24 on 27th September 1979. This proved to be an all-day trip which they found very tiring and they
were somewhat pleased to find that Alan Thomas, who had no knowledge of the
time they had dived or how long they would be, arrived in Wookey 9 at the same
time as they returned to help them out with their gear. The advantage of setting the coil up in
advance was that the surface workers knew where it was located and had a clue
where to await the signal. To further
lighten their burden for Saturday they took two 50 cu.ft. air cylinders to
Wookey 22 on Friday night. This was only
a forty minute trip, what you might call resting up for Saturday.
The next morning the intrepid divers met at Wookey Hole car
park with the surface party which comprised such distinguished figures as Brian
Prewer, Oliver Lloyd, Dan Hasell and Alan Thomas (?Ed) together with others no
less distinguished but too numerous to mention. After much discussion, muttering, eating bacon butties, drinking coffee
etc., the divers were persuaded to don their soggy wetsuits and sort out their
equipment.
The usual rig for diving at Wookey seems to consist of
individually valved, side mounted, twin air cylinders (usually 40, 45 or 50
cu.ft. capacity) a wetsuit and a helmet such as children wear skate boarding to
which is attached a pair of aquaflash underwater torches and the business end
of a NiFe cell. No additional lead is
needed by most people. For this dive
they had a total of 140 cu.ft. of air each including the bottles already in the
cave, sufficient for the return journey and allowing the 100% safety margin
demanded by good cave diving practice.
Bob and Dany enjoyed the walk to the cave for once someone
else was carrying their gear.
Watches were synchronised in Wookey 9 and the two divers
submerged at 10.45am, the arranged transmitting time was to be 12.30pm. The dive from Wookey 9 to Wookey 20 is in a
large submersed passage in the conglomerate for the first 250ft after which
they are in limestone. The total dive to
Wookey 20 is about 500ft and going to depth of 75ft. There are few constrictions, even a tight
section of bedding about two-thirds of the way, known as the Slot, presenting
little problem even with luggage if the bottles are held horizontally. The passage continues uphill after The Slot
to the Wookey 20 sump pool. Here it is
possible to transfer to the Wookey 22 line without surfacing, though on this
occasion the divers surfaced under the Spiders Web, as the multiplicity of
lines in Wookey 20 is affectionately known. They had felt under some pressure from the surface party and wanted a
breather to sort themselves out.
From Wookey 20 to Wookey 22 the dive is about 600ft and goes
to a depth of 70ft. Leaving the Spiders
Web they went down through boulders to a depth of 15ft, turning north into an
open passage twenty to thirty feet wide. The divers line was followed along the right hand wall to a depth of
about 60ft where the passage levels out and after some distance enters a large
chamber where even in the conditions of perfect visibility that day, the side
walls could not be seen. At the far end
of that chamber the passage ascends rapidly to the Wookey 22 sump pool. Here the fun began because it is necessary to
leave the water and start caving.
The sump pool is at the bottom of a conglomerate rift some
sixty to eighty feet high; the way on is up a steep slippery slope and a
traverse to the right where the floor levels out, where it is littered with
very sharp debris and large boulders. At
the far end of this section a twenty-five foot descent through boulders leads
to a muddy squeeze into a large chamber. A further difficult climb down over sharp boulders leads to the Wookey
22 sump pool which is static. Here,
there is a permanent iron ladder in the pool to facilitate the return journey;
how the ladder was got there is a story in itself and perhaps in the distant future
when the ‘fixed aids’ debate is again in full swing someone might bring it out
through Cuthberts. The Static Pool is
smooth-sided and the water can be twenty feet down. The divers, of course, were still carrying
their equipment. Before continuing from
Wookey 22 they had changed their partly used 45 for the dumped 50’s. At the Static Pool they kitted up again
removing boots and replacing fins etc.
The dive from the Static Pool is 360ft long and 60ft deep
descending rapidly from the surface to a silted-up passage which narrows to a
slot which is passed on the left. The
passage then gradually rises to surface in a muddy pool in Wookey 23. Like this one the following sumps are static
under normal conditions but ripple marks in the mud suggest that it is an
overflow in time of spate. These static
sumps hold silt in suspension for a long time so the return journey is like
diving in cocoa and not very pleasant even if you like cocoa.
The divers clambered out of the mud-walled sump pool by
kicking their toes into the soft mud and inching their way up the slope,
pausing only occasionally to fall back in. Once out of the water in Wookey 23 they were in a wide muddy floored
passage along which they stumbled and made their way to the 30ft diameter lake
at the far end, where a duck led them into a small pool from which it was
difficult to get out. A lower passage
brought them to Sump 23 which was only 15ft long and roomy. Thus they surfaced in the large passage which
is Wookey 24.
They de-kitted, emptied the water that had seeped into the
transmitter box, fortunately doing no harm, and continued to the two connected
chambers where they had laid out the coil on the previous Thursday. It was now 12.25pm. The apparatus was quickly assembled and the
transmission began only a few minutes late. The arrangement was that they would transmit for one hour. However, watching a small needle flip up and
down can be very boring and as they had noted on a previous trip potential side
passages they decided to go exploring. At the northern end of the second chamber the roar of water can be
heard. A 25ft climb over large boulders
and a traverse along a narrow rift-like passage leads to a point above the
foaming torrent of the River Axe which here disappears into a boulder
choke. Upstream the active streamway
passage enlarges; traversing above the water becomes difficult and it becomes
necessary to swim. A line assists the
caver from here to Sting Corner, the right-angle bend in the streamway, just
beyond which it becomes possible to walk again. Their first attempt at climbing the wall opposite Sting Corner where a
void could be seen at a height of about 30ft ended in double splash as a Bob
and a Dany both plummeted back into the streamway. They did not like this place! And moved on.
Beyond Sting Corner the water is twelve to fifteen feet deep
and about ten feet wide. With a strong
current, a hauling line is very useful. The whole passage is in conglomerate, with thick slippery manganese deposits
on the walls. Further on the passage
becomes shallower and the water faster flowing, continuing eastwards to Sump
24. The going now, becomes harder. At one point along the streamway it is
possible to climb up about 50ft on the left hand side and enter an oxbow, the
other end of which is only a few hundred feet from Sump 24.
Here the two divers made their second attempt at finding new
passage. They entered a hole at the
western end of the oxbow and followed a three foot wide fifteen foot high rift
which became blocked with debris after 150ft. They managed to remove a boulder from the top of the blockage and thus
get by. The way on was no wider but
increased in height. After 200ft a climb
over two large boulders brought them to the head of a rift about 50ft deep for
which they would have needed tackle. Having none they then traversed along the rift for about another 50ft to
where it became impassable. The only way
on would be below. Stones dropped down
the rift could be heard bouncing beyond the visible bottom. As they returned it seemed obvious that the
passage floor along which they had come was formed by boulders jammed in the
rift. They then carried a rough line and
compass survey.
They returned to their radio location station without
incident. The transmitter had been
transmitting for one and quarter hours and the meter was reading a low
output. It was nearly two o’clock so
they turned off the transmitter and packed up.
The journey out was uneventful except for occasional problems
such as Dany playing with the coil halfway through the static sump 22 in nil
visibility on the pretext that it had come undone. And Bob, having descended and entered the
last twenty feet of the Wookey 22 dry slope faster than he intended and entered
the water in a most inelegant manner midst a clatter of cylinders, was not
amused to hear “thats one way to do it youth” followed by a loud
guffaw.
From Wookey 22 they could have had a relatively easy trip
out carrying only the radio-location gear and leaving the spare (now empty)
cylinders to be recovered later. But
with characteristic whole heartedness they decided to carry the lot and have
done with it. They had little trouble in
the good visibility and the desire to get out overcame the drag caused by the
extra gear.
They were relieved when they surfaced to find a fair number
of the surface party waiting in Wookey 9, not only to carry the gear but to
tell them of the success of the operation.
The story of the surface party is soon told. Leaving the cave as soon as Dob and Dany had
dived they returned to the car park to fetch the receiver equipment. They assembled in a field to the west of
the residents, mainly horses and cattle seemed to think that radio-location was
the most interesting thing that had happened for a long time. Naturally everyone confidently predicted
where Wookey 24 would prove to be. Naturally all were wrong. The
signal was soon received very clearly and Brian Prewer, designer and builder of
the apparatus led them eastwards towards
belonging to Madame Tussauds on the other side of the lane. The whole operation had taken place in very
pleasant sunshine and when completed they adjourned to the Hunters before
returning to the cave to meet the divers.
Derbyshire News in Brief
Miss Nellie Kirkhom, the well known mines historian, died in
May 1979; Eldon PC are digging at the end of Pilgrims Way in Oxlow in the hope
that it will lead them straight into Peak Cavern; Carlswark – Big Dig has gone
and about 1,500ft of new stream passage discovered; Masson Complex, Matlock is
to be closed for two years whilst blasting is carried out nearby. They will be re-opened to cavers; Giants Hole
– owner charging 45p per caver, call at farm. No access to cave during April and May during lambing season.