The
Exploration Club, The Belfry,
Road
Editor: G.
Wilton-Jones,
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Telephone: Aylesbury (0296) 28270.
Yes, I know it is unprecedented to run the November and December
B.B.s in one issue. By way of excuse,
it was so I could get the Christmas issue out and delivered before the end of
the year, and thereby catch up.
Hopefully the January 1981 B.B. will be produced IN January.
If you get your Lesotho Cave Art illustration loose it is
because a well known national supermarket chain is reluctant to do this silly
job for us in a hurry.
If you have not yet written anything for the B.B. this
decade, remember that you have only nine years left, so why not start writing
now and get it over with. So far I have
ONE article far 1981
Contents
- 1 News From Our Northern Correspondent
- 2
- 3 Caves And Cave Art Of Lesotho, Southern Africa.
- 4
- 5 Coniston Copper Mines
- 6
- 7 Dan – Yr – Ogof
- 8 Speleo Teaser Answer
- 9
- 10 Vertical Caves
- 11 Dare I say it ..Bi-Monthly Notes
- 12
- 13 Wigmore re-visited. Some further thoughts.
- 14
- 15 Elm Cave Or Fordbury Bottom Cave, Murder Combe, EM 74644873
- 16
- 17
- 18 Cooper’s Hole, Cheddar
- 19 Spelunkers
- 20
- 21 Portland (Assaulted)
- 22
- 23
- 24 B.C.R.A. Conference 1980
- 25
- 26 More News From Our Northern Correspondent
- 27 B.E.C. Lake District Meet, 1981
- 28
- 29 Lifeline
- 30 Starlight Cave
- 31
- 32 Marlow 11mm Polyester SRT Rope
- 33 NEWS extracted from BCRA Caves and Caving No. 10, Nov. 1980.
- 34 Bristol Exploration Club – Membership List October 1980
News From Our Northern Correspondent
It is reported that northern cave diver, Ian Watson, has
discovered another Boreham in Littondale. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the area,
is known particularly for two things; its long, clear sumps and its impressive
array of straws hanging above a still pool. Nearby
long, incompletely explored sump. Presumably the new cave is also notable for a long sump of clear
water. Watto is not saying anymore at
present.
Unfortunately when the local farmer got to hear of the find
he decided that the water supply had been polluted due to caving
activities. He got together with the
three other farmer/landowners of Littondale and cavers have been banned from
the whole valley. Harry Long is trying
to negotiate with the farmers, but until the valley is definitely open once
more to cavers it would be wise to keep clear of the place, except of course to
partake of ale at the “Queen’s”.
Hot off J-Rat’s typewriter in
just over the border into
comes this article on the decorated sandstone rock-shelters of the area. This is J-Rat in his more serious mood, a
rare moment, no doubt written while he thought he was dying of Histoplasmosis.
By the time you read this he should be back on Mendip
suffering the more common ailments, related to Butcombe, Arkells, Badger, etc.
Caves And Cave Art Of
Lesotho ,
Southern Africa .
Surrounded by the
of
is a rugged, mountainous and harshly beautiful country. It is about the same size as
the only country in the world with all of its land over 1000 metres O.D. Volcanic basalt forms the highest peaks of
the
and
sandstones, shales and mudstones below. These layers are very photogenic, being alternate red, grey, white,
orange and pink. Despite the lack of
limestone, some slight relief for the exiled cave fanatic can be found by
studying one of these ubiquitous layers, the appropriately named Cave
Sandstone. Forming dramatic escarpment
cliffs and spectacular river gorges, this rock is easily eroded by the elements
to form huge, overhanging rock-shelters and the occasional deeper cave. There are hundreds of these sites in all
areas of the country and many have been occupies in the past by a variety of
inhabitants.
At the present time, many of the drier and more accessible
caves have drystone walled frontages converting them into dwellings, herd boys
refuges and even missions for the local Basuto populace. In the troubled times and famines of the 18th
and 19th centuries the caves provided shelter and hiding places for Basuto
clans escaping from Boer and Zulu oppression and also bases for roving bands of
cannibals. The Basuto, in their turn,
had previously evicted from many sites the earlier settlers of these desolate
hills – the San, Baroa or Bushmen. This
mysterious race (whose relationship with the original prehistoric inhabitants
is unclear) were forced to dwell in the mountain regions by pressure from
European settlers moving north from the Cape and by assorted Bantu races
creeping steadily southwards from Central Africa.
Essentially a race of hunters, the Bushmen developed a
strong artistic culture based on their lifestyle, especially in south-eastern
Africa and
charcoal and animal fats they decorated the caves and rock shelters with
superbly executed frescoes and murals of the animals on which they depended for
food, clothing and implements. In the various sites can be seen paintings of
eland, lion, baboon, fish, snakes, cattle, etc. Many human figures are depicted from short San bowmen and dancers to
taller Bantu warriors and even the red-coated European soldiers. Fishing, hunting scenes, battles, invading
horsemen, village scenes and dances are also represented. Like rock-art the world over, most animal
pictures are depicted in silhouette and human figures are typically
abstract. They vary in size from 1m to
150m and the most recently (and last) painted are approximately 150 years old,
though scattered remnants of the Bushman races still exist in this area, generally
intermixed with the dominant Basuto people, whose own language bears traces of
the earlier “clicking” speech of the San.
Although over 400 painted shelters are known, little
information is available to the general public as originally published reports
have led to desecration and vandalism. Another reason for lack of publicity is the unexcavated nature of most
of the sites, though several have been investigated by P.L. Carter of
archaeologists. The most well known site
is fenced off and operated by the Lesotho Government as a tourist
attraction/conservation project. Ha
Baroana (or Ha Khotso) Cave is a huge, lengthy shelter with one of the finest
friezes of rock-art in southern
Animals portrayed include eland, hartebeest, lion, leopard, buck, blue crane
and guinea fowl. Intermixed with these
are hunters, dancers and figures in huts. Flights of arrows are shown in mid air and striking various animals –
all are portrayed in a beautiful polychrome style of red, white, black and
mauve shades. It is hoped that the other
sites will be preserved in this way and that the work of discovering,
photographing and recording these masterpieces of Bushman culture continues
uninterrupted.
The following references were given for J-Rat’s article on
MSS notes of Jim Smart.
The
Coniston Copper Mines
by Chris Batstone.
During the Club meet in the Lakes last February a visit was
made to the old copper works above Coniston. It is hoped to return again this coming February. This article should provide some background
information.
The Coniston mines have provided approximately three
quarters of the copper mined in the
north of
and cover an area of approximately ten square miles of mountain country between
Coniston Old Man, Carrs and Wetherlam. This area was extensively prospected during the 19th century but, due to
the slump in copper prices, declined towards the latter half of the century,
rather than because of dwindling deposits of ore. Various unsuccessful attempts have been made
to rework them since.
Geology.
The copper veins are found in the volcanic Borrowdale
Series. They trend to the north-west and
are cut by a number of north-south cross courses, some of which are very
powerful. The copper occurs mainly as
chalcopyrite and more rarely as bornite. Quantities of iron pyrites, mispickel and blende also occur in some
veins. Large amounts of magnetite were
also found in the Bonsor Mine deep levels.
The major veins were known as Bonsor, Paddy End Old and New,
Triddle, North, Flemmings String, South, Belman Hole, Stephens, Gods Blessing
and Brimfell.
The Mine.
The Bonsor vein was the major deposit of are, accounting for
at least 50% of the are produced at Coniston. The vein was stoped out for a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile in
depth of some 200 fathoms (1200 feet).
It was reckoned that the vein would carry a rib of solid
chalcopyrite eight inches thick. The
great stapes on this vein were so vast that a large chasm was left called the
“Cobblers Hole”. The price of
copper had fallen beyond economic limits by 1895. An increasing amount of magnetite was found
in the area as the mine went deeper making gravity separation of the ore nearly
impossible. The pumps were stopped and
the mine was allowed to flood. Any
payable pillars of ore were removed as the water rose. Water finally reached the adit level in
1900. Had modern methods of separation
been available then (e.g. flotation) the vein left in the bottom would have
been payable, but to un-water the mine now and reinstate the workings would be
prohibitive.
An attempt was made in 1954 to re-open the Horse Level
through to the Paddy End workings. After
clearing the level to the west of Old Engine Shaft it was found that the
Cobblers Hole stope had collapsed. A new
bypass level was then made avoiding the collapse.
Previously work was done on Drygill vein, which runs through
Old Engine Shaft at the Horse Level. The
old workings were reinstated and a level driven to connect with the northern
crosscut, which was driven to the west of Cobblers Hole, in the hopes that the
Horse Level would be clear to the New Engine Shaft. A connection was made to find that the old
stopes had collapsed. The only way past
would have been to drive a parallel level which was too costly, and the venture
was abandoned.
In 1912 the Coniston Electrolytic Copper Co. Ltd. was formed
to recover copper from the waste tips whilst the mine was cleared. The machinery was installed on the site of
the old Bonsor dressing floors. The
copper recovered turned out to be less than expected and the plant was closed
down in 1915. Work was not restarted and
the plant was dismantled.
Paddy End Mine is probably the most ancient part of the
mine. The vein runs between cross
courses on the southern side of the valley, and has produced some of the most
valuable ore in the mines. By the end of
the 19th century all the available are pillars were removed.
In 1954 exploration was carried out at the Horse Level and
efforts made to pump Hospital Shaft. These efforts seem to have failed. Whether or not payable veins exist in these workings is unknown.
Numerous other sites exist in the area – Triddle, Brimfell
and Gods Blessing in particular, surrounding the Bonsor and Paddy End workings.
Other mines included in the Coniston mining field are to be
found near Tilberthwaite and Greenburn Beck, although these do not warrant a
description in this article.
Mining at Coniston has now ceased and cannot be expected to
revive during the foreseeable future due to expense, and opposition by
conservationist This is also true of the
majority of other mining areas in the lakes.
Stu Lindsey has sent in this brief account of a photographic
session in Dan yr Ogof. Incidentally
this occasion was the only time I have ever been warned by the management about
high water
Dan – Yr – Ogof
With the promise of an interesting trip across the fourth
lake to commence proceedings, our ‘expanded’ party of eight set off. On leaving the
water conditions proved to be quite high, a warning regarding a less than
normal air-space in lake four proving correct – half of it was froth, hanging
from the roof. Seven of our intrepid
explorers nonchalantly swam across leaving the rigid eighth, frozen almost to
death (by fear) to inch his way across the exceptionally sparse ledges by his
finger nails.
The first of two detours was to attempt to find the location
of a ‘Blue Stal’. This was duly
accomplished after a fifteen foot climb into a rifty chamber. This amazing phenomenon, part of a small
curtain, is worth seeing, if only for the effort put into getting there! Pushing on we soon arrived at the start of
the long crawl, marked at the entrance with an evil smelling pool, six feet
long and three to four inches deep. Detour
2, to a rift above the main route, Flabbergastery or something was to take
photos a happy hour spent flashing away. To get up into this section necessitates a traverse around the
wall. This avoids disturbing the pool
and the fish. (Fish?!!) Hardly the place to expect one of our number
to commence training for the Olympic backstroke event. A perfect take-off was achieved when the
traverse line broke! This poor
unfortunate was also the focal point in the next scene. Armed with a flash gun, he was requested to
run ten feet, stop, flash, run ten feet, stop, flash, run ten feet
..A short
distance away the second Lord ‘Nevis’ had someone doing pirouettes thirty feet
below while he took his photo!
Luckily these diversifications ensured that we would be
unable to complete the rest of the trip. However, five of our more masochistic entourage insisted upon swimming
the
for posterity the playful frolicking of the Wycombe Wanzellor.
And now, the answer to last month’s Speleo Teaser from
Blitz.
|
|
Caver |
Cave |
Technique |
Drink |
Club |
|
1) |
Irishman |
Longwood |
Ladder |
Cider |
MCG |
|
2) |
Welshman |
Stoke |
Crawls |
Arkells |
Shepton |
|
3) |
Southerner |
Cuthberts |
SRT |
Butcombe |
BEC |
|
4) |
Northerner |
Swildons |
Free dives |
|
UBSS |
|
5) |
Scot |
Rhino |
Free climbs |
Badgers |
|
Vertical
Cave s
MORE NEWS extracted from
and Caving, No. 10, Nov.1980.
Eleven caves in the world have now passed the vertical
kilometre – that is within the last 24 years, though half of these have been
pushed to such spectacular depths within the last 3 years! Reseau de Foillis, deepest at 1402m, is
destined to go deeper yet this winter when the next shaft is descended. In the PSM area the Sima di Ukendi (1185m) is
still wide open, while in Arphielia the PSM streamway can be clearly heard;
though the surveyed separation is 30m. A
connection would give about 1470m depth. A 1435m system would result from the connection of Schwyzer Schacht and
the massive Holloch, making an epic through trip of over 1300m possible.
Dare I say it ..Bi-Monthly Notes
The Council of Southern Caving Clubs’ Handbook and Access
Guide 1980/81 has now been published. A
copy should be available from the club library or you can buy one for 50p if
you must have it to yourself.
Apart from the two Phil Hendy cartoons and a couple of
advertisements it is all fairly meaty stuff. The only criticism that seems to have been made (by several people,
incidentally) is that the list of names, addresses and ‘phone numbers of all
MRO wardens has been included.
There has been much controversy on Mendip recently over
whether MRO should be called out via official channels for every incident (e.g.
“Can someone give a hand in Swildons to a bod who cannot climb back up the
20.) If the call is official there is
insurance cover. However, the time may
now come when someone just picks a warden from the list and ‘phones them!
Hobb’s have recently offered a planning application to turn
Fairy Cave Quarry into a Leisure Centre. The intention is for Shatter and Withyhill to be made into show caves. The formations would be protected behind
glass screens. The two caves would be
connected to form an escape route in case of some emergency. Experienced cavers
would assist with the creation of this show cave system. (see also note in
‘Lifeline’).
In the April/May B.B. Wig wrote about a postcard he had come
across and he wanted to know which site in Cheddar it depicted. He has at last come up with another card
which reveals exactly the site of this ‘
year.
Alison tells me that the dye test between Sludge Pit and
Swildons yielded positive results. Dye
was recorded at the inlets in Swildons 6 and 7, and at points downstream from
these sites, thus showing, as believed, that Sludge Pit water flows into
Passchendaele. Passchendaele is the
passage that runs to the south of Pirate and Shatter Chambers. The dye used was an optical brightening
agent.
The
Navy have been developing submarine communication using the sub-atomic
particles known as neutrinos. Although
it is almost prohibitively expensive at present it may well be that radio
communication through the earth (instead of round, via satellites) will
ultimately be possible. What potential
for the caver!
O.C.L. was underground in Cuthberts very recently – in fact
more recently than the Wig, who has not been near the place for a long
time. Please remember to write your trip
up in the log, Oliver!
American scientists have been producing a new kind of light
bulb in which excess heat is trapped within the bulb by reflection. The light can then burn with the same
intensity but using less power. Such
bulbs for domestic use should be on sale in
technique is applied to small, low voltage bulbs, such as those in caving
lights?
During the weekend of 29th/30th November there was a diving
tragedy in Kingsdale. Details are sketchy at the moment, but the diver was a
member of the Red Rose, though not a member of C.D.G. He had dived through from Keld Head to one of
the air-bells and said that he would not go back. He was given morale and physical assistance
and persuaded to make the dive back, but he died en route. The cause of death is not yet known.
Re. the October B.B., sorry about the lack of cover. This was not some snide way of emphasising my
request for more covers, though this may be the effect that it had. I simply forgot to bring the covers when we
collated the B.B.
Erratum: page 3, para.3, line 4 should read: relative to the
volume of passage
The Lionels Hole survey is meant to be accompanied by an
article on the cave by Andy Sparrow. A.S. please note, accept a reprimand and a smacked wrist, and send me
the manuscript a.s.a.p., or sooner.
Bassett.
Marine Commando destroys British Warship with Thunder
Flashes! Naval officer runs amok with
axe on ship! Potholers in drunken orgy
at sea! …..
Yes, Ross White, Tom Temple and Trev Hughes have been
together, at sea, on the same ship, no doubt creating the same havoc and mayhem
as at least two of them cause regularly at the Belfry. They all had ‘fun’ ashore in
Rheeperbalm. On the night of the B.E.C.
Dinner they were all at sea again but I have it on good authority that the
night did not pass soberly.
In between bouts of alcoholism Trev still managed to think
of Mendip and has put together the following article.
Wigmore re-visited. Some further
thoughts.
Tony Jarratt’s article in B.B. No. 371 marked the end of a
lively series of articles about this interesting conglomerate cave. This, I hope, will redress the situation and
inspire some thoughts, and even probably some work underground.
At the time of Tony’s article Wigmore was being dug
virtually every day; I was on leave and Tony was on holiday. The latest event in his article was the
pushing on past the Smoke Room to where a large slab blocked the passage (30th
Nov. ’78). What follows continues from
there.
The weekend of 2nd/3rd December saw a large party of
Belfryites attacking the offending slab by means of a rope winch. This slab, the result of roof block fall, was
removed and broken up by hammer and chisel. Approximately four feet of new passage leading to a choked right hand
corner was entered.
An unreachable left hand bend, after a further two feet,
could be seen. A major setback occurred
on that Saturday, the substantial mud and stone collapse from the Smoke
Room. This slump increased during the
following days and completely blocked the way on.
Attention now turned to the large, black hole, through
boulders, revealed by this collapse. Some stabilization was required but on 9th December ’78 the upper
section of the Smoke Room was entered. The chamber was found to consist of tiny rift inlets and wedged
boulders.
On the following weekend a large B.E.C. team dug at the
debris which blocked the way along the lower passage. This flowing stream made spoil hauling a wet
and miserable task. It was decided to
leave the dig until the following spring. The final comment in my caving log entry for that trip summed up the
situation: “Much more work still to be done.”
After this trip the cave appears to have been left alone –
no entries were recorded in the hut log. I was at sea, enjoying only infrequent trips to Mendip; other digs found
favour; the sun shone; the Hunter’s was open; etc. As a result, for twenty months Wheal Wigmore
heard only the lonely knocker’s chisel. No curse ridden diggers breath nor shovel on rock. Silence.
I could not allow this to continue. A weekend on Mendip at the end of August this
year found me with an itchy digging arm and two volunteers for their first ever
trip down Wigmore; Ian (Wormhole)
and (Quiet) John Watson. Deluded by
promises of me digging in their recent extensions in the deepest reaches of Manor
Farm Swallet they agreed on an exploratory trip.
The entrance pitch, Hesitation Chamber and the two climbs
were unchanged apart from accumulations of vegetable debris and oddments of the
capping formers. However the winter
streams of 78/79 and 79/80 had not been idle. The start of Christmas Crawl had been scoured out and now seems quite
sizeable. The entry to Santa’s Grotto had to be dug open – easily removable
gravel choked the low section of passage to within four inches of the roof.
A large boulder and several smaller rocks had slumped into
the entrance of Pinks and Posies. These
were moved or demolished and an entry made. The first section of Pinks and Posies was unchanged. However the remains of the Smoke Room
collapse and allowed gravel to accumulate behind it. The last section of passage was fairly
heavily choked to within six inches of the roof. Ian’s and John’s moans of inactivity forced a
retreat before I could come to grips with this choke. The Smoke Room collapse, however, did seem to
have largely vanished.
The next visit was a post AGM trip (good conglomerate mud is
excellent for clearing the mind of such politics) by Chris Smart, ‘Quackers’,
Nigel Dibben and ‘Mac (I don’t feel well) anus’. Chris dug into the Smoke Room, passed the now
non-existent collapse and reached a point some ten feet beyond the Smoke Room
where a boulder obstructed the way. The
passage could be seen to continue. This
represents ⅔ of the original distance from the Smoke Room to the end of the
cave as it stood on 2/12/78.
Inspired by the success of this trip Ross White and I
ventured to the end on 11/10/80, armed with an array of digging gear. A week of continuous rain had produced a fine
stream flowing down the entrance shaft. This was diverted to a secondary sink in the clearing to the south-west
of the entrance, where the water disappears through the Rhaetic Marl. The cave remained very wet despite our
efforts. Ross put his talents to good
use and rapidly moved aside the boulder that had stopped Chris. The original end of the cave was quickly
reached. Loose gravel now chokes the
passage at the left hand bend completely to the roof. We both dug at this choke for a while. However, having little convenient dumping
space and no spoil hauling gear we decided to call it a day. We returned, wet and filthy, to the surface.
On first glance at the terminal choke it is credible to
suggest that the conglomerate passage bifurcates at this point, but this is not
my belief. Having viewed the end in
December ’78 when the present gravel choke was not there I wish to put forward
the view that this choke is the result of stream deposition behind roof block
fall, the material coming largely from the Smoke Room collapse. Digging at the end is very feasible – the
gravel is loose, mud free and easily dug. The most convenient way of removing the spoil would be in ‘poly’ sacks
which could easily be hauled along the low passages. A team of four or five diggers would be
required. The removal of the loose
material will allow the block fall to be attacked either chemically of
mechanically. What could follow? Open passage would most probably be of the
same pattern as before: low bedding modified by block fall. But what of the limestone? Where is it? When will it be met? Only by
digging will the truth be known but here are the geomorphological details of
the area: –
1) All
Eights Mineshaft (55965291) elevation 925 ft is only 1410ft north of Wigmore,
the shaft cap being 45ft higher. Limestone is met at a depth of 80ft. The water in the shaft is said to emerge at Sherbourne Spring.
2) The
underlying limestone dips at 300 to the north-east – it is on NE slopes of the
North Hill pericline. The limestone
surface can be assumed to rise in a SW direction.
3) The
unconforming conglomerate has in lower Wigmore, produced a bedding passage
dipping to the south at 2-3O, most noticeably in Christmas Crawl. (Incidentally, the average surface gradient
between All Eights and Wigmore is 20 to the SSE).
4) Wigmore
Swallet is 78 ft deep at the end.
Personally I think the limestone is very close despite the
fact that a groundwater divide separates the water flow routes of the two
sites.
But what of Wigmore’s subterranean flow to Cheddar? I would like to propound that there exists an
as yet unknown major drainage passage heading east-west that transits the
Wigmore area. The head of this catchment
is the Tor Hole Swallet area. This
watershed is quite sizable and, as demonstrated by Tor Hole Swallet, bears
little relation to the surface landform.
The passage of water through this system is extensively
controlled by the layer of Harptree Beds,
and Rhaetic Shales which cover the area. Rainwater collects at discrete points on this impervious layer before
flowing underground, giving rise to the large number of sinkholes in the
area. As the sinkholes develop they are
choked by slumping bf the surface clays leading to slow flow rates by
percolation action in the upper regions of these poorly developed caves. The solutional power at depth is consequently
proportionally greater due to the absence of calcareous matter in these clays.
The amalgamation of water from these many, small, choked passages would lead to
the formation of a master passage by preferential solution. The depth of this initially phreatic passage
would be just below the water table pertinent to the time of its
formation. This passage would be largely
strike controlled, in the limestone, and would contour around the northern side
of the North Hill pericline.
The major development of this passage would have begun at an
elevation of about 650 ft a.o.d. This
development is supported by the existence of a large cavity, found by boring,
at a depth of approximately 200ft in the fields immediately to the east of Wigmore
Swallet. A passage at this depth would
correspond to a period when the water table was such that Great Oones Hole
acted as the Cheddar resurgence, some 300ft higher than today. This indicates the great age of the proposed
passage.
The height of the lowest sinks (690ft) indicate that the
large cavity most probably represents a fossil section of passage or even
possible a chamber of a similar nature to those above the active streamway in
Stoke II.
After the initial section of slow flow the flow in the main
passage to Cheddar would be of a more rapid nature. Examples of this flow structure are: –
1) Tor Hole, Long Wrangle and Minery Cottage
Swallets, 1 mile to the east of Wigmore. Flow travel time to Cheddar: 72 – 87 hours.
2) Red Quar Swallet, ½ mile SSE of Wigmore. Flow travel time: 5 days.
3) Bowery Corner Swallet, l½ miles west of
Wigmore. Flow time: 50 hrs.
Castle Farm Swallet, a B.E.C. dig in 1963/65, produced a
draughting, choked passage at 20ft depth. This project has, I hear, been re-opened. A dye test here would be of immense value.
The rapid travel time (11 hours) of the Wigmore water is
highly significant. I believe that it
indicates the close proximity of the master passage and the relatively open
nature of the passage to it. The
presence of the nearby cavity supports this proposition.
For Wigmore Swallet to reach the depth of the master passage
a steeply descending passage is required. In the limestone a dip passage would rapidly reach the required
depth. Whether this passage is a low
bedding or a vadose trench only direct exploration will tell. The limestone passage may be well developed,
of course, for the reasons stated earlier. I also predict that the Wigmore stream will be augmented at the obvious
line of weakness – the conglomerate / limestone boundary.
Wigmore Swallet, with a length to date of 237 ft, is the
only cave in the area whose underground course has been followed for any
distance. It must represent a potential
key to this proposed system. The
terminal choke cannot be left alone. Digging there is not easy but the reward will surely repay the effort
and could be of major significance. The
challenge should not be ignored.
Elm
Cave
Or
Fordbury
Bottom
Cave
Murder Combe, EM 74644873
information compiled by
Colin Houlden.
First found in 1956 by Dave Mitchell and Alan Cowley who
reached the second boulder ruckle.
CDG newsletter series 50, 1979, January, page 14 reports
dives by Pete Moody in May and June 1978 and states he could not find the way
on.
In 1978 again, Dave and Dianne Walker, Alan Mills and Colin
Brimstone blasted the passage in the dry section beyond the point where Pete
Moody dived, as the water level had dropped.
Pete and Alison Moody reached the third chamber in dry
passage, due to lowered water level. They saw a sump 20ft below but were unable to dive because of lack of
tackle.
Sunday 14th September 1980: The sump beyond the third
boulder ruckle was dived by Colin Houlden and Barry Wilkinson, with a back up
team consisting of Marion Gay, Alan Mills and Glyn Bolt.
Diver’s report, by Colin Houlden:
I dived first upstream and found a submerged chamber about
8ft x 8ft with a 2″ to 4″ airspace situated centrally in the
roof. There was no obvious exit from
this chamber other than the entrance. I
returned to base. On the second dive I
explored the downstream area and found no obvious way on. I returned to base.
Upon first examination of the sump, the water was crystal
clear and an obvious hole at the upstream end about 3ft round was visible. This was the object of my third dive. The visibility was now zero because of the
previous two dives. I therefore decided
to enter feet first. I descended through
boulder obstacles to a depth of about 20ft I aborted the dive due to faulty
equipment. Upon my return to base Barry
dived in order to confirm my three dives.
Cooper’s Hole, Cheddar
by Chris Smart
On the 19th October an Afro styled golliwog (see the
Rocksport price list for your inflatable model) set off a remarkably silly
chain of events. He informed the massed
hordes (well, eight of us, anyway) at the Belfry that there was now a totally
new through trip possible on Mendip! The
whole room immediately jumped into action and prepared for a long, hard
trip. Unfortunately we were then told
the location of this new trip – Cooper’s Hole in the gorge. Chris Bradshaw then went on to explain that a
top entrance had opened about 20 – 25 metres vertically above the old bottom
entrance. From those present John and
Sue Dukes and Martin and Liz Bishop volunteered transport and the remaining
five of us – Quackers, Jane Clarke, Ross, Bob Cork and Herr Blitz – were soon
at the Cooper’s Hole car park.
As if to assist us nature decided to lend a helping hand and
it began to drizzle. Undaunted but
feeling sillier by the minute we began the climb up the footpath towards the
reported location of the top entrance. We were soon thwarted in this as the
footpath had disappeared leaving an overhanging, circular hole of about 4m
diameter and 20 or so metres deep. After
various people had demonstrated how it was possible to make the world move
simply by jumping up and down, the B.E.C. ‘Make a Cave Safe’ team of
conservationists decided that it would be necessary to do something about this
large and dangerous orifice. We were
lucky in having a digging rope and felling axe with us, and with only a minimum
of effort (all of us for one hour) we managed to enlarge the hole to about 7m x
4m and succeeded in losing a large tree down the shaft. This should now cushion your fall
sufficiently so that you appreciate the remainder of it!
The drizzle was by now bucketing it down so we decided to
mix business with pleasure and sampled the Grockle shops of Cheddar and a cream
tea in Gough’s restaurant before returning to the Belfry.
For obvious safety reasons the upper entrance to Cooper’s
has been surrounded by a barbed-wire fence. The edges of the hole are reported to be very unsafe. Another tree recently fell into the shaft,
closely followed by a felling axe and then a John Dukes, this last being on a
life line, fortunately for himself. Will
the finder of the axe, and the B.E.C. digging rope that is also somewhere in
the hole, please return same to the Belfry.
It would seem that no-one has yet had the nerve to find out
if a through trip is actually possible. The squeeze above the pile of debris in the original part of Cooper’s is
almost certainly blocked with boulders at present.
G. W.-J.
Spelunkers
These extracts taken from ‘
and Caving’ by William R Halliday M.D. show the American impression of cave
digging!
‘When talus crawling fails or is too risky, the question of
digging may arise.
Such digging runs the risk of dislodging natural keystones
or additional sections of loosened ceiling. Long handled tools, and sometimes careful timbering supervised by mine
rescue experts, are essential – but at this stage of development of North American
Spelunking it usually isnt worth it.’
‘Much of
(North) underground is still in the initial stages of near random
exploration. Here and there, cave
digging – the next step beyond scientific exploration is underway. The number of cavers engaged in this
thankless and dangerous task, however, is so small, and the British Caving
Literature thereon so excellent, that those interested should refer to the
section on suggested additional reading. ‘
Among the books mentioned are ‘The Manual of Caving
Techniques’ published by ERG.
*****************************************
Why not make one of your New Year resolutions ‘to write at
least one article for the B.B. in 1981’.
Ive just read in the BCRA rag about an extension in Manor
Farm. Apparently they (BCRA Eds.) don’t
know who did it. Shouldn’t it have been
in the B.B. first?
Portland
(Assaulted)
by Steve Woolven.
The assault on
and the taking by storm happened on a quiet, but hot, summer’s Bank Holiday,
this August, by the arrival of six B.E.C. members and friends.
Sunday dawned a clear sky, and the arrival of Niki and I
meeting up with Gary, Graham, Neil and Bruce. Having just missed breakfast we hurriedly cooked and ate our own before
catching the rest up on the cliff’s edge, Blacknor being the whole point of the
exercise.
The next two hours passed with an array of abseiling gear
laying around, bodies sunning themselves, admiring the view of the Southern
coast line and generally festering by passing a ‘Party Seven’ around. At this point, may I thank Gary Cullen for
donating the beer, even though he was not around this weekend – much
appreciated.
Anyway, after slinging the rope over and. rigging up Graham
disappeared over the edge. A third of
the way down the cliff (about 40′) with the remains of the beer swinging in gay
abandon, three feet below his waist, Graham successfully swung into the hole
without spilling a drop. Phew! A very tricky manoeuvre. One by one went over leaving myself to bring
up the rear.
As I was clipping onto the rope two very well-dressed
gentlemen with broad American accents, looking rather religious, passed
by. They were seemingly confused as to
my purpose of bailing off a cliff wearing a miner’s lamp and helmet.
“Are you a climber’?” they asked.
I had great trouble in explaining that I was a caver, when
to them it looked as if I was going down the cliff into the sea. Even more confusing when the cliff appeared
to shout: –
“What the bloody hell are you doing up there? Hurry up! Get a flaming move on.” And
other such words which are better off not printed.
Once inside (caving at last) and crawling along the passage
negotiating the gulls mess we soon reached a cross rift. Stepping over and down we squeezed, crawled
and climbed along a new thin, tall rift passage. Around some boulders, past a small, pretty
section (the only piece in the cave, but rather nice) it took on the rift shape
once again. This carried on the same way
until it closed down and blocked.
Gary and I climbed high up the rift to try and force a way
on, but it only went a little further and then closed down too tight. On the way back we looked up some side
crawls, one of which ran parallel to the entrance passage. It came out a little further along the cliff’s
a back entrance. There was a nest of
young gulls here, looking at us as if we were nuts, so we left them alone
rather quickly and headed back out.
All sitting huddled at the entrance, looking out and seeing
nothing but sea, gave us a gull’s eye view. The difference between them and us was the fact that we were finishing
off a beer, which went down great after such a dry cave. Abseiling out of here was more awkward than
going over the top, because once on the rope you swung out and away from the
rock. Sixty feet to the bottom and then
a refreshing, cool swim in the sea.
‘Blacknor’ seems to be the only cave worth going into on
marking where to put the rope over, but, it is still advisable to take your own
and to check these just in case. ‘Blacknor’ is best attempted on a hot summers day, where it has an
almost magical appeal to it. With a cool
swim afterwards.
Unless of course you cannot stand rifts’, ‘which most of
Blacknor is!
B.C.R.A. Conference 1980
As the BEC pulled out of the club stand affair this year I
was condemned to attendance at the lectures. As this was only the second conference I had attended I viewed the
prospect of sitting through all that technical talk with a sinking heart. However I put on a brave face, picked out a
good novel, took charge of all our cheque books and left early on Friday for
We, that is Martin, Myself, G.W.J., and Chris Smart, arrived
at the Sir John Barlace Warren earlier than expected which was just as well as
closing time was 10.30. Having decided
that this was a highly uncivilised district I retired to the car for a sleep
leaving the others to the serious drinking. Much later I was woken by various bodies smelling highly of curry
demanding to be driven to our lodgings. I was rather incensed at having missed the meal and still being very
tired managed only a small scold before dozing off again. Graham drove in reckless abandon to Heeston
where an unsuspecting
offered to put us up for the weekend. Having arranged ourselves on the floor we fell promptly asleep with a
view to the early morning next day.
Breakfast consisted of various bars of chocolate bought on
the way to the University. We eventually
found the correct entrance despite the bad signposting, and had ample time to
have a good look at the stands before the first lecture. Although the hall was smaller than the
previous year and the number of stands less, there were certainly more bargains
in evidence. New ideas were also present
in the form of Brenden Brews new ascender/descender.
Having decided on which lecture to attend we all trooped
upstairs and took our seats. All four of
us had decided to see Caves of Nottingham as it was the only lecture not
repeated on Sunday. Unfortunately,
although it could have been a good lecture, it was delivered by a boring
lecturer. It wasn’t a help to have to
sit through it in the coffee break either. However, King Pot, by D. Crossland & T. Whittaker, which followed,
was an excellent lecture and I began to think things were looking up. Lunch at the pub followed but we had to go on
foot because the car key had snapped in half in Martins pocket.
After lunch we attended a slide medley in 3D by J.
Wooldridge which was very good and would have been even better if the special
glasses which had to be worn worked for me. I think I was alone in this respect as everyone else seemed most
impressed. This was followed by the
unedited version of
79, winner of the Mick Burke award for that year. Tea followed and we rounded up the day with an
interesting talk on
by Jim Eyre.
We dined that night in a Turkish restaurant, together with
J. Dukes, and Biffo from the
concession to me due to missing the previous night. Feeling pretty tired by now we decided
against the Ceilid at the Uni and went to the Star instead.
Having sneaked John into our lodgings we got to sleep in
preparation for next day.
Sunday started off with Poro de Xitu, rated quite good,
followed by Mulu by Tony Waltham. Very
energetic but lost me in the technicalities.
by P. Glanville came next followed by an interesting session in the pub along
with half the conference.
We trooped back to Solo Caving Techniques a treatise given
with the appearance of trying to justify the speaker rather than convince the
audience.
I cant comment on because I promptly fell asleep five minutes after the
lecture began. The grand finale of the
lectures, and I was glad we saved it to last, was Accidents Happen to other
people by Dr. J. Frankland. This was probably
the best lecture I have ever attended in my life being funny while still
managing to get over a serious point. The photo awards followed which was the expected bun fight after which
most people made a beeline for the door to start the journey home.
For those interested the venue for next year is to be the
same, already booked in fact.
G. Grass
More News From Our Northern Correspondent
In one of Nidderdale’s major river caves, New Goyden Pot,
another half a mile of big stream passage has recently been found.
Geoff Crossley. B.P.C.
After heavy rains in the north Whernside Manors Ben Lyon
took a party into Bar Pot only to find that South East passage was sumped. Later a party of Craven P.C. members found
that Gaping Ghyll Main Chamber was flooded to a depth of 35ft.
Apparently the last time this happened, many years ago, it
took five years for the system to return to normal.
Fred Weeks. V.C.C.
B.E.C.
Lake District Meet, 1981
Once again the club is off to the
District
dates are 21st February to 1st March 1981.
Those requiring to stay at the cottages at Langdale should
write to : –
Mr Sanderson,
Fir Garth,
Great Langdale,
Nr.
Be sure to mention in the booking that you are part of the
B.E.C. group, otherwise you could be told that that the cottages are already
filled!
The cottages hold up to five bods and the approximate cost
will be £30.00 per cottage + VAT and electricity. Last year the club plus its friends filled
all the cottages so we suggest you book early.
Club members looking to share accommodation or transport
would do well to contact one of the following people, who are all going up for
the week: –
Martin and Glenys Grass, John and Sue Dukes, Chris Batstone,
Graham Wilton-Jones (all three of him), Sue Tucker, Jane Clarke, John and Gill
Turner, Chris Smart, John Knops, Simon (Woody) Woodman, the Palmer entourage,
Greg Villis and Hiss Piggy.
Martin Grass
Graham W-J
*****************************************
QUOTE: – by Mike Palmer, re the recent Peak cavern trip,
when water levels seemed rather high, and he had not managed to get into the
cave on his last three attempts: –
“Why don’t we
send someone in to see if it’s flooded to save us getting changed!”
Lifeline
by Tim Large
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION:- Everyone is reminded that subs
became due on the 1st October. So far
very few people have paid up. Without
your money the club cannot continue to function, pay bills or continuo to
provide the facilities you have come to expect. The subscription rates are the same as last year: –
Junior – £6 Full – £8 Joint – £12
The last date for payment is 31-Decomber-1980. After that date your BB will cease and you
will have to reapply. Please send your subs
to Fiona Lewis, 53 Portway, Wells.
DINNER 1980: – From all reports everyone appeared to
enjoy this event at the Caveman – being attended by 132 members; friends and
guests. Our guest of honour was Harry
Bennett, the manager of
Gough’s Cave thanks to the kindness of Mr. Bennett. ‘King Solomons
sound of ‘The Exploration Song’. Pete
Franklin said that the last time the club did this was 16 years ago.
CHARTERHOUSE CAVING PERMITS: – are available at the
Belfry from either the Hut Warden or any committee member who might be
there. Please make sure yours is up to
date. These are free to members. Any guests you may take down the
from the Belfry at a cost of 25p.
FIREWORKS AT THE BELFRY: – Recently an incident at
the Belfry involving fireworks caused some damage. Some members will already know what I am
talking about; I don’t think I need go into detail. The outcome of the incident is that besides
the person involved being severely warned as to future action, no fireworks or
similar devices will be allowed on the club premises. This applies to possession whether or not
they are intended for use. Any member
contravening this committee decision will be suspended from the Belfry
immediately until the next committee meeting can decide on further action.
FAIRY CAVE QUARRY: – Notice has been posted in the
local newspaper that Hobbs Quarry have applied for planning permission in
respect of development of cave and recreation facilities for tourists at the
Quarry including a childrens zoo. Looks
like there could soon be another show cave on Mendip! Maybe that is the best way to preserve caves
like Shatter and Withyhill.
AGM 1980:- Though club must have set a record this
year in completing the AGM business by 1pm. That included our usual break for lunch and beer. The meeting was chaired by Alan Thomas. The voting for the committee produced a
return of 80 ballot papers and one of the highest for many years. In recognition for his services to the club,
Martin Cavendar was granted an Honorary Life Membership by the meeting. For those who may not know Martin, he is a
Solicitor, who has over the years helped the club in legal matters. He also convened the Constitution
Sub-Committee in 1978 which resulted in our present constitution.
BREAFAST TIME ON MENDIP: – For those members visiting
Mendip who cannot stand the thought of cooking The Red Lion at
has started providing cooked Breakfast at reasonable prices on Saturday and
Sunday mornings. Why not give it a try
I’m sure you’ll find the food and service good.
NCA EQUIPMENT SUB-COMMITTEE: – I know many members
prefer to ignore what they call ‘cave politics’. So go bury your heads in the sand if you
must, but one day you will find it to late and your freedom as cavers
restricted with no way of finding a remedy to the situation. The equipment sub-committee caused a stir several
years ago with its ideas on reports and how it should lay down the do’s and
don’ts with regards to equipment. But we
thought we had got over the problem and quelled the misguided individuals
concerned. No such luck. We now have an equally misguided convenor in
one D. Elliot whoever he might be. I
believe he works at that place known as Whernside where they produce ‘pseudo
cavers’. Well I am now given to
understand that the equipment committee has invited the main manufacturers and
suppliers of caving gear to sit on the sub-committee. They also appear uninterested in cavers
ideas or having regional representation on the committee. Some snippets that have filtered out are that
they are drawing up specifications for the ‘ideal’ helmet, krab or whatever. Does this mean that they are dividing up the
gear market? Will we soon only be able
to use a certain make of helmet or else risk our insurance void; condemnation
from a Coroner or restricted access unless we use the recommended gear? This sub-committee also appears reluctant to
meet on Mendip I wonder why? What with
this and the farce at the last NCA AGM over the election of officers, I wonder
what is becoming of our national representative.
Starlight
Cave
by Annie Wilton-Jones.
I must admit that, when Ian suggested trip to Starlight
cave, I wasn’t too keen. The weather had
been bad for quite a while and road conditions were somewhat treacherous. The snow was still lying in places and the
freezing rain was making little impression on it. A day in front of the fire with some home
made wine and a murder mystery sounded infinitely more attractive than huddling
in my duvet in a car with a faulty heater, struggling to the entrance and then
grovelling around in the dark. As usual,
of course, I gave in and helped to got everything ready, We’d been told where Starlight Cave was but
weren’t too sure how to get there, especially as some of the roads were likely
to be impassable. A study of the map
showed possible alternatives but, as I’m a lousy navigator, I didn’t look
forward to trying to direct Ian along these lesser known roads. Knowing that we would probably have to park
at some distance from the entrance we made doubly sure that we knew the route
that we would have to take so that we wouldn’t have to use the map in the
rain. I honestly didn’t believe that any
trip would really be worth all this effort.
The journey was as bad as I expected and I wasnt in the
best of tempers as we neared our destination. We drove as close as possible before parking but even so we had some way
to go. I didnt relish the half mile
walk in the freezing rain but I kept telling myself that it would be worth it
when we got there. Knowing that it was a
fairly short cave we were a bit taken aback by the 50p a head entrance fee but,
having braved the elements thus far, we didn’t feel like wasting the effort
because of a bit of profiteering by the owner. Reluctantly we paid up, knowing there was no way we could sneak in. No doubt everybody else feels the same way,
thus ensuring that the owner can afford his Christmas drinks!
We had no trouble locating the entrance as it was large and
exposed. The gate was open and a party
was leaving. Not bad, said their
leader. “Better than I
expected.” Thus encouraged we
ventured in. It was immediately obvious
how the cave got its name; the walls were a mass of scintillations, rivalling
St. Cuthberts Balcony. I was surprised
at the ease of progress it was like walking in Gough’s, though everything was
on a smaller scale than there. The
formations were very impressive, particularly a pure white curtain of such a
delicate appearance that it could have been a real net curtain hanging at our
kitchen window. The crystal pool,
inadequately taped, was a fine example of its kind, and the perfection was
matched by the pink tinged columns.
So far we had seen no one since we had lost site of the
entrance, but this isolation was not to continue. A noisy party could be heard nearby and, not
wishing to get involved with an obviously inexperienced bunch of youths we decided
to explore a promising looking side passage. Unfortunately this did not go, ending in a blank wall just out of sight
of the main passage. Resisting the urge
to relieve our frustration by putting a B.E.C. sticker on the offending slab,
we retraced our steps and continued on our original direction. While the cave was undoubtedly pretty it was
hardly sporting.
A bend in the passage concealed the next formation, which I
promptly christened ‘Garden Gnome’ as it looked just like one of those things
you see fishing in the garden pond.
Something that struck us forcibly was the state of
preservation of all the formations in view of the cave’s obvious entrance and
easy nature. Presumably the strict
control of access has a lot to do with it. The cave is only open for part of the year and then only for part of
each day. As this open season is during
the winter, bad weather must deter some of the less dedicated but, even so,
apparently towards the end of the season large numbers turn up for a trip
before it is too late and queues like those at the top of Swildon’s ’20’ are
not uncommon. Luckily, for our trip Ian
had chosen a day when the weather was so awful that all a few other parties
were around.
Anyway we left ‘Garden Gnome’ to his fishing and strolled
on. When the going is so easy you get
cocksure, don’t you? There I was
marching along ‘the ‘Passage of a Thousand Snowflakes’ gazing in amazement at
the wonderful, glittering walls and roof when — crunch! My boot made contact with a projecting piece
of the wall and I crashed headfirst into a daintily decorated alcove. To my shame I discovered that the decorations
were not very dainty anymore. As there
was nothing I could do about it I quickly kicked the bits out of sight and
hurried on to catch Ian up. As usual he
wasn’t a bit bothered about me – just annoyed about the damage. For once I saw his point. How long had it taken to create what I had
destroyed in less than a minute?
At last we had come to a bit of a climb which helped to
relieve the monotony of the previously level cave. It was a simple climb and the passage leading
away from it was of the same character as that leading to it. By now I was wondering what made this trip so
popular as the formations alone didn’t satisfy me and I knew that Ian was
feeling the same way. If it hadn’t been
for the 50p entrance fee I think we might have called it a day. As it was we were determined to get our
money’s worth.
I was wishing that we had made this a photographic trip as
the formations were worth recording. I
felt sure that they could not last for much longer in their superb
condition. I had already done my bit
towards their destruction and I wouldn’t be the last. Ian though had been certain that there would
be nothing worth filming and, as he prefers to cave empty-handed whenever
possible, he had left his box at home.
We explored every side passage and one or two avens but
found that nothing went anywhere when suddenly we came into a fairly large
cavern. From the appearance of the large
white boss standing at the entrance to this cavern we deduced that we had
reached Snowman’s Grotto, the largest chamber in the cave and the end of the
known system. As Ian was convinced that
there must be a way on, we started exploring all the likely spots even though,
as I pointed out, everybody else must have done the same.
It was Ian who found the most promising place, a small,
round passage, leading downwards, choked with sand. I joined him on hearing his shout and
reluctantly started to dig at the sand with my hands, as he was doing. “If it seems worth it we can come back
later with some digging gear.”
“I can feel something solid,” I said to Ian.
“Oh, yes?” said a strange voice, and I turned to
see an oldish chap in a red and white goon suit.
“Well, the lucky dip’ is for the under-thirteens so
you’d better get your hands out of it. And don’t be too long with your Christmas present list as it’s time for
my lunch break!”
Marlow 11mm Polyester SRT Rope
The production of Marlow 11mm polyester SRT rope was almost
cancelled because of the small caving market potential. But following the raid on the Iranian Embassy
by the SAS on three strand hawser which had been taken straight out of store
and thrown over the side of the building, and the result of one SAS man hung up
on a kink they decided that they needed kermantle rope and so contacted Marlow. Marlow sent a sample of the 11mm SRT rope for
evaluation, a group of Saudi Arabian reps saw the rope and ordered it for use
by their forces (in black!). Later an
order was placed by the British Army for the SAS and all helicopter – borne units,
which now gives Marlow 11mm Polyester SRT Rope a much bigger market outside of
caving!
NEWS extracted from
BCRA
Caves
Nov. 1980.
The new system in
discovered by the N.C.C. and mentioned briefly in last month’s B.B. is
confirmed as being a big extension to Brown Hill Pot. Martin Bishop is visiting it this year and
has all but promised an article on the place.
The lower entrance to King Pot is now closed up again, as
agreed with the farmer, so don’t go trying any rappelling through. On the subject of rappel trips (where the
rope is pulled on through and exit made at the bottom of the system) Stu
Lindsey has written an article on this which will appear in the January B.B.
Sorry, Stu, but I just didn’t have time to get it in this
edition.
Before King Pot lower entrance was blocked Geoff Yeadon
pushed the upstream sump and extended the system by around 1000 feet.
On the West side of the
of
been climbed with maypoles and bolts, but there seems to be little hope of a
connection from Pot to
Bristol
Exploration Club – Membership List October 1980
828 Nicolette Abell Michaelmas
Cottage, Faulkland,
20 L Bobby Bagshaw
Knowle,
392 L Mike Baker 10
Riverside Walk, Midsomer Norton,
295 A. Ball
818 Chris Batstone
Bathford,
390 L Joan Bennett
Wesbury-on-Trym,
214 L Roy Bennett
Wesbury-on-Trym,
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 N.R. Brown The
Barn, Lazy Lane, Fladbury, Pershore, Worcs.
756 T. Burt
Harpenden, Herts.
956 Ian Caldwell 44
Strode Road, Clevedon,
977 Tony Callard 75
Winter Road, Southsea, Hampshire
955 Jack Calvert 4
The Hollow, Dilton Marsh, Westbury, Wiltshire.
902 L Martin Cavendar The
Old Rectory, Westbury-sub-Mendip, Wells,
965 G. 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,
585 Tony Corrigan
Stockwood,
827 Mike Cowlishaw c/o
Hilston,
890 Jerry Crick 2
Coneacre,
Windelsham,
680 Bob Cross
Knowle,
870 G. Cullen
405 L Frank Darbon
423 L Len Dawes The
Lodge,
Minster Matlock, Derbyshire
449 Garth Dell BLD
47 (Press), COD Donnington,
815 Nigel Dibben 97
Worth Clough, Poynton,
164 L Ken Dobbs
Heath,
972 Mike Duck c/o
830 John Dukes Bridge
Farm, Dulcote, Wells,
937 Sue Dukes Bridge
Farm, Dulcote, Wells,
847 Michael Durham
779 Jim Durston Hill
View, Old Beat, Maidendown, Nr. Burlescombe, Tiverton,
322 L Bryan Ellis
Westonzoyland, Bridgwater,
269 L Tom Fletcher
Bramcote,
894 P. Ford
947 P. Ford CPOs
Mess, RNAS Yeovilton,
404 L Albert Francis
Wells,
468 Keith Franklin
569 Joyce Franklin
Stoke Bishop,
469 Pete Franklin
Stoke Bishop,
978 Sheila Furley 1
Lower Actis,
835 Len Gee 5
The
265 Stan Gee
Heaton Norris,
647 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 Hasel Hill
House, Moorlynch, Bridgwater,
893 D. Hatherley
Cannington,
935 Lynne Henley
Wells,
974 Jeremy Henley Rogate,
Shepton Mallet,
917 Robin Hervin 12
952 Robert Hill 32
Ridings Mead, Chippenham, Wiltshire
905 Paul Hodgson
793 Mike Hogg 32
Birchley Heath,
898 E. Hollis 1
Bugle Cottage, Milborne Wick, Nr Sherborne,
899 A. Hollis 1
Bugle Cottage, Milborne Wick, Nr Sherborne,
920 Nick Holstead
Trowbridge, Wiltshire
387 L George Honey Droppsta,
19044,
971 C. Houlden 16
Brue Close, Bruton,
770 Chris Howell
Cadbsoton, Birmimgham
923 Trevor Hughes Wardroom,
HMS Bulwark, BFPO Ships,
855 Ted Humphreys Frekes
Cottage, Moorsite, Marnhull, Sturminster Newton, Dorset
808 J. Hunt
Filton,
73 Angus Innes 18
Davids Close, Alveston,
Aven
969 Duncan Innes 0
540 L Dave Irwin Townsend
Cottage, Townsend, Priddy,
792 Ken James 20
Worle, Weston-super-Mare,
922 Tony Jarratt British
High Commission,
51 L A Johnson
Rd.
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
884 John King
Partridge Green,
316 L R.S. King 22
Parkfield Rank, Pucklechurch,
542 L Phil
413 L R. Kitchen Overcombe,
Horrabridge, Yelverton,
904 C. Knight Whitebrook
Fisheries, Whitebrook, Llanuaches,
Gwent
946 A. Knutson
874 D. Lampard Woodpeckers,
667 L Tim Large 53
Portway, Wells,
958 Fiona Lewis 53
Portway, Wells,
930 S. Lindsay 5
Laburnum Walk, Keynsham, Bristil
574 L O.C. Lloyd Withey
House, Withey Close West, Westbury-on-Trym,
58 G. 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 Greystones,
Priddy, Somerset
106 L E.J. Mason
Henleaze,
976 Mark Matthews 3 The
Barton, Compton Martin,
957 Dave Maurison 27
Maurise Walk,
NW1
558 L A. Meaden Highcroft,
Westbury, Bradford Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset
963 Clare Merritt
Chippenham, Wiltshire
704 D. Metcalfe 10
troughton Crescent,
308 K. Murray 17
936 D. Nichols
852 J. Noble
Tennis Courts Rod, Paulton,
880 G. Nye
Horsham,
938 Kevin ONeil
964 Lawrie ONeil
624 J. Orr 8
396 L Mike Palmer
22 L Les Peters
499 L A. Philpott
Bishopston,
961 Mick Phinster
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 S. Robins 16
Hillcrest, Knowle,
970 T. Roberts
Yatton,
921 P. Rose
Ford, Hants
832 R. Sabido 15
Concorde drive, Westbury-on-Trym,
941 J. Sampson 8
Hillcrest, Knowle,
240 L A. Sandall
Nailsea,
359 L C. Sandall
Nailsea,
760 J. Sandercroft 5
Eastcroft, Henleaze,
237 L B. Scott Merrymead,
78 L R.A. Setterington
213 L R. Setterington
Chiswick,
W4
926 S. Short Flat
3, 1 South road, Weston-super-Mare,
915 C. Smart
Woking,
823 A. Sparrow
851 M. 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 R. Stenner
Weston super Mare,
865 P. Stokes
Bagshot,
968 J. Tasker 281
Canford lane, Westbury-on-Trym, Brsitol
772 Nigel Taylor Whidden
Farm, Chilcote, Nr Wells,
919 T.
284 L A. Thomas Allens
House,
Priddy, Somerset
348 L D Thomas Pendant,
Little Birch, Bartlestree,
571 L N Thomas Holly
Lodge,
Salhouse,
876 N. Thorne
Wells,
699 Buckett Tilbury 15
Fernie Fields,
700 Anne Tilbury 15
Fernie Fields,
80 Postle Thompsett
Great Baddow,
74 L Dizzie Thompsett
Great Baddow,
381 L D. Towler 7
Ross Close, Nyetimber,
157 L J. Tuck 33
Crown Rise, Llanfrechfa, Cwmbran, Gwent,
382 S. Tuck Colles
Close, Wells, Somerset
769 Sue Tucker Colles
Close, Wells, Somerset
678 Dave Turner Moonrakers,
Holcombe,
912 J. Turner Styles
Weeks,
Tavistock,
635 L S. Tuttlebury 28
Beacon Close, Boundstone, Farnham,
887 G. Villis 30
Banwell, Weston-super-Mare,
175 L D. Waddon 32
Laxton Close,
949 J. Watson
Westbury-on-Trym,
953 J. Watson 15
Farm Grove, Southfields,
973 J. Wells
397 Mike Wheadon 91
The Oval,
861 Maureen Wheedon 91 The
Oval,
553 R. White Cedar
Hall,
Wookey, Wells,
975 M. White
Langport,
878 Ross White PO38389Y,
5 Troop, B. Company, 40 Comando Royal Marines, Seaton Barracks, Crown Hill,
Plymouth, Devon
939 Woly Wilkinson
Melksham, Wiltshire
940 Val Wilkinson
Melksham, Wiltshire
934 Colin Williams Address
unknown
885 Claire Williams Address
unknown
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,
877 Steve Woolven 21
Three Acres,
914 Brian Workman 11
Moreland, 11 New
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