QUODCUMQUE FACIENDUM : NIMIS FACIEMUS
I wonder if anybody else picked up the item in Dave Irwins
'Round and About' column the other month, when he was describing the main
rescues last year? In the item for the
22nd July, 1973, the description reads: 'a friend was stuck just beyond the
little waterfall inside the entrance at the beginning of the
It could, of course, have been a misprint - but if not, what was the matter with Kenny's Dig? I have a shrewd suspicion that there are a number of cavers today who are experts on places like the Damp Link but who couldn't take you to the New Grotto if you paid them. Perhaps there is a need for Descriptive Map of Swildons!
At the last meeting of the committee, Graham Wilton-Jones outlined his Long Term forecast of use of the Belfry site and list of priorities for future improvements to be made.
As always with this sort of document, it is a little difficult to 'take it in' at first reading, but it is hoped that Graham will have a copy which can be reproduced in the B.B so that club members can be kept abreast of the current thinking.
Alfie
A light hearted account of some
by Andrew Nicholls.
The editor has kindly given me this chance to quash the rumour that your favourite solicitor is to be found scrounging food in the Belfry or in an alcoholic slumber in the corner and does not, and never has possessed any caving gear.
It's a lie! To prove it, Andy Nicholls and Malcolm Jarrett voyaged to Yorkshire at the end of March for an ambitious weeks' caving having, as members of (dare I say it?) the Council of Northern Caving Clubs, booked several fine pots at ten days' notice with no more trouble than a 3½p stamp.
Most of it never got done, mainly because the car carrying the tackle blew up and failed to arrive at the B.P.C. hut at Horton in Ribblesdale until Monday night. When it did, Andy found that he'd left his boots behind - a ploy he'd used with great success on various French expeditions but now infuriating. So Pippikin, Monday's hole, had to be abandoned.
On Tuesday, they did get down Gravel Pot on Leck Fell, with
a
The return to the car was via
Wednesday was the highlight. Malcolm and Andy, with Nigel Anderton (Southampton) and Julian Griffiths
(
What if it's absolutely torrential?
Youll have to climb straight back up!"
What if I can't?
Well leave you there and go to the pub."
(Wails and curses from eighty feet down)
But it was a magnificent pitch - just away from the wall and dry all the way. The others abseiled down. The Near Rift followed squeezing and grovelling through boulders with a thrutch in the middle which halted Nigel.
Down to three heroes, the party pushed on through Tadpole Passage which is two hundred and fifty feet of vile, wet crawl with a duck in the middle; and reached the fifth pitch - a wet twenty. The sixth pitch is by-passed on the right to a climb down into the Far Rift, easy traversing through loose boulders to more flat out crawling over cobbles to another duck. "Hey! Its not a duck. It's a damned squeeze underwater!"
"Blob deggle mayflibe apig dobar?"
"Slop?"
"I said, 'What do you reckon to this grade V caving so far?"
"Luggit!"
"What?"
"Rubbish!"
The cave's final passage is 300 feet of sharply scalloped crawl to a wet forty foot pitch, which would have been walking but for the clusters of straws on the roof. Near the end was a fascinating display of tree roots - not the piffling tendrils of Wookey Nine, but monstrous black pythons sprouting through roof and walls, writhing along the passage and (Get out, you beast - get OUT!) straight up your wetsuit trousers.
Below the last pitch, the cave ended suddenly in a boulder chamber and sump. That was it. The three set out, waking Nigel on the way, and reaching the surface after six and a half hours of sporting caving.
Thursday was a relaxed day. Malcolm and Andy, with Nigel and a
The Sportsman. (Dent)
The Fowlands Inn (Bentham)
The Talbot. (Settle)
The Craven Heifer (Stainforth)
The Crown. (Horton)
and The
The day's objective, a visit to Whernside Manor to bait Ben Lyon, had to be abandoned when it was found that the Great Man was out. Instead, we spent a couple of hours down Ibbeth Peril I, an interesting system with surely the coldest water in the Dales.
And that was the end of the weeks I caving except for Andy
who, as a final fling, journeyed to South Wales and led three
MAY 24th - 27th - SPRING BANK HOLIDAY.
Saturday May 25th PIPPIKIN & LANCASTER/EASEGILL
Sunday, May 26th JUNIPER and NOTTS.
Saturday June 22nd. Cil Yr Ychen and Llygad Llwchwr. One Day Meet - Details later
July 13th and 14th,
August 23-26th
FURTHER DETAILS OF THESE TRIPS FROM ANDY NICHOLS OR DAVE IRWIN. NOTICES WILL APPEAR ON THE BELFRY NOTICE BOARD.
If anyone knows of any other trips planned by club members in the future, which other members can join, please let Dave Irwin, Andy Nichols or the editor have details.
A Monthly Miscellany
By 'Wig'
Annual subs should all be in
Ere the month of May begin.
Any bloke who falls to pay
Doesn't get B.B. for May.
Another member who called in recently was Garth Dell who is now a happily married family man.
The Editor 'casts his mind back through the ages' to give a bit of background to the problem of flooding Cuthberts.
The paragraph in this month's 'Round and About' on the water in the Entrance Rift in Cuthberts (No 58) has prompted me to write these notes on the history and thinking behind the control of water entering the cave. I have not given the exact dates, although I could have looked them up, because they are not relevant to the argument or conclusion.
From the time when the lead works finally closed in the first few years of this century until some time in the 1920's, the whole of the bottom of the depression consisted of a pool. This pool disappeared in a spectacular fashion one night, when a hole about six feet across was found to have opened up. According to Bert Russell, it took several cartloads of stone to fill this hole in again.
After this episode, a rather more shallow pool usually occupied most of the depression floor. This was the case when we first came to the site in the 1940's. This shallow pool was filled from two main sources - A high level stream coming from Mineries Pool which brought most of the water in, and a source of general seepage from the same source which came down from Mineries via the area of 'tumps' which lies between the pool and the bottom of the depression.
The dig of 1947 - handicapped by being 'unofficial' which meant that no shoring could be used and which failed to enter the cave by means of the present (new) entrance by about two feet - was undertaken in very dry conditions and thus the water situation presented no problems. Indeed, one of the reasons why the original entrance site was chosen as the place to dig was because it was relatively high up and away from the water of the depression pool. During the whole digging phase, no problem was experienced through water - but once the head of the Entrance Pitch was reached water was met with coming from the direction of the origin dig (the present entrance).
In the first flush of enthusiasm, this water was ignored and everybody constructed drip shields for their carbide lamps to enable them to stay alight during the descent of the very wet entrance rift. It was at this stage that Les Browne, Don and myself took a good look at the water situation to see what could be done to lessen the amount flowing down the rift, Don decided to concentrate on the depression pool and repaired the old bank with help and fitted a sluice, so that water could be kept out of the cave for a short while - long enough for cavers to get down under dry conditions. The problem of getting back was solved by fitting a telephone which ran from the Dining Room in Cuthberts to the Belfry - with a later extension to the Shepton Hut - so that returning cavers could ask for the plug to be put into the sluice.
Meanwhile, Les Browne pointed out that a much greater
improvement would be to stop the main stream from entering the depression at
all. An old trench existed which went
underneath the aqueduct which carried Priddy's drinking water supply from Fair
Lady Well and which went into the plantation swallet. This trench had partially collapsed and the
bottom was far above the level of the stream - but Les set to work lowering the
bottom of the trench until it became low enough to act as a diversion for the
stream. The trench became known as
Browne's Cutting - and we constructed a thick dam from the rubble we got out of
Browne's Cutting to block the stream from entering the depression. We soon had this Upper Dam complete, and
water running merrily into
In spite of somebody (who has since owned up!) who used to breach the Upper Dam regularly (and we used to mend it with equal regularity!) the scheme worked very well. There was now much less water to cope with, and the sluice now held the water out of the cave for a couple of hours under normal conditions.
Unfortunately, conditions one day in 1960 were far from
normal. Two inches of rain fell in the
Belfry area in four hours and, although the Upper Dam held fast and kept the
main stream out of the depression, the seepage from the other source raised the
level at the lower dam quicker than fire pumps could lower it by pumping it
back uphill into
With this 'near miss' in mind, we decided on the present scheme, which was designed to make sure that never again would cavers have to risk a long stay in the cave due to a sudden and violent storm. We realised that we could not keep the water from getting into the depression under storm conditions, so we argued that we must get it out more quick instead. So we dug the present entrance and incorporated a pipe straight from the sluice into the cave, so that it would always be possible to lower the water level behind the lower dam quicker than a storm could fill it.
With the situation described in 'Round and About' whereby
the main stream is now back in the depression, it is doubtful - to say the
least of future - whether the scheme could now cope in a storm situation. Even so, the present situation need not be
dangerous provided that it remains possible to put the stream rapidly back into
This account of the cave recently opened by the Chelm's Coombe Caving Club has been sent to the B.B. by Their Secretary, J. Aylott
Reynold's Rift is situated in the grounds of the National Tower Testing Station at Chelm's Coombe, Cheddar and the opening up of the cave took just under two years by members of the Chelm's Coombe Caving Club and friends.
It is situated under a collapsed section of the face where, when the quarry was blasted, 1,200 lb charge of powder was laid and instead of blasting out the face, it collapsed inwards and down, creating an unstable boulder pile.
Some History of the Dig.
During June 1972, while clearance of the pad area of the National Tower Testing Station was being undertaken, a small hole at the base of the collapsed section of the face was discovered. It was noted by members of the Chelm's Coombe Caving Club, but little else was done. Then in early August 1972, it was investigated by J.C. Aylott who found that the slot - only two inches by four inches had a slight draught but that digging at the site would be impossible due to the unstable condition of the face at this point. On the 7th of August, 1972, digging started by J. Aylott in the floor of the station about three feet away from the original slot. He was later joined by R. Collins. Work was greatly encouraged when, after the removal of about two feet of material, a rift was found. It was about two inches wide and twelve feet deep. A ten foot shaft was sunk through this rift, and on the 21st of September 1972, J. Aylott - on a solo trip - broke through into a small chamber with a boulder and mud floor which still carried a good draught. The squeeze through was exceptionally tight and was later widened in October 1972 to make the removal of spoil easier.
On the 27th September 1972, V. Gray joined the diggers, making up a team of three. Work then carried or through 1972 until August 1973. during which time all the digging had been done without blasting. From June 1973, the diggers were: J. Aylott, V. Gray and R. Barclay and these carried on until October 1973 when P. Carter joined the team.
During August 1973, the assistance of
It was during August 1973 that the second small chamber was broken into, after digging through another two inch wide section of rift. The dig had then been in progress one year. The team carried on digging in the floor of this chamber by blasting and then digging out until this chamber was made into another pitch. Then, on the 6th December 1973, J. Aylott and P. Carter broke through into an open cave passage through a very tight crawl which was enlarged from the other side later on.
On the 10th of December 1973, V. Gray and J. Aylott explored all the new cave passage and started digging in the floor of Mud Alley, where boulders could be heard falling down a pitch. On the 28th February 1974, J. Aylott and V. Gray broke through the tight section in this rift into a fifty foot pitch, which was found to be choked at the bottom. Work carries on.
The Cave Description. Alt: 280' O.D. Approx. Length 300' Depth: 80 - 100'
The cave entrance is found at the base of the East Face about fifty feet North of Box's Cave.
It is entered through a steel gate set in concrete under which is the first pitch, with one side made up of half 40 gallon oil drums. This is easily climbed down to a squeeze which drops into a small chamber. From there, one drops down the second pitch (Blasted Pitch) which, again, can be climbed. At the Northern end of this pitch, a passage goes nearly to the surface, but it is impassable. At the bottom, a crawl will be found heading in a Southerly direction. This crawl (The Rack) is six feet long and drops two feet into a larger passage. This is the Main Passage which goes to the north and south.
To the north, the passage soon enlarges to about five feet square with a boulder floor, and then closes into a squeeze (Devil's Doorway) through stal cemented boulders. The passage then drops down six feet to a stream sink. All this area is made up of boulders cemented by stal. There is a large boulder hanging in the roof over the sink which is only held up by two chocks tones - so care should be taken.
The passage then rises, and a crawl follows over boulders in the stream bed. After a few feet, it is necessary to drop down into the stream bed and go through a squeeze at stream level. From here onwards, the passage (The High Way) is twenty feet high and three feet wide with the stream running in the floor to a large boulder choke filling the whole passage. Care should be taken in this section of passage as the floor is of stal and can easily be broken.
Southward from the Rack, the passage starts as a muddy crawl then turns into a traverse on muddy ledges over a twenty foot pitch. This is Mud Alley. By chimneying down this pitch, a false floor of boulders can be reached after which a hole in the southern end can be passed which leads to 'Clinker Climb' - a fifty foot pitch in two sections which ends at present in a choke where the stream is seen again.
By continuing the traverse, the rift floor is again reached and from here, the passage leads to a chimney The Smokestack. This is forty feet high with a squeeze in the middle. The whole chimney has very good chert bands and fossils and care should be taken when climbing. The squeeze is overhanging and in loose boulders. Digging is continuing under the chimney in a boulder choke which is unstable and should not be entered.
Access and Notes
The cave is situated on the National Tower Testing Station, and all access is controlled by them. Permission can be obtained by writing to the Station Manager. A maximum of four per trip is allowed. All trips are led, and it is requested that only electrics are used. It is essential that the tapes in the cave are not crossed as they are to protect the cave for others.
A trip was made down the cave on the 9th February 1974 under extremely wet conditions, and it was found that Blasted Pitch was taking a large amount of water and that the Rack was impassable. This should be borne in mind, and any trip arranged that meets with conditions such as these should be cancelled.
All diggers would like to thank Mr. Box for all the help and encouragement that he has given them in opening up the cave, and it is hoped that all cavers who visit the cave will help to maintain the good relations that exist at the present time.
Listed below are all the people who have helped with the dig, and the number of trips done:-
Name
|
No. of trips.
|
Hours
digging.
|
J. Aylott
V. Gray
R. Collins
R. Barclay
P. Carter
G. Jones
N. Smith
F. Reynolds
J. Thorpe
|
119
23
61
9
8
8
4
4
2
2
1
1
|
180
58
35
22
20
20
10
10
5
5
3
2
|
The cave is named after the late F.A. Reynolds who died shortly after his last trip down the dig.
Come to the Working Weekend (May 10th 11th 12th). Free Bed-nights at the belfry *
Closed to all except workers and those attending the Don Coase memorial Lecture (Saturday night only)*
Come and see the Committee ACTUALLY WORKING!*
COME TO THE DON COASE MEMORIAL LECTURE.
Have a jar or three at the Hunters! Meet your friends! Stay and work on Sunday!
AND GO BACK TO WORK ON MONDAY COMPLETELY CLAPPED OUT!
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2. Has water twin associations on
Mendip. (4)
5. Sounds like 5 down. (2)
6. Bertie, perhaps. (3)
8. Weegie trip? (4)
10. Short-lived Mendip hole. (4)
12. Swildons Grotto not south? (3)
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.or N.W. (1,1)
15. Had obligations. (4)
17. First part of 33 across. (4)
19. Feature of G.B. found in Kangaroo, Zebra etc. (4)
21. Ungated? (4)
23. Correct (1,1)
24. Makes bang work in short. (3)
26. Arête this in Cuthberts for example. (2,2)
28. Reports from all quarters? (4)
30. Warm and dry and
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32. Its been this for centuries. (1,1)
33. Cats would be useful to caver. (4)
Down
2. Decided before caving? (1,1,1)
3. Once cavers staple diet. (4)
5.
7. Vane cave feature. (4)
9. Loosen, perhaps. (4)
11. G.B. Passage. (4)
13. Can be five or seven days, has been three. (4)
14. Stole Lane Chamber. (4)
16. One way of spelling ages. (4)
18. Write down N, S, or W. (4)
22. Hardly S.P. or S.C. (4)
25. All caves have come to this. (3)
27. Associated with buts. (3)
29. and 31. ..will
to excess (2 and 2)
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The Belfry,
Chairman S.J. Collins
Minutes Sec G.
Members M. Bishop, D.J. Irwin, D. Stuckey, G.
Oaten,
Honorary Secretary A.R
THOMAS, Allens House,
Honorary Treasurer B.
Caving Secretary D.
STUCKEY,
Climbing Secretary G. Oaten,
Address to follow.
Hut Warden N.
TAYLOR, Whiddons, Chilcote,
Belfry Engineer M.
BISHOP, Address to follow
Tacklemaster G.
WILTON-JONES, 17 Monkhams Drive, Watton, Thetford,
B.B. Editor S.J.
COLLINS, Lavender Cottage, Bishops Sutton, Nr. Bristol.
Tel
: CHEW MAGNA 2915
Honorary Librarian D.J
IRWIN, Townsend Cottage, Townsend, Priddy, Wells Som. Tel : PRIDDY 369
Publications Editor D.J
IRWIN As above
B.B. Postal Brenda.
QUODCUMQUE FACIENDUM : NIMIS FACIEMUS
Thrupe Swallet - as many of you probably know - 'went' over
Easter and has resulted in a new addition to the major caves of Mendip. Congratulations to all the diggers
involved. I also have information of
another site which may shortly yield a cave of reasonable size and add yet a
further cave to the Mendip repertoire.
Happy as this situation is, one wonders how effective any
measures to conserve them - if they warrant such treatment - will be. Must new discoveries on Mendip always be
balanced by the loss of irretrievable formations in the newly-discovered caves
or elsewhere? Present day caving being
what it is, I have no doubt of the fate of any worthwhile scenic beauty that
these new caves may possess.
A write-up of this function appears in this B.B., to which I
would like to add that those who missed it missed an extremely interesting,
technically excellent and amusing lecture. If future Don Coase Memorial Lectures maintain the standard set by this
first one, they will indeed prove a fitting tribute to Don and a credit to the
club.
I ask this question quite seriously, as I recently heard
through the usual second or third-hand channels, that 'nobody ever reads the
B.B. and that there is no point writing anything worthwhile in it, since nobody
ever bothers to quote from it or refer to it.'
I know that this is not entirely true, because at least
those indefatigable researchers of C.T.S. refer to every source of caving
information, and our exchange system (ably kept up-to-date and put where it
counts most by the equally indefatigable Wig) makes sure that at least the B.B.
gets into the right hands - even if those hands do not always do what we would
like them to. It is, of course, possible
that the occasional lack of reference to work originally published in the B.B.
may occur through lack of knowledge of its source. It is even possible that this could occur
through prejudice. It could also be
because work published is not considered of a sufficient standard compared
with, say, a slightly later account in some other publication.
Whatever basis there may (or may not) be for complaints such
as this one, there is no doubt that 'knocking' of the club magazine has an
erosive effect. The task of persuading
people to contribute becomes in any case more difficult, and there might well
come a point at which an editor is forced to consider seriously whether it is
all worthwhile.
Alfie
An appreciation of the first of these annual lectures.
by 'Kangy'
This, the first of an annual series, was given by Dr. Tony
Waltham - Lecturer in Geology; author; editor and evidently caver.
Don Coase was a caver too. As Alfie Collins said in a short tribute before the lecture, we wanted
to remember Don in this fashion because he was a damn fine caver and a damn
fine club member.
The Wig, slightly twittery about the turnout because of the
lateness of the announcement in the B.B. (A tradition, surely and entirely
appropriate!) need not have worried, because the turnout, impromptu and most
enthusiastic, was good.
Tony's lecture, 'Caves and Altitude' was pitched at me and
my lad and we both enjoyed it at our different levels. He described his searches for the cave depth
record, the premise being that to find the deepest cave in the world, it is
necessary to start at altitude. We were
left to draw our own conclusions.
We were shown slides. Slides of Mendip; Yorkshire;
Tony is the author of the book 'CAVES' to be publish this
autumn by Macmillan which should be good.
I would like to thank Dr. Waltham for his fine lecture and
express my appreciation in this form. Could we have another lecture, please? Perhaps a lecture explaining why (with abseiling techniques so highly
developed) the expeditions he takes part in seem to rely on the good
old-fashioned ladder.
Graham Wilton-Jones, who is running the Long Term Planning
Sub -Committee, gives us their first thoughts on what we should be doing to the
Belfry site.
General Philosophies:
We must make better use of the existing facilities. The comfort of users must always be
considered. Most facilities show room
for extension and improvement. We should
improve existing conditions to as high a standard as possible before embarking
on any major alterations or extensions.
Such improvement is to be performed item by item, according
to a particular order of priorities. Therefore a general report is to be submitted initially, outlining all
the possible improvements and useful or necessary alterations. Detailed reports on each item will then be
submitted before work begins on that item.
In order to do this, three lists will be compiled. The first will show order of priority of
groups of items since it has rapidly become clear that many items are connected
in some ways, and can thus he dealt with together for convenience. The second will show the order of extent of
the improvement or alteration in size of cost and labour while the third will
show the order of priority of the items.
The nature and extent of any improvements should be guided
by our present circumstances, and determined finally in the light of past
experience. However, any alterations
will be determined by what we believe or can assess that the club; the members;
the caving situation etc will be like in ten years' time - since this is the
period set by the terms of the report.
It is likely that more people will be actively caving though
current rates of growth will diminish. The club will probably be bigger, and there will be more guest
bookings. Under present conditions we
would have more guests and fewer members using the Belfry. Guests must not take over the hut, and it
must therefore be made more attractive to members. We must regard the guests as potential new
club members as well as a means of helping the Belfry to pay for itself.
List 1. Order of
Priority of Groups of Items.
1. Comfort. (Includes heating and insulation.)
2. Rubbish storage and disposal.
3. Cooking facilities and food storage.
4. Eating.
5. Washing up, drying, cutlery and crockery
storage.
6. Workshop facility.
7. Changing and drying of clothes.
8. Washing self (although the shower facility alone
deserves higher priority.)
9. Charging facilities.
10. Sleeping accommodation.
11. Parking.
12. Administration facility (Hut Warden's
Office/booth)
13. Library.
14. The loft.
Other lists and progress on this subject will be published
in the B.B. to keep members up-to-date.
The Editor would like to invite any member who has useful
comment to make on this subject to write to about it.
IT WILL BE ON SATURDAY JUNE 22ND. INFORMATION, OFFERS OF HELP TO NIGEL TAYLOR
A Monthly Miscellany
By 'Wig'
The find would appear to be a
major Mendip discovery. A brief
description is as follows:- A 30' dug shaft leads to a 150 - 200 ft long rift
involving general shuffling and some traversing and drops some 50' to the head
of Perseverance Pot. Below this pot is
Perseverance Rift, up to 40' high and similar to Manor Farm rift. This gives access to Cowsh Crawl - some six
horrible feet long! After this crawl, a
left fork leads to a rift series of passages up to 80' high with some shafts in
the area. To the right, one enters
Butt's Chamber (name of farmer) a sizeable place where the stream enters. Some 30' above the floor, a sand crawl leads
for 30' to Marble Chamber, smaller than the previous chamber. At the bottom of this chamber, a crawl
through unstable boulders regains the stream which falls down an impressive
aven. The way on lies along a
Editor's Note: It is appreciated that some degree of secrecy
often surrounds digs. Even so, if
diggers could keep a record - and if necessary chuck it in the B.B. box after
the dig has either 'gone' or been abandoned - it can find its way into club
records.
Stan Gee and Chris Falshaw have
both been around the Belfry and as far as I can gather Chris will be down again
in the near future for a Cuthberts trip while Stan Gee's comment was"
Well, life at the Belfry hasnt changed since I was last down!"
First, the boulders in the left
hand fork were passed to an aven with a boulder roof, while the rift was chemically
widened to give access to a wider section with a hole leading off to another
boulder choke. The aven was then pushed
further by a combination of delicate banging and luck, with the boulders
becoming increasingly restive and aggressive. The team were considering giving up when a breakthrough was made on the
17th April 1974 to a small collapse chamber on the side of a sizeable
rift. This runs back up cave along a
fault and contains large masses of calcite. There appears to be no open way on, and further digging will have to be
resorted to. Unfortunately the best site,
high at the Southern end, is occupied by a rather nice stalactite grotto. This has been taped off, and other points of
attack will be looked into.
Anyone contemplating a look round
should be very careful in the boulder ruckle. Work will continue every Wednesday and careful volunteers are
welcome. Around the holiday periods it
is best to phone
The Caves of North-West Clare.
Ed. Tratman. Published by David and
Charles,
A tour to the Caves - John
Button. A reprint of this 1780 work. It describes a journey through the
Postojna (English Edition). A photographic record of this great
cave. Available from Tony Oldham, 17,
JUNE 22nd. (Saturday)
Cil Yr Ychen and Llygad Llwchwr. One Day
Meet. Apply to Caving Sec. for Details.
JULY 13/14.
AUGUST 23-26.
For further information on these meets, and any others that
may be in hand, apply to the Caving Sec or 'Wig'.
Colin Priddle, the first man to
free dive to the ninth chamber in Wookey, sends us this letter and account
After the plea by the editor and by Dave Irwin in 'Round and
About', I have photocopied articles by myself which were published in C.D.G.
Newsletter No 30 for January 1974.
It is C.D.G. policy for anyone to copy articles provided the
Hon. Sec. is asked for permission. As I
am the Hon. Sec., I give you permission as long as we get a plug and a note
quoting the source.
The plug is that the C.D.G. Newsletters are published every
3 months at a price of 20p for about 30 pages. They contain all the diving reports and diving finds from all the caving
areas. The Newsletter is obtainable form
the Hon. Editor, Dr, O.C. Lloyd, Withey House, Withey Close West, Bristol BS9
3SX. A remittance should be sent with
the order. Cheques and postal order to
be made payable to the Cave Diving Group.
_______________________
The intention of the trip was to explore a new passage above
the 8th and 9th chambers. John Parker,
wearing a single 40, laid a line to 5 and I free dived though climb directly
out of the water into 5. The dive from 3
to 4 is very easy (6ft long and 2 ft deep). The dive from 4 to 5 is probably 18 feet long and 6 feet in depth. John Parker then dived to 9 and came back
overland to the top of 5. He then
lowered a string halfway to the water, to which I attached a ladder. John then belayed and I climbed.
Six was crossed by an awkwardish traverse followed by a
small passage to 7. This was a direct
traverse and climb down about 60 ft to the water. The lower part of this climb I found very
difficult. I would recommend for future
trips that a ladder from 5 should be used for this climb. A quick swim along the lakes length and a
twenty foot ladder climb brought the view of the 8th chamber. A crawl through a hole; a wall traverse; a
free climb down; a twenty foot swim and a twenty foot ladder climb brought us
to the upper part of 9.1. The two twenty
foot ladders we used were left by John Parker in his trip to 5. One of the N.C.B. divers then climbed up the
ladder to us but decided that, as time was running short, we ought to be going
out. So he went back down to 9 and I
went to 8. John Parker coiled the 8
ladder as I connected the 7 ladder to the nylon rope acting as a Tyrolean
across 7. John belayed the 7 ladder from
9 so that I could climb down to the 7 water level. Once there, he coiled the 7 ladder whilst
swimming, also releasing the belaying rope for me in 9. John then dived to 5 while I climbed and
crawled to 5. The ladder in 5 was
lengthened from above so that the belaying rope could be used to belay the
ladder round a stal from below. Once down, the ladder was lowered, leaving the
belaying rope round the stal for future trips. The lines were taken out from the sumps at the end of the five hour
trip.
This trip was repeated later, and the ladders to 8 and 7
were belayed before the trip in an earlier dive. By using a ladder on the long drop into 7
from 5 the route was much easier. Even
so, the party of three (Clive Westlake, John Parker and myself) took nearly
five hours. The push above 9.1. yielded
nothing.
The time taken to dive from 5 to 9 is of the order of three
minutes, so as far as time saving is concerned, the overland route is not
advantageous,.
Editor's Note: Colin tell us that, after May 31st, his
address will be:-
C.J. Priddle,
c/o
Horfield,
*****************************************
Have YOU done anything interesting lately?
Why not write it up for the B.B.
4,
Dear Alfie,
Having just received my March B.B. together with the April
issue, I have only just seen your request for suggestions etc., and felt
compelled to write.
First, I must congratulate you on the improvement in the
printing, which is now much clearer and more legible.
My March and April B.B.s came in the same envelope and all
for 3p! This immediately set me thinking
about that 'hardy annual' - a bi-monthly B.B. Is it really necessary to publish monthly? Two months is considered a very short space
of time these days, and what do we really gain from a monthly B.B.?
For all their moans, I don't think member s would really
miss a monthly B. B. and they would have twice as much to read when they did
get it. This way, we could cut our
postage costs in half and save on covers as well. With the rising price of paper and postage,
this surely makes sense - otherwise, we shall soon be having to review our subs
again!
Yours, etc,
Tim Large.
Editor's
Note: Thank you, Tim. As you say, the idea of a bi-monthly B.B. is
one which has cropped up for years now, and every time the club have been asked
- by sending out a questionnaire or by voting at A.G.M.'s they have always been
in favour of continuing the monthly publication of the B.B.
At the moment, we are coping financially - but as you point
out, the rapidly rising costs of paper and envelopes with threatened rises in
postal charges may well compel us to ask the club at some future date to choose
between a monthly B.B. and a higher subscription rate or a less frequent B.B.
and the same subscription. On the other
hand, it is now reckoned that inflation may well be as high as 20% per year -
as distinct from the 14% which I quoted in a recent B.B. If this rate is indeed true, then subs of all
caving clubs will have to go up regularly and this inevitable increase will to
some extent take care of the rising costs. It all boils down in the end as to what the club members want to see for
their money. Do they want, in an
inflationary age, to see subs kept below the current value of money with some
inevitable cut-back in club services - or do they want to see these services
maintained with the subscription jacked up at intervals to match the falling value
of money? It is a straight choice, which
perhaps the club ought to consider at the next A.G.M.
We must bear in mind that never, since the club was founded,
have we been exposed to such a rapid inflationary situation. In these circumstances, it may well be the
sensible thing to set our sights a little lower. On the other hand, we did much worse then the
W.C.C. in losing members when both clubs put up their subs by the same amount. Should we therefore go for better service to
club members to make them feel their sub is well spent?
I must confess that I dont know the answer to this
one. I have replied to your letter at
some length (much longer than your letter was!) because I feel that the point
you have raised is one which has greater repercussions than just the B.B. I think that it is something which club
members should talk about between now and October, and I will be pleased to
publish any letters on this important topic in the meantime.
Following the resignation of Doug Stuckey form the committee
and as caving secretary, Andy Nicholls has volunteered to take his place. Before confirming this, the committee are
taking this opportunity to advertise the vacancy. Any applications should be made to the
committee.
This is a description of a cave
photography show, which club members can enter.
The Speleology Delegation of the Excursion Section of the
REDDIS soccer club invites photographers from all over the world to enter the I
INTERNATIONAL SPELAEOLOGICAL PHOTOGRAPY SHOW to be held in the city of
The Theme is that of scientific and sporting spelaeology,
and participants can be either amateurs of professionals and can enter either
as individuals or through their clubs and/or societies.
Photographs may be in black-and-white or as colour prints,
up to a maximum of five, un-mounted. The
recommended size is 30 x 40 cm. (16 x 12ft approx.) No works whose longest side is greater than
40 cm will be admitted. The number,
title and location taken should be written on the back of each photograph as well
as the name and address of the photographer. These details should be the same as those written on the entry form.
Photographs may only be submitted by post as certified
printed matter, and the entry forms should be sent under separate cover by air
mail. (I have two copies of the entry
form and the certified printed matter envelope sticker which I will give to any
club member who wants to participate - Editor. Entries and photographs should be sent to the following address:-
O.E. REDDIS. I SALON INTERNATIONAL SPELAEOLOGICAL,
PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW,
There will be a prize for the best black-and-white and the
best colour collection (minimum of three prints - maximum of five as
above). These prizes will consist of
plaques - enamelled with gold, silver and bronze inlays with the name of the
winner suitably engraved.
Photographs will be returned within fifty days after the
show closes, except the winning photographs, which will be retained. All participants must freely authorize the
reproduction of their works with no right to royalty payments.
A Show Catalogue will be sent to all participants. THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE. The organisers are not responsible for any
loss or damage to works.
Photographs will be accepted up to September 30th 1974 and
judging will occur on October the 5th or 6th. The actual show will be held from November 9th to November 24th and the
awards ceremony will be held on the last day of the show (November 24th).
Editor's
Note: Apart
from the fact that I have been sent literature describing this show, which has
been reproduced in the B.B. above, I know nothing about it. At first sight it may seem odd that a
football club (Club futbol REDDIS) should be organising an international salon
of cave photography - on the other hand, it does give club members a chance to
have a go - and at least the entrance is free AND competitors get a free show
catalogue. The club did debate whether
or not it would be prepared to organise a club entry, but decided that there
were very few active cave photographers compared to years ago, and that it was
best for members to compete individually if they desired.
As I noted earlier, I have TWO COPIES of the entry form and
the special envelope sticker. No doubt,
if more than two members wish enter, further copies can be obtained by writing
to the address given.
There is always a shortage of small items to fill odd gaps
such as this one in the B.B. Any small
item of interest or of a humorous nature will do - as long as it is printable!
If YOU can think of anything suitable, drop it into the B.B.
box in the Belfry - but drop it gently or you may disturb the spider, who has
made this box his home, since nobody else has used the box for ages!
From time to time, we receive handouts from societies whose
objects are thought to have something in common with, our own. The last of these to be written up some time
ago in the B.B was that of the Mendip Society in connection with their
preservation of Smitham Chimney on Harptree Hill. This one is from the Somerset Trust for
Nature Conservation.
Publication of this type of information should not imply
that the club are officially bringing the activities of these bodies to the
attention of members, or urging them to contribute to them or to join
them. We publish, as always, for the
information of club members.
THE
The purpose of the trust is to prevent the unnecessary
destruction of wild life and to encourage the breeding and preservation of wild
plants and animals that are use beautiful or rare, by conserving their
habitats. To this end the Trust has
acquired (and manages) twelve nature reserves. A descriptive leaflet is available.
The Trust has established Nature Trails in its Black Rock
and Longwood reserves (both open to the public) three trails on Exmoor (in
conjunction with the Exmoor National Park Committee) and the National Trust,
and the Pen Wood Trail near Pendomer, in association with the Forestry
Commission. Twice each year it opens a
Nature Trail for primary schoolchildren on Langford Heathfield Common.
The Trust has prepared an ecological map of most of the
county to aid the County Planning Department, Rural District Councils and other
Local Authorities in mapping planning decisions. Such information was not previously
available. The Trust has collaborated
with the Nature Conservancy advising the Local Authorities on the establishment
of Local Nature Reserves in
More than 3,250 people have already joined the subscription
is £1 to Miss J.R. Taylor, Tanlake Cottage, Buckland, St. Mary Chard, Somerset.
A Message from Sett - Chairman
of the Ian Dear Memorial Committee.
At this time of the year, when holiday plans are being made,
a reminder to younger members about the Ian Dear Memorial Fund might be in
order.
Ian Dear, a member of the B.E.C., left money in his will to
assist younger members of club to go caving, climbing etc. abroad. There are a set of basic rules by which
grants under the fund can be made to younger members and these have been
published in the B.B. some time ago. However, if any member of club is planning a trip abroad or wishing to
do so, and feels that he or she might be eligible for assistance under the
terms of the fund, any member of the Ian Dear Memorial Fund Committee will be
pleased to advise them. Members of the
committee include the Caving Secretary and the Treasurer. If in any difficulty, contact me direct. My address is:-
R.A. Setterington,
Older members who may be planning trips abroad for caving
purposes, and who would be willing to include any younger members in their
party should also contact members of the I.D.M.F. Committee as well, perhaps,
as advertising the trip in the B.B. Members who could benefit from a grant can then be put in touch with
people who could include them in a party.
Ian Dear hoped that his gift to the B.E.C. would be
instrumental in enabling younger members to visit caving regions which
otherwise they might never see. So far,
very few people have availed themselves of the benefit of Ian's bequest to the
club. It would be nice to think that
this year, Ian's intentions could be better fulfilled.
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Across:
1. Cave like feature like the K
& A perhaps?. (1,5)
6. Would a dais in a cave be classed as one of these. (4)
7. Describes the entrance of
8. Name of the old B.P.C. headquarters. (4)
9. Colour. (3)
10. Char this cave feature. (4)
13. Caving in a gated cave might be classed as this sort of sport. (6)
15. Written up. (6)
Down
2. Dressed for the occasion? (4)
3. Hon. Thrill for Mendip cave. (5,4)
4. Led to great things in G.B. (6,3)
5. A cave construction makes one before caving began. (4)
11. Distinguish G.B. from Cheddar when it comes to gorges. (4)
12. One of these 6 across. (4)
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The Belfry,
Chairman S.J. Collins
Minutes Sec G.
Members M. Bishop, D.J. Irwin, B. Wilton, G. Oaten,
Honorary Secretary A.R
THOMAS, Allens House,
Honorary Treasurer B.
Caving Secretary To
be appointed, ADDRESS LETTERS TO THE
BELFRY
Climbing Secretary G. OATEN,
Address to follow.
Hut Warden N.
TAYLOR, Whiddons, Chilcote,
Belfry Engineer M.
BISHOP, Address to follow
Tacklemaster G.
WILTON-JONES, 17 Monkhams Drive, Watton, Thetford,
B.B. Editor S.J.
COLLINS, Lavender Cottage, Bishops Sutton, Nr. Bristol. Tel
: CHEW MAGNA 2915
Honorary Librarian D.J
IRWIN, Townsend Cottage, Townsend, Priddy, Wells Som. Tel : PRIDDY 369
Publications Editor D.J
IRWIN As above
B.B. Postal Brenda.
QUODCUMQUE FACIENDUM : NIMIS FACIEMUS
The recent accident in Lamb Leer unfortunately provides an
example of a type of accident which might well have been minimised or even
avoided had full life lining techniques been in use. The fact that the accident occurred to a
caver of many years standing on Mendip emphasises the fact that every caver,
however experienced or fit, can come off for some reason or another, given
bad luck.
There is, or course, an understandable tendency for cavers
of experience to minimise the use of life lines. Perhaps the accident will serve to impress on
us the need for the grater use of such preventative measures.
The strong possibility that Somerset will require the
B.A.C.I. certificate for all leaders under its control from 1976 onwards - and
by implication will be rejecting the training scheme adopted and published by
the Council of Southern Caving Clubs - could be seen as a first step towards
that state of affairs portrayed in the Christmas B.B. last year, in which the
fictitious University of Charterhouse made its appearance. Having said this, it should not be implied
that there is anything intrinsically wrong with B.A.C.I. The point being made is that of restriction
of freedom of choice. In this
connection, it is worth noting that the approach of the C.S.C.C. scheme,
'Caving for Beginners' differs considerably from that of B.A.C.I. and that the
choice is therefore not one between two certificates as between two methods of
approach. Indeed, there is no reason, in
theory as far as can be seen, why a particular caver giving advice and training
under the C.S.C.C. scheme could not be a B.A.C.I. certificate holder. There is, however, a world of difference
between a state of affairs in which he MAY hold such a certificate and one in
which he MUST. The C.S.C.C., quite
rightly in the editorial opinion of the B.B., place their first priority on
experience. As an older, experienced
climber is reputed to have said to a younger man proudly displaying a
certificate, "That's all well, but can you abseil from it?"
Apart from a small editorial comment in the column itself it
seems appropriate to congratulate 'Wig' editorially for reaching his century
this month by the production of his hundredth topic under, what has become by
now, the familiar heading of Round and About.
Many people have said how useful they have found this
feature of general information, and I would like to add my personal thanks
coupled with the hope that he may go on for a very long time to come.
Alfie
An account of some of the
happenings at the Belfry in the earlier part of this year - by Nigel Taylor
Spring and nearly, ever so nearly, summer is in the air at
the Belfry now. And with the spring come
new flowers and new faces, but nevertheless old shoots and faces have been
popping up in and around the Belfry. Chris Falshaw and family, Mike Wheadon,
Pat Ifold and family, and many others.
Again, there has been an early showing of perennial hardies,
such as Sett and family, Mary and Pete Ham and family and many, many more.
Back in the autumn, Albert Francis was even seen at the
Belfry sleeping there for the first time ever! This was due to acute hop poisoning after an excellent N.H.A.S.A.
dinner!
Club members actively participating in various digging activities
such as Hollowfield and Bucket Hole have been numerous and the club's licensed
explosive users have been employed gardening many earthy systems.
The Belfry car park has been re-graded by mysterious loads
of quarry stone - connected somehow with an even more mysterious Hut
Warden. The Belfryites have also been
working hard on the site, and a night exercise from 9.30 p.m. through to 6.30
a.m. saw the erection of a large M.R.O. store and new Tackle Store facilities.
However, all is not roses at
Due to two accidents in the attic roof, repairs were
necessary, and these were efficiently executed by Jock Orr Plastering
Industries Ltd. In general, members and guests have all mucked in well with
the problems and given fair periods of their time.
Belfry regulars include, at present, Andy 'Groper' Nicholls,
Zot, Martin Grass and female company, Colin and Angela Dooley, Chris Backstone,
John Dukes and 'Streaking for Deakin' Sue from Southampton - and of course your
scribe, Mr. Nigel.
On a more serious note. If you or someone is bitten by a snake, immobilise the limb - treat as
for fracture - do NOT tourniquet, DO NOT allow victim to move - Do reassure and
comfort victim - DO call 999 - DO NOT take victim to Wells. Ham Green hospital in
Editor's
Note: This threatens to be a B.B.
written entirely by Nigel Taylor! In
this open letter, he has some forthright comments to make on the Long Term plans.
The Long Term Planning Committee have done it again! Yes, they have produced - not a
representative report but another diatribe! They have completely missed the point, or rather the points of
necessity. A detailed account has been
drawn up, telling us how more paper talk and ensuing paperwork will be created
- and this is capped by a list which is not so much 'Long Term' as short
sighted!
Now to the 'winter of my discontent':-
List 1 contains the order of priority of items in groups,
and my comments are as under: -
That has withered away the first
5 ludicrous and apparently highest priority items. Having scrubbed these erroneous 'priorities'
one is then left with something of substance from which one may prepare a
sensible list ( if one is to have such a list at all)
4. (No
6) Workshop facility. For the lifeblood
of a caving, climbing - or even canoeing club, a place where tackle, digging
gear, tools, canoes or whatever can be made - bearing in mind the communal
skills and knowledge - producing a product in a sensible and well-equipped area
at the club H.Q.
5. (No
12) Administration Facility. In this day
and age, when large clubs must need to run their huts on business lines
(especially when one is dealing with monies and goods belonging to the club,
let alone the £15,000 or so of club hut) the need for proper administration
facilities rears its ugly head, let's not play the ostrich!
6. (No
14) The Loft. Ideas for improvement to
this are often aired down at the Belfry. I refer the reader to the B.B. Number 303. (See, Editor, the B.B. is
used for references!) The club is
wasting valuable, utilisable space up there and if it embarks on extraneous
expenditure on the sub-committee's proposals then such potential will be wasted
due to lack of funds or their allocation.
7. (No
13) The Library. Here, only a carpenters
skill and club finance are the requisites to transform this 'near shell' into
the condition merited by both its content and the valiant efforts of the club
librarian Dave (Wig) Irwin.
8. (No
10) Sleeping Accommodation. Here there
is even less scope for the necessary improvements to be made. However, I feel that women club members might
prefer, or deserve, better feminine conditions, yet, to back track, we must not
forget that this is a caving club and basically composed of males (But perhaps
I'm just a Chauvinist pig!)
9. (No
11) Parking. Even though I realise that
soon we can expect club members Range Rovers; Lamborghinis; Daimlers; Rolls and
the like will be replaced by perhaps H.S.125's S.A./B.E.C. Concordes and an
array of resplendent V.S.T.O.L. craft, I feel sure that there are not many of
us who would like to see a shiny NICE macadam or LOVELY concrete car park, of
course resplendent with DIVINE tints of white or yellow lines. Besides, I, for one, don't want to have to
read the
One last point - I wonder if the sub-committee could be kind
enough to tell me why in the May B.B., No 319:-
Three further lists will be compiled:
1. First to show order of priority of groups of
items.
2. Extent of improvements as costings of expense
& labour.
3. (Last but not least!) Order of priority of items.
Please, oh PLEASE, what's the difference, between list 1 and
3, or is it to cater for inflation presumably mentioned in the intervening list
2 perhaps?
I know it is easy to knock a subject as I have just done but
I hope the reader; the sub-committee and the general committee will appreciate that
I have endeavoured to put forward counter-proposals in this letter, and I will
also have shown this letter to the sub-committee's chairman Graham Wilton-Jones
to give him a chance to challenge any points that I have proposed. This letter is not under any circumstances to
be taken as an attempt to challenge either Graham's views as chairman, nor for
that matter to challenge the integrity of the general committee or any of its
officers. This meant purely as a thought-provoking
article on points which the editor invited comment!
It may be questioned as to why I did not put these views
forward as Hut Warden, well, this was not possible. The committee, for some reason, decided that
the Hut Warden should not have a sub-committee say in the proposals. I say this in answer to several queries
raised to me on this point. So I must
further stress that these are not the B.E.C. Hut Warden's views, but my own -
purely as an interested member and regular user of the Belfry.
Yours in the Club Spirit,
Nigel P. Taylor.
Editor's Note:
As Nigel points out, I invited comment, since the way the
club decides to spend its money on the Belfry is a subject which should
interest most - if not all - B.E.C. members. Perhaps other members might like to make points - if not to the B.B.,
then to Graham who, I am sure, will be pleased to hear about as many points of
view as possible to help him in what is after all, a very difficult job.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 5th
A.G.M. starts at
10.30 a.m. at the Belfry.
Dinner will be at the
FULL DETAILS IN NEXT
B.B.!
A description of a little-known
type of underground feature written by Derek Sanderson and Roger Wing.
The Deneholes are phenomena which may be of interest to
cavers - particularly as some of them can still be explored. Indeed, some members may be familiar with
them whilst others may merely have read about them. They are found in a number of counties in the
South East of England and also in parts of
DESCRIPTION. Basically, all Deneholes consist of a single shaft dropping vertically
from the surface through the thin topsoil of the region and the underlying
Thanet Sand, and terminating in a chamber in the chalk beneath, which may be at
a depth of up to eighty feet. These
shafts vary in diameter, but are usually between ten and twelve feet wide and
are reminiscent of a well shaft. The
chambers at the bottom vary in shape from simple bell like chambers to more
complex chamber patterns. The Deneholes
found at
AGE. To establish
their age is by no means easy, but one may hazard a guess from various pieces
of evidence. In 1884 and 1887, the
Deneholes complex of Greys was fully investigated on behalf of the Essex Field
Club by two of its members - T.V. Holmes and W. Cole. An extensive report was published in which
they discussed some of their findings. They found, for instance, pieces of Niedermendig lava which was quarried
in the
The most useful evidence concerning age comes from the bones
found in the deposits that have inevitably settled at the bottom of the
shafts. These include remains of sheep;
badger; ox; dog; horse and man. What is
significant is the total absence of
One may suggest, then, that the Deneholes were dug soon
after the arrival of the Normans, and this seems to be the conclusion arrived
at by Baker when he wrote, '
the assumption that they existed in Saxon times
will hold no more water than a chalk Denehole would.' (Caving, p102). They do, however, predate the trees which
grow around them.
REASON FOR EXISTENCE. This leads to the engaging problem of why they are there, and several
theories have been put forward over the years.
SIGNIFICANCE OF AGE. It may have been noted that the Deneholes at Greys were tentatively
dated as post-Norman, while elsewhere Mr. Meeson found some Roman urns
suggesting a pre-Norman date. The
conclusion to be drawn from this is that not all Deneholes were dug in the same
period and that they were dug when and where necessary. This would imply that, whatever their purpose
was, it was an agricultural or industrial one rather than being the result of
an invasion or some other occurrence which can be accurately dated.
ACCESS. Access is
controlled by Thurrock U.D.C. who issues a descent licence for those who are
prepared to abide by a number of simple rules and fill in an insurance
slip. Address to write to is: Recreation
Manager, Recreation Department,
References
Caving (E.A. Baker)
Forgotten Thameside (Glyn H. Morgam) 1951.
Deneholes and other Chalk Excavations (Rev. J.W. Haynes)
Journal of Royal Anthropological Institute.39,1909.
Essex Field Club Report. (T.V. Holmes & W. Cole)
Naturalist. Vol 1,1887.
A Monthly Miscellany,
by Wig
The editor apologises for
the non-inclusion of the sketch plan. The plan will be will be included in next months B.B.
The
Again, more details later. Anyone knowing anyone who can give an
interesting talk should contact Wig.
Martin Bishop would like any members ideas on decorating
the living room at the Belfry. Dave
Irwin would like to remind library users to return the books promptly after
use. Please remember to SIGN for all
tackle always. Those interested in
long term rent of lockers in the Belfry should let Nigel know. Barry will accept Bankers Orders for subs,
but let him know about it or you might be charged twice.
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Across:
1. Second letter sprite and short
railway make caving H.Q. (6)
6. B.E.C.s. (4)
7. Heard, perhaps in large chamber. (4)
8. Regains consciousness. (5)
9. Go Straight
is motto of U.B.S.S. (2)
10. Thus. (2)
11. Useful caving aid though not flaming nowadays! (5)
12. Progress slowly and imperially. (4)
13. Has been used as water transport in caves. ( 4 or 2,2)
14. A very Southern Cave club. (3,1.1.1)
Down
2. A helictite could be this, or
a club character (9)
3. New Mendip cave is welt proof! (9)
4. Risky Hero? (Up north perhaps!) (9)
5. Climbs up rope with aid. (9)
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The Belfry,
Chairman S.J. Collins
Minutes Sec G.
Members M. Bishop, D.J. Irwin, B. Wilton, G.
Oaten,
Honorary Secretary A.R
THOMAS, Allens House,
Honorary Treasurer B.
Caving Secretary A. NICHOLLS, (Acting)
Climbing Secretary G. OATEN,
Address to follow.
Hut Warden N.
TAYLOR, Whiddons, Chilcote,
Belfry Engineer M.
BISHOP, Address to follow. Tele :
PRIDDY 370
Tacklemaster G.
WILTON-JONES, 17 Monkhams Drive, Watton, Thetford,
B.B. Editor S.J.
COLLINS, Lavender Cottage, Bishops Sutton, Nr. Bristol. Tel : CHEW MAGNA 2915
Honorary Librarian D.J
IRWIN, Townsend Cottage, Townsend, Priddy, Wells Som. Tel : PRIDDY 369
Publications Editor D.J
IRWIN As above
B.B. Postal Brenda.
QUODCUMQUE FACIENDUM : NIMIS FACIEMUS
Back in March, when material for the B.B. was so short that a massive dose of re-printing from Volume 1 of the B. B. was the only way by which the number of pages could be filled, a prize of £1 was offered for the best practical suggestion for improving the B.B. The closing date was given as the end of May.
Since the B.B. is currently running a month late (due mainly to the chronic shortage of material which the scheme was designed to overcome) your patient editor has waited until the end of June before announcing the results of this suggestion scheme.
Now I know that, in these days of inflation, the sum of £1 does not represent wealth beyond the dreams of avarice although judging by the reaction of members to the increase of the annual subscription, it presumably has not yet fallen into the category of peanuts - but even so, your editor foolishly imagined that it would provide at least, some incentive for the more ingenious club members to come forward with practical schemes for ensuring more material (or other improvements) for the B.B.
Alas! Apart from Tim's resurrection of the monthly versus bi-monthly B.B. which, whatever its merits, can hardly taken up without the general agreement of the club in A.G.M., there was only ONE other suggestion. This was to publish an annual subject and author index - and the idea was given a suitably practical twist by the suggested submitting a completely cross-referenced index for last years B.B. Unfortunately, some years ago, the A.G.M. advised the editor that the inclusion of such an index while useful to a few members would be regarded as a waste of paper by the majority of the club and so I do not feel entitled to go against such advice by adopting the present suggestion.
Thus, before anybody starts to sharpen their pencil and write down resolutions for the next A.G.M., let it be placed on record that, in response to a general appeal to club members for practical ideas for getting more material and otherwise improving the B.B. and in spite of the incentive offered (which would have been paid out by the editor and not from club funds) NOT ONE SINGLE SUGGESTION WHICH COULD BE USED WAS FORTHCOMING. our editor will therefore soldier on, under the assumption that although he may not be perfect, neither are his readers!
On the brighter side, for the editor at least, have been the letters and personal messages of encouragement which, it must be admitted, came just when he needed some form of morale-boosting. Thanks, in particular, to Janet Setterington who, before motherhood intervened, was a professional journalist and whose kind words for the B.B. are therefore based on personal experience on a much higher level than that of the B.B. editor. It is pleasant to think that the work of producing the B.B. is appreciated in some quarters at least.
One of the small points which came out of the last meeting of the Southern Council was the calculation by one of the delegates that the combined membership of Southern caving clubs is 2,595 and that this is greater than the caving membership of any other region. We had better step up our rate of discovery of new caves!
Alfie
The Hut Warden would like to appeal for any FIRST AID KIT for Belfry use. This is separate from M.R.O. kit, and is to cover minor injuries at the Belfry. Also donations of OLD CARPETS would be appreciated. Contact Nigel Taylor.
The Belfry Engineer would like any suggestions for the decoration of the living room. Please contact Martin Bishop with any ideas on this subject.
The Treasurer would like to remind members that they can pay their annual sub, if they so wish, by Bankers' Order. This saves you having to remember every year! However, if you do this LET BARRY KNOW, as he gets no record of who is doing this, and will charge you again! The best way is to get a Bankers Order form from your bank, sign it and enter the amount of your annual sub AND GIVE IT TO BARRY. He will then make a record of your Bankers Order and send it on to the bank for you.
The Caving Secretary would like to remind members to enter up all trips in the log. Apart from it being one of the club rules, it provides an interesting and sometimes useful record for the future.
The Climbing Secretary would like to remind members that there is climbing every Thursday in the Gorge. Meet at the gorge at 7.00 p.m. and afterwards at the Seven Stars.
The I.D.M.F. Committee would like to remind all younger members that assistance from this fund may be possible for trips abroad this summer. Contact either the caving or climbing secretaries, the treasurer, Mike Palmer or 'Sett'.
Lockers will shortly be constructed at the Belfry. Some of these will be for long term hire and others kept for weekend hire. Anybody who wants to be considered for the long term hire of a locker should give his or her name to Nigel Taylor.
This article, by Mike Cowlishaw, first came out in 'Omnibuss' the Journal of the Birmingham University S.S. It discusses the grading of caves from the point of view of severity.
The present methods of cave grading consist of very broad categories - either descriptions such as 'Super Severe' or numerical grades as used in Northern Caves Vol 1. These systems, although generally agreed to be adequate as far as they go, are basically subjective and in many cases convey little information to the user. In addition, complex caves are not usually of consistent standard, and attempts to classify separate series under general headings can be very misleading when complicated trips including several sections of a cave are made.
Many of these disadvantages can be overcome by using a 'piece by piece' system of grading whereby a numerical figure is attached to each major section of a cave in such a way that some simple mathematical operation can be used to combine these to give a meaningful result for a given trip.
A further necessary refinement is to ensure that an objective, or mainly objective method is used to grade each section of cave (i.e., that several people grading the same section of cave under similar conditions will arrive at the same score within, say, five percent.) There are, of course, many practical difficulties in achieving this, and these I shall discuss in due course. The main problem, perhaps, is allowing for high and low water conditions.
The comments above mainly concern the sporting side of caving. A truly objective system of severity grading such as had been outlined would be by nature informative, and hence would be useful in many more general and scientific fields. Besides, people love to play around with figures, and the system would allow direct comparison of caving trips. On the other hand, it is unlikely that a system simple enough to be used by the 'average' caver would have much application in that other important field - rescue - except perhaps where a cave is unknown to the rescue team; and this is rarely the case in this country.
A generally accepted detailed grading scheme would be of especial use if printed on surveys. Surveys at present give little indication of the general severity of a passage except where they show major obstacles. A suitably orientated system of scores associated directly with each section of the cave on the survey would almost completely obviate the need to refer to a separate write up. Only short notes on access would then be required and these could well he referred to on the survey.
There are, of course, difficulties to the proposed system other than the practical difficulties of implementation. A major one is that anything such as has been described (even if it eventually boils down to a couple of numbers associated with a given cave) is a further and possibly detrimental increase in what might be called the technological aspects of caving. An added complication can often be harmful in that the figures can be misunderstood or even misprinted with undesirable results. Furthermore, there is the problem of a basic standard method - a controversial subject. Presumably, for a start, obstacles could be related to time. For example, descending a given fifteen foot pitch might be equated to a quarter of an hour of sitting around doing nothing.
Probably the best method of achieving an objective grading of a given cave/trip/series/passage is to use a set questionnaire which, although not restricting the grader to 'yes/no' answers, puts fairly rigid restraints on the scores that cane be given for a specific obstacle. This is, of course, necessary in order to maintain the desired level of objectivity. Everyone has experienced the way in which some trips seem much easier in retrospect, when, perhaps, early difficult or strenuous sections have been partly forgotten.
Leaving aside the tricky question of relative values of different types of obstacle or passage, there are some fundamental problems; in particular, how to allow for the effects of things that might vary from trip to trip. These include Water conditions (i.e. normal fluctuations of water in the cave) Transient Hazards (flash floods; loose boulders; rotten props in mines etc.) Size and equipment of different parties and the relative ability of the party with particular reference to novices.
After a great deal of thought and experimentation, it was found that a single grading score could not be manipulated to allow for all these different aspects. An analysis shows that three or four scores are required for an approximately ideal representation. This is too complicated for the applications discussed above, and a compromise solution of two scores was investigated. This was found to be a great improvement on reliance on a single score. The two figures would represent:-
(a) General obstacles and the effect of time.
(b) Water and transient hazards. A sort of 'exposure risk' figure.
It became clear that variations in the size of parties could be catered for by carrying out some standard type of adjustment to score (a). Similarly, the effect of wearing dry kit in a wet cave could be allowed for by manipulating score (b). The effect of novices in the party could be calculated by adjusting both scores.
It should thus be possible to start off with a pair scores based on a party of four, wearing wetsuits, and then adjust these scores to provide one with a revised figure, if, for instance, the party was about to descend a wet cave in dry kit. The complications to this basic idea are, of course, endless and should be kept to a minimum. Even if this sort of exercise is not indulged in, the basic scores would enable direct comparison to be made over widely differing sections of cave.
As a side issue, and extremely graphical method of displaying the two scores is to plot one against the other on a sheet of graph paper. In cases where I have tried it is for various trips, it was found to be very informative and showed at a glance the relative importance of the two scores. The distance from the origin was found to be analogous to the conventional idea of cave grading.
The above has pointed out the main features of the grading system I have devised - I hope with sufficient justification for each of its features. I shall now summarise the above and make some comments on practical details.
A questionnaire would be devised for scoring. It should be equally applicable to short lengths of passage and to complete caves or trips. In particular, scoring the constituent parts and adding up the individual totals should give nearly identical results to scoring the trip as a whole.
The questionnaire would be divided into two parts. The first - general, technical and other difficulties. The second - water and transient hazards. The scores from these two parts would be the final basic scores for general use.
The first part (obstacles) would be scored fairly rigorously. For example, 3 points for each 100' of flat out crawl; 1 point for each quarter hour underground etc. The problems here include definitions of severities of climbs etc. and the assumptions one has to make such as the use of lifelines etc. Single rope techniques would not be adequately catered for - one would probably have to assume that prussiking up a pitch would score the same as using a ladder. The movement of tackle would be allowed for in the scoring for a pitch. The actual form of each question in the questionnaire, and the relative scoring of each type of obstacle would be matters heeding a fair amount of discussion. I have arrived at a form of questionnaire which gives reasonable results (with some surprises!) but which has got vast potential for improvement.
The second part would be more difficult to prepare a questionnaire for. Water obstacles such as ducks or sumps and the time one is wet can be scored in the same way as dry obstacles, but transient effects are more difficult and usually require better knowledge of a cave than can be picked up in one trip. Every effort would have to be made to try to make the scoring objective despite the problems. It might be possible to estimate flood risk by taking into the probable number of flash floods in a year and also allowing for the danger of such floods. For example, Little Neath River Cave II is fairly safe, whereas many northern caves can be extremely dangerous.
Other points which would be taken into account are loose boulders and complexity of the cave where this could cause a hazard due to a mistake in route finding.
I hope the above is reasonably clear. To round off and give the feel of a bi-polar grading system, here are some scores that I have calculated using my rather primitive questionnaire:-
Stoke Lane
Slocker
Penyghent Pot
P8
Rhino Rift
Dan-yr-Ogof
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Notes: The first column relates to obstacles and the second to water and transient hazards. One of the above was scored from a guidebook description (R.R.). A couple of the others were scored by friends, with nearly identical results.
A review of the tackle situation as in April 1974 by the tacklemaster, Graham Wilton-Jones.
These first six months of my position as Tacklemaster have mainly been spent in organising all the tackle and collecting it on to Mendip and rebuilding much worn out ladder.
At present, as a temporary measure, Alan Thomas very kindly
looks after all the ultra-lightweight ladder and certain tethers, lifelines
etc. These are collectively known as
Reserve Tackle and are not for general use on Mendip, being usually loaned out
for trips to foreign parts like Yorkshire or the
Even if only for the sake of courtesy, give Alan a ring at least a week before you want any reserve tackle. You will also ensure in this way that it actually available.
Hopefully, this situation will not last for long. I want to convert the old Tackle store in the stone Belfry into the new Reserve Store. Keys for this will be available from various sources on Mendip.
Nigel has extended the M.R.O. store at the other end of the building. The remaining space will be used as the normal Tackle Store, containing all other equipment. Many thanks to people who are helping with this conversion. The bars across the windows, by the way, are NOT a new test for thin cavers - Bucket please note!
So far, two hundred and ten feet of ladder has been repaired - thanks again to those who helped. Ken James has offered to get ferrules crimped on the ladder eyes. Some hundred and fifty feet remains to be repaired and I'll be doing this during the weekend of the working party.
We could do with many more tethers. These are dead easy to make up, but I'll need a lot more 'c' links. If anyone can get some or make some, I'd be grateful. If anyone has access to a set of dies for stamping the code tags, please let me know. The lifeline situation is bad, and we are seriously short. This is being rectified now, so don't fret.
I have no intentions of buying any abseiling or prussicking equipment, which includes rope, for club use. I, for one, would have no confidence at all in using S.R.T. (Single Rope Techniques) on tackle used by anybody and everybody. If anyone has really strong views on this, then perhaps they would write to the B.B. about them.
Finally, please remember to sign tackle in and out. If it does nothing else, it gives me an idea how much any item is being used. If you find any faults, please note them in the tackle log, even if it is only a missing tag.
*****************************************
There is always room in the B.B. for small contributions to fill up spaces like this one!
Comments, advertisements anything within reason.
There is always a B.B. box in the Belfry.
Dear Alfie,
Although I am not a member of the Bristol Exploration Club, I felt I must write in opposition to the critics of the Belfry Bulletin.
Caving and its allied pursuits are not top of my list of priorities, but I do enjoy reading your publication. Speaking professionally, I feel it is well edited, well laid out and informative. More to the point, it is not too highbrow for ignoramuses such as myself, who are not versed in technicalities.
The magazine would seem to suffer from only one problem - the eternal lack of contributors. Perhaps, if the bar-room critics put down their pints and picked up their pens, the B.B. might be even more lively and successful; but that is probably asking too much of people - writing does, after all, require mental and physical effort!
Thank you, Alfie, for the interest and enjoyment you bring to my house on "B.B. mornings" - you will always find yourself propping up our marmalade jar.
Yours,
Janet Setterington.
*****************************************
Withey House,
Withey Close West,
Dear Alfie,
It's always nice to see the Belfry Bulletin and I don't really know what people are grumbling at (No 319). You don't need to worry about being quoted or not, as long as due acknowledgement is made. It has occurred to me that you might try selling it outside the club. Perhaps you already do so. I should have thought it would have gone quite well at 10p post free. Wig's notes are particularly the kind of thing to interest non club members.
Incidentally, I thought Wig's comment on the Wookey 9 tunnel
faintly and unfairly damning. The
Kilmersdon miners have driven a magnificent tunnel from the outside to 3 by way
of 9 and 7. In their calculations -
aided by
The people who made this tunnel will call it the Kilmersdon
Tunnel - and I hope the name sticks. It
is a fitting tribute to the best of our
Ever Yours,
Oliver Lloyd.
*****************************************
Whiddons Farm,
Chilcote,
Dear Alfie,
I thought I'd fully endorse Tims comment on the quality of the B.B., but I leaped out of my seat at his idea of a bi-monthly B.B.
Any caver who subscribes to Bruce Bedford's excellent little magazine 'Descent' will know just what a 'little period of two months' is like to wait for a mag.
How many times have we heard the same old story "We haven't had our B.B., so we didn't know it was on!? Tim himself, in his letter, says, "Having just received my B.B. for March, together with the April issue, I HAVE ONLY JUST SEEN YOUR REQUEST TO WRITE ... "
Nough said ?
Nigel Taylor.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 5th
· NEW
location in WELLS!
· REAL
FOOD by outside caterers
· Entertainment
in the B.E.C. Manner!
· DRINKS
supplied by ROGER DORS and his incredible mobile Hunters!
· FURTHER
INFORMATION SOON!
And
Why not come to the A.G.M. as well at the Belfry on the same day?
A Monthly Miscellany
By 'Wig'
Kangy King is arranging the
programme, and is inviting as many of the original explorers to attend a club
meet that will celebrate the coming of age of the cave. The party will descend the cave via the old
route - wet & waterfall pitches; water shute; by-pass; Stal Pitch & on
to the end of Gour Rift. Members of the
celebration party will be by invitation only. The party will be made up of individuals who have contributed to the
exploration of the cave in some way.
Cavers interested in joining in the celebrations are invited to contact Kangy, who will form a second party to enter the cave after the celebration party.
Whilst on the subject of caving
reports, Nos 16 and 17 (Vanishing Grottoes and the Burrington Atlas) are now
almost out of print. Members not having
either of these publications, but who wish to purchase them are advised to do
so soon. They, and the others, are
available from Chris Howell,
Many club members take part in activities on, in or underwater. This forms the flimsy excuse for this write up by the editor. It also illustrates the fact that members can write on holiday activities in the B.B.!
In June, two units of the Mendip Navy took part in summer manoeuvres on the Salcombe Estuary. They were captained by Steve Causer and Alfie.
Alfie arrived first, and was promptly conned into paying not only his Harbour Dues, but a vast sum for the use of the car and boat park at Batson. Steve craftily launches his boat from the roof of his car. We hasten to add that he first puts it to the ground, although we would not be at all surprised to learn that he has attempted a direct catapult launch straight from the car roof into the water. Anyway, by this means, he manages to avoid parting with much cash, thus saving it for drinking.
The first part of the manoeuvres consisted of the boats making their independent way to Southpool, at the end of the creek of that name, where Alfie was assured by Steve that there was a pub and where Steve was assured by Alfie that there would be sufficient water in the creek to coincide with opening hours. Accordingly, at the appoint time, Alfie's boat made its way steadily up the creek in shallower and shallower water. A local inhabitant, hailed from the boat, assured the worried crew that they would get no further up the creek that day, and expressed surprise and concern at the distance from the sea they already were, the opinion of the Local Inhabitant, the sooner the boat was turned round, the better for all concerned. This was done, and punting gave way to rowing and rowing to running with the engine lowered.
By a brilliant piece of navigation, Steve was located on a beach near the mouth of the estuary, where he and his family were basking in the sun. It turned out that in true Mendip fashion, he had had to abandon the trip up the creek owing to engine trouble, and had rowed over to this beach instead. The return trip was made in line astern with no trouble.
It was agreed that two things had been learned. One being that the tides in this estuary do not conform to any of the charts, but are a secret shared by the Harbourmaster at Salcombe and the Almighty. The other lesson was that, for some inexplicable reason, opening hours of waterside pubs are not adjusted to suit the tide - a piece of sloppy organisation that caused us much worry and careful planning in subsequent voyages.
A day or so later, Steve left the moorings in about two inches of water (owing, as explained to the need to match opening hours with the tide) and I left a little later in about three inches of water to pick up my passengers at the town pontoon with the object of returning to the beach and basking in the sunshine.
Having just left the town behind, we were surprised to see frantic waving from a point on the shore, towards which we altered course. It turned out that Steve's unerring instinct had led him to a waterside pub. Unfortunately, the steps were used by the ferries, which came zooming in with complete disregard for any other boats and only just gave you time to land passengers. The only place in which Steve could tie me up meant that I had to clamber from boat to boat on my way ashore, to the intense interest of the next load of ferry passengers, who waited with baited breath for me to fall into the water. I considered obliging them, but eventually decided against it.
We tried an interesting variant on our way back from the beach that day, in which I towed Steve's boat. Since the only point of attachment was one of my rowlocks, both boats progressed with a curious zig-zag motion which may have been interesting to watch but was uncomfortable to be in. On the way back, you go through a line of standing waves. I happened, of course, to be looking aft when we hit them which all added to the general fun.
The summer manoeuvres were voted a success - which meant that neither of us actually sank or rammed the harbourmasters launch!
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Across:
1. All stew locates most Mendip
caves. (7)
6. Receiver of proof of aural connection in cave? (3)
7. Holy man plus packets of paper gives some features of caves. (7)
9. Loosen. (4)
10. Can be mud; sand; stal &c, in a cave. (4)
12. Older caving types had an accident? (7)
14. Sticky stuff, commonly. (3)
15. Boots to this to cave floor, and well may have it as well. (5,2)
Down
2. Cuthberts pitch. (3)
3. Sail backwards to the rock? (4)
4. Making sure of tackle. (7)
5. Progressed through low cave. (7)
7. Type of machine found underground on Mendip. (7)
8. Drops to a Mendip cave. (4,3)
11. Beware of this hole, educated men! (4)
13. Returning time in brief. (1,1,1)
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The Belfry,
Chairman S.J. Collins
Minutes Sec G.
Members M. Bishop, D.J. Irwin, B. Wilton, G.
Oaten,
Honorary Secretary A.R
THOMAS, Allens House,
Honorary Treasurer B.
Caving Secretary A. NICHOLLS, (Acting)
Climbing Secretary G. OATEN,
Address to follow.
Hut Warden N.
TAYLOR, Whiddons, Chilcote,
Belfry Engineer M.
BISHOP, Address to follow. Tele :
PRIDDY 370
Tacklemaster G.
WILTON-JONES, 17 Monkhams Drive, Watton, Thetford,
B.B. Editor S.J.
COLLINS, Lavender Cottage, Bishops Sutton, Nr. Bristol. Tel : CHEW MAGNA 2915
Honorary Librarian D.J
IRWIN, Townsend Cottage, Townsend, Priddy, Wells Som. Tel : PRIDDY 369
Publications Editor D.J
IRWIN As above
B.B. Postal Brenda.
Any views expressed by any contributor to the Belfry Bulletin, including those of officers of the club, do not necessarily coincide with those of the editor or the committee of the Bristol Exploration Club, unless stated as being the view of the committee or editor.
The Belfry,
Chairman: S.J.
Collins
Minutes Sec: R. Bennett
Members: R. Bagshaw; D.J. Irwin;
M.J. Palmer; N. Jago; T.E. Large; A.R. Thomas; R. Orr, N. Taylor, B. Wilton, M.
Bishop
Hon. Secretary: A.R.
THOMAS, Allens House,
Hon. Treasurer: R.J. BAGSHAW,
Asst. Treas. B. WILTON, 27 bVenus
Lane, Clutton, Nr. Bristol.
Caving Sec: T.E. LARGE,
Climbing Sec: N. Jago,
Hut Warden: R. ORR. The Belfry, as above.
Assit H.W. N. TAYLOR, Whiddon,
Chilcote,
Hut Engineer: M. BISHOP, (Acting) Address to follow..
Tacklemaster: M.A PALMER.
B.B. Editor: S.J. COLLINS, Lavender
Cottage, Bishop Sutton, Nr. Bristol.
Librarian: D.J. IRWIN, Townsend
Cottage, Priddy, Wells,
Pbs. (Sales) C, Howell,
Publications: D.J. IRWIN. Address as above
B.B. Post: Mrs. K. Mansfield, Tiny
Kott, Little
MENDIP RESCUE ORGANISATION. In case of emergency telephone WELLS 73481
Most older members, if asked to name the person who has held
a particular office for the longest time in the history of the B.E.C. might
well recall our founder, Harry Stanbury who held the posts of Hon. Secretary
and Hon. Treasurer from the inception of the club in 1935 until he retired from
the committee in 1951.
This spell of sixteen years has, however, easily been beaten
by his successor Bob Bagshaw, who has been Treasurer ever since and who retires
at this forthcoming A.G.M. after staying the course for no less than twenty
three years.
Whilst it is true of many of the jobs necessary for the
running of a club such as ours, that a constant supply of fresh faces does
nothing but good; there are some jobs where a degree of stability and
experience breeds confidence and this is, perhaps, particularly true where
finance is concerned. The calm and
unflustered way by which Bob produced £3,000 out of the hat in what must be
record time for a club such as ours in order to finance the building of he
present Belfry must surely be the highlight of his long term of office, which started
before many of the younger members of the B.E.C. were born.
We wish his successor a literally prosperous career as the
third holder of this office in the 39 years of the B.E.C.'s existence (He
should, of course, last us until 1996!) and hope that Bob will continue to take
a lively interest in the club whose fortunes he has guided for so long a time.
We note from the Sunday Times of July 22nd, that the army
are to hold an enquiry into the death of a 15 year old boy soldier in Porth yr
Ogof. This incident, according to the
newspaper already mentioned, has produced a 'sharp reaction' both from the
South Wales Caving Club and the Cambrian Caving Council.
The use of caves by the army for physical training has long
been deplored by many cavers. In my own
case, I well remember a conversation with a terrified lad one Friday the
Hunters who was dreading his forthcoming visit to Swildons the next day, but
daren't refuse to go because the penalties he would incur. This sort of thing is emphatically NOT what
caving is all about, and one can only hope that it no longer exists.
The leaders on the ill-fated trip into Porth yr Ogof were
both army sergeant-instructors who - again to quote the newspaper - 'were
qualified cavers and only this May attended the scout caving course at
Whernside in
It is tragic that Ian Calder's words describing caving
certificates as 'a certificate which neither ensures accident-free trips nor an
educational approach to caving' should be so rapidly endorsed by events. Whilst there is nothing actually against the
running of courses and the granting of certificates; it must always be realised
that the only real qualification is experience and one should talk of an
experienced caver rather than a qualified caver. I would sooner be in a nasty situation
underground with a caver who had years of experience behind him than with one
who had just completed a course on caving - however good that course might have
been. Whether the leaders were in fact,
experienced as well as 'qualified' was not stated in the newspaper account.
By all means let organisations who have vested interests in
the physical fitness of their members encourage them - if they will - to go
caving: but let these bodies get their members to go where the experience is
with the country's caving clubs.
Alfie
*****************************************
In view of the success of the 'Old Men's Weekend' this year,
"Sett" is thinking of holding one next year about may time, maybe on
similar lines to the last one, or perhaps in some other form according to
people's wishes.
The Committee would like to thank Buckett Tilbury for his
gift of additional storage heaters for the Belfry.
Members going abroad may like to know that if they get a
form E111 filled in and attached to their passports, this will give them the
same medical treatment facilities as, are received by natives of the E.E.C.
countries they may be visiting. It still
pays to check just what these are however, because medical treatment is not
always free.
The Hon. Librarian appeals to members who have returned
books, periodicals etc. NOT TO FILE THEM BACK into the library system, but to
leave them on the library table. This
will prevent them being mis-filed.
The Hon. Secretary is appealing for NOMINATIONS for the
1973-1974 Committee. These must reach
him IN WRITING by the 8th of September at 10.30 a.m. No seconder is required but the permission of
the person or persons nominated must have been obtained and they must have
agreed to stand if elected. The paper
nominating them MUST SAY that this is the case.
The Committee wish to announce that they have co-opted to
fill the vacancy of Belfry Engineer.
Members are asked by the local council NOT to park cars on
Priddy Green if visiting Swildons. Cars
should be parked on the UPPER GREEN (by the church) and for short stays on the
SIDE VERGES of the lower green NOT on the central area of the green.
The committee wish to announce that, in accordance with the
instructions given to them by the last A.G.M., they propose a change to the
constitution; "That the word 'ratified' be inserted before the word
'members' in clause 5 of the constitution". This is the appropriate notice required by
the constitution to be published so that, if the A.G.M. agree, the constitution
can be changed at the forthcoming A.G.M.
N.B. All officers reports
published this year in the B. B. have been approved by the Committee.
This year has seen much caving activity both on Mendip
further a field - especially South Wales and
As usual, nearly every nook and cranny on Mendip has been
visited by someone. Digging has taken up
a considerable amount of members' time with work progressing in Cuthberts,
Manor Farm Swallet, Cuckoo Cleeves, Avelines, etc. Hunters Hole has been attacked spasmodically
but has not yet yielded to the methods used so far. Rookery Farm Swallet was also dug during the
year, but was abandoned when the bottom of the entrance shaft fell in. Bucket Hole, which has not been dug for over
a year now, is to be filled in.
On the surveying side, work has continued in Cuthberts and
in Burrington caves, both being almost completed. This year, St. Cuthberts has seen a drop in
the number of tourist trips, but a rise in the number of prospective leaders
who have completed the Leaders' Trips.
Much appreciated help was given by Roy Bennett who organised
all the club trips to Yorkshire and
May I take this opportunity to wish next year's Caving
Secretary the best of luck?
Tim
Large.
This has been a year of no major change to the B.B. The club's journal has been stabilised for
two years now at a normal issue of 24 pages of A5 per month. During the first half of 1973, the B.B. has
been running over a month late, but hopefully will have caught up by the time
of the A.G.M.
There is no doubt in my mind, after handling journals of
some other clubs, that we made the right metric choice in going to A5. I am also convinced that centre stapling and
the stiff cover to Barry Wilton's distinctive and eye-catching design were,
again, good choices. The B.B., like many
other club journals, has had a number of changes of cover and of format over
the years and I think we would do well to keep the present arrangements for
some time to come; now we have good ones.
Various polls taken over the years - the last one being at
the last A.G.M. - have shown a remarkable consistency in the wishes of club
members for retaining a monthly journal and, again, I think we should now
consider this subject closed - at least for a good time ahead.
On contents there is little to say. As always, one prints more or less what one receives. The only difficulty lies in the choice
between printing long articles of specialist interest only, or trying to
produce enough of more general interest without them. I have tried to apply the principle of
striking a balance between appeal to the average reader the one hand, and the
club image as reflected in the B.B. the other.
An attempt to run regular features ('Just a Sec'; 'At the
Belfry', etc.) has not proved very successful and these and other serial
articles have fallen by the wayside. I
have kept the crossword going because a few people do it and others consider it
a unique feature of a caving magazine.
In judging the B.B. over the year, it should be looked at
the general context of journals of a similar type. This I have endeavoured to
do throughout the year and find that the B.B. seems to be keeping its end
up. Problems of finding enough suitable
material and of expanse do not seem to be confined to the B.B.
Within these limits, the only improvement that is being
actively pursued is that of using the Xerox copy on to paper master process for
the production of more professional looking headings etc. The really big improvement would, of course,
be to type the B.B. on an I.B.M. golf ball typewriter - but this will have to
wait until we find someone who has not only the facilities but the time and the
will to do it, or until either the club or myself can afford to buy one.
I should like to conclude by thanking all those who have
contributed towards the B.B. in any way, without whose support we should not
have a club magazine. It may be
unfashionable to name names, but out thanks should go, amongst many others, to
Kay Mansfield, who sends out the B.B. with the usual Mansfield family
efficiency but who is unfortunately retiring from this job; to Barry Wilton who
has been organising a local delivery service and who is always available to
help in any way; and to Kangy King our most regular contributor over the ages,
now joined by his young son. Perhaps
when I am an old man, Jonathan might be sending me my B.B. from
This will be held at the
Price per person is £1.65. Send your money to Bob Bagshaw
(For the last time!) and make sure of your place at the B.E.C. Dinner.
An account by Graham
Wilton-Jones of this fine area of the country.
I had originally intended to go to Sutherland with Jim
Abbott and Co. but, as only he and I were interested, the idea fell through -
have we not heard this saga before? When
I heard that Bob Mayhew and Crange were going up there for a week with a
Shepton party, I asked to join them.
They already had a full load, and since I was to travel from
Late in the evening I arrived at what I thought to be a
pleasant camping spot half way between
The following morning the rain had stopped and the midges
were gone, except those in the car. There
was a dull mist in the air, adding to the bleakness of the morning. The stony moor land soon gave way to trees as
I dropped toward the coast. I
breakfasted by the
Having stocked up with provisions, I continued on to Elphin
where we were to stay, courtesy of G.S.S. The road is simply a switchback of metallising laid across open moor
with no boundaries along most of its length. It is also fast, and I soon arrived at the G.S.S. headquarters - a rusty
looking corrugated iron shed to find that the Shepton had already arrived. Having travelled overnight, they were all
kipping, so I set off up the rise behind the hut to admire the view.
In actual fact, the view from the hut door is truly
magnificent and the only advantage in climbing is that you see a little
further. Suilven is particularly prominent. Other mountains dominate other aspects of the view, which is otherwise a
low, hummocky, lake-scattered bog. From
higher up, the sea is visible.
The
When the Shepton finally rose from their slumbers, we went
off for permission to visit various sites. Basically, permission is from the Nature Reserve Warden and one of the
local gamekeepers. This covers most of
the Elphin and Inchnadamph area. Soon we
were making our way up the Allt nam Hamh - the stream of the caves. Apparently there had been no rain for some
time and the water was lower than usual. To the North of the stream is a small spring with little flow at that
time to the south, at the base of a crag, well above the valley appeared the
We soon climbed out of the main valley southwards and into a
shallow subsidiary valley. At the head
of this we came upon Hamh an Claomeite. The water in this cave actually sinks through the peat higher up on the
moor.
The weather was holding, so the following day we drove out
to Stoer via Loch Assynt. The road is
narrow, winding and hummocky, following faithfully the best course over this
rough barren land which is typical of gneiss scenery. The bare rock is a sombre grey. There are few trees, but hundreds of streams
and lakes full of water lilies. The land
beyond Stoer is sandstone, and is much smoother with fewer lakes. In glorious sunshine we walked round the
coast, along the boulder beach or above the cliffs while we watched seals,
cormorants and oyster-catchers. After
some six miles, we came to the Old Man of Stoer. This is an impressive stack of layered
sandstone, standing just out from the cliff with deep, threshing water
between. It is about two hundred feet
high, and it has been climbed.
On, then, to the Point of Stoer, where cliff edge feats were
performed to photograph a fluffy young fulmar nestling. We returned to base via the Northern
road. On the way back, we stopped by a
loch to look at an interesting but midge-infested waterfall. The loch is perched on a low plateau and its
outlet is into a narrow gorge. At one
end there are numerous perched rocks, often with good waterfalls in this part
of the world.
Our evenings, and sometimes mid-days, were spent at
Inchnadamph. This is a hotel, though a
farm, school and chapel warrant it a name on the map. Behind Inchnadamph lies the
On up the valley and on to a spur between the river and a
tributary, we found our objective, Caoc Nam Uamh, which Bob started to
survey. There are three entrances to the
system, Uamh an Uisge is a fault plane bedding at thirty degrees with an
impressive cascade of water covering the whole width of the floor - up to fifty
feet - and disappearing into darkness. An open pothole gives direct access to Uamh an Uisge. The third entrance is Uamh an Tartair, which
we used. Once inside we met the stream
which we crossed. Crawling and climbing
through a couple of small decorated chambers and over a broken floor above the
stream, we soon came to the upstream sump - a deep pool rising in a large
chamber. Crange noted that the water was
rising quite rapidly, but we were assured that all was well. So while Bob began to survey each pebble and
lump of mud, we set off to explore the rest of the system thoroughly. At the extreme Eastern end is a static sump
dammed by a peaty deposit. At the other
end of the cave - downstream - the waters swirl along a series of sumps and
ducks under rock bridges. By-passing one
sump I reached a narrow rift which dropped down again to the stream, now deep
and swift flowing. This led straight
into Uamh na Uisge. The water had by now
risen considerably and I instantly cast aside any thoughts of descending this
torrential cascade.
Leaving Bob to his surveying, we went off along the valley
as two hours underground seemed sufficient for the day. After another two hours, having looked at
every hole; marsh; stream; bog and waterfall, we arrived back at the cave. Five minutes inside, I found Bob still
surveying and muttering that he'd need another six trips to do the whole
lot. We left him and returned to the hut
for nosh hours later, in the evening, we met him at the pub, now muttering
about a further twelve trips.
On the Tuesday, we drove Northwards across Ferry and up to
Durness. The road runs close to the
coast in places, though often the sea is hidden by scattered hummocks. It is typical gneiss scenery with a myriad of
lakes. The weather deteriorated to
clammy mist and drizzle as we approached the North coast. Here, the relief changes as the road runs
into sandstone, and then the Cambrian outcrops. Durness lies on the limestone and there is to
be found the most northerly cave in the British Isles -
Next day we walked up Allt nam Uamh, putting in bags of
activated charcoal at various strategic points. The river had risen considerably and there were fountains and springs in
all sorts of obvious and unexpected places. We put dye into the stream in Uamh an
Claonaite, which has a loose ruckle entrance. The markers were picked up a couple of days later, but all proved
negative as the peat had blotted out all traces of the dye.
Early one morning we visited Kuachan Cliff, just down the
road from the pub. This is rather
interesting as all the rocks of the locality, except the gneiss and sandstone
can be seen outcropping in the cliff. There is also a nature trail up the cliff, where numerous unusual
flowers grow, especially alpine species. On the loch opposite the cliff, there were divers (birds) whose mournful
cries echoes around, somehow adding to the wildness of the view. On a clear day, this view takes in many
hundreds of square miles of Scottish scenery.
Suilvan, whose peak is protected from more rapid erosion by
a granite intrusion, and Stac Pollaidh, are both visible from the cliff on a
clear day. They are both WNW-ESE ridges
of sheer sided sandstone cliffs. Suilven, four miles as the crow flies from the nearest road, is a
magnificent sight from the hut. It
stands 1,500 feet above the general level of the rest of the land and a stream
of cloud flows frequently from its summit. As weather became less settles during our stay, Suilven
disappeared. Thus, when it re-appeared
beneath the cloud one day, Crange and I persuaded everyone else that they
wanted to climb it.
We decided to take a longer route, involving some nine ten
miles, to the summit. The main
difficulty lies in avoiding all the lakes and rivers. After half an hour after we had set out, the
cloud lowered, it began to rain and Suilven vanished once more. The ground became boggy and soon filled with
little streams and pools. We came upon a
herd of about two hundred deer, and within minutes of their spotting us they
were miles away. Finally we reached the
slopes of Suilven and climbed into the cloud. This we discovered to be dangerously thick and so retired defeated.
I stayed on after the Shepton had returned to Somerset the
weather at once cleared. I went up Stac
Pollaidh which is much more accessible than Suilven, being only mile from the
road. Being alone, I did not climb the
final sections - a ten foot overhang above a sheer drop of more than a hundred
feet followed by a steep slope of eight hundred feet or so. However, this ascent lessened the
disappointment of failing to climb Suilven. From this windy peak, the view was over thousands of square miles of
land and sea. Below the peak, large
sandstone pebble have been polished shiny smooth by desert winds of millions of
years ago.
On the hill behind the Grampian hut there is supposed to by
For me, one of the most successfully expeditions of the
holiday was a walk out to the highest waterfall in the country. This is six hundred and fifty two feet high
and is about four miles from the road at the head of Loch Glancoul. It was a brilliant hot day, with no one on
the moors but me and in less than half an hour from the road I could see one of
the falls. There are two waterfalls on
opposite sides of a classic U-shaped glaciated valley. For a photograph of the other and higher one,
I climbed down the cliff beside it from which vantage point it is awe inspiring
sight although from the valley floor one has a better impression of the height
of the fall. Here I cooled off in a
delicious plunge of yet another waterfall.
The walk out to the falls is not difficult, involving only a
little clambering. The cliff climb is
not essential. There are several streams
and placid pools and green hawks nest in the moors higher up, their piping call
ringing from the surrounding rocks.
I intend to go to Sutherland again this year, and I hope
that this and Mike's article will persuade others that they must see this
beautiful part of our islands (I need some company to go and attempt Suilven
again!). Do think seriously about
it.
This report covers the period from the 4th August 1972 the
end of the club financial year at 29th July 1973.
In the same manner as last year, the Belfry Book has been
laid out in analysis form from which current information may be extracted and
conveyed via the report. These analysis
sheets are available for inspection and may be indexed back to any particular
week in the Belfry Book which may require a detailed check. The usefulness of the analysis sheets is
demonstrated by the ease and facility with which a remote item buried in the
Belfry Book may be identified.
The table below is based on extracts from the sheets, and if
you have last years September B.B. you will be able to make a direct
comparison.
BELFRY USAGE
|
BED-NIGHTS
|
% TOTAL
|
FEES
|
% TOTAL
|
Male Members
|
784
|
49
|
£117.60
|
37.7
|
Female Members
|
93
|
6
|
£ 13.95
|
4.4
|
Male Visitors
|
633
|
39.5
|
£158.25
|
50.7
|
Female Visitors
|
89
|
5.5
|
£ 22.25
|
7.2
|
TOTALS
|
1,599
|
100.0
|
£312.05
|
100.0
|
The total bed-nights for this year show a gain of one over
last years total. DOWN go members
bed-nights by 125 from 1,002 to 877. UP
go visitors by 126 from 596 to 722. Members are now down to 53.% of the bed-nights at a total contribution
of 42.1% of fees received, whilst visitors are now up to 45% of usage and 57.9%
of fees received. The increase in fees
received may be noted as being UP by £12.75 from £299.30 to £312.05.
Notes on Income and Expenditure.
In addition to the hut fees received (£312.05) the Belfry
records the following information
..
Day fees & Conscience Box £28.13
Camping £21.36
Lighting spares & Carbide £15.69
Tackle Fees £12.28
Publications £78.69
Ties & Badges £ 4.00
Keys £
5.45
and it may be noted that although this amounts to a total
of £165.60 and appears to be more than last year, the fact is that spares and
carbide and ties and badges have gone down with a thump.
Tools cost the Belfry £17.32 of which £11.36 was the major
item of two sets of push rods and plungers to free the long drain runs to the
sceptic tank.
Paint, cement, and other materials cost £15.25. Fittings to the Belfry cost £22.89 and this
item includes £8.20 for new locks. Purchases of new keys amounted to - wait for it! - £22.72 of which there
are 100 awaiting distribution to members at a reasonable deposit. The cost of the keys is not of course
included in the £22.89 mentioned for fittings.
Fuel cost for the Belfry stove amounted to £7 tractor hire
and £3 for fuel sufficient to last through NEXT winter of 1973/74. Well done, Assistant Hut Warden Nigel Taylor
and his willing helpers! The storage
heaters completed the Belfry warm-up and hastened the disappearance of the
fungus mould from the ceilings and walls.
To conclude this report, I think it is only fair to offer my
thanks to those who have been conspicuous in assisting with the many routine
jobs, maintenance and improvements. The
Belfry has been well looked after by members and visitors, despite one or two
weekends of utter confusion when it has had the appearance of a shambles waiting
to be cleared up. I especially commend
the Assistant Hut Warden Nigel Taylor for his work in general and the
initiative he has displayed in fostering a good atmosphere at the Belfry.
Personal reasons make it impossible for me to stand for next
years committee so may I close by wishing my successor the best of luck and
enjoyment of what is, on the whole, the most interesting job on the Committee?
Jock Orr.
It is interesting that the enormous number of enquiries for
membership we have had over the past year have only produced the normal number
of new members. Nevertheless, membership
of the B.E.C. now exceeds 200.
There has been an average amount of correspondence with
other bodies, some of it initiated by the Priddy Parish Council and by the
We are losing this year several tried and true members of
the committee, and I close with the hope that what the new committee lack in
experience it will gain in enthusiasm.
Alan Thomas.
New members addresses and changes of address of older
members.
106. E. MASON 33 Broadleys Ave,
Henleaze,
276. J:M.
329. & 330. Mr. & Mrs. T. W.
NEIL, Old Haybridge Inn, Haybridge, Wells,
449. G.T. DELL ,8 Portway, O1d Sarum
Salisbury, Wilts.
553. BOB WHITE, Kiebo, Little
704. D. METCALF,
759. & 765. Mr. & Mrs. R.T. GAGE,
791. D. HERBERD, 33 Triangle East,
Old field Park,
810. Miss L. WILLIAMS, Whitesdown
Farm,
811. D. KNOWLES,
812. E. WILTON-JONES. Address to
follow.
813. M. JARRETT,
814. N.J. DIBBEN,
815. P.G.ROGERS,56,
The last year has not seen the publication of any new
reports though, as will be seen later, there is much in the pipeline. Several reprints have been re-introduced into
the collection of Caving Reports for sale at the Belfry.
Although no new publication have made its appearance this
year, sales of existing material has continued - albeit at a lower rate than
last year. Vanishing Grottoes and
Reflections are among the best sellers.
Sales figures to hand at the present for the club financial
this year totalled about £90, which is approximately what it was for the
previous year 1971-72. The Treasurers
report will give all the necessary figures. Three reports are in the immediate pipeline, some of which will have
been published before the Annual General Meeting. These will make 1973-74 a record year for
sales. Pre-orders for the Burrington
Atlas show that three fifths of the total printing will be sold very soon after
publication
Reprints of the older reports has accounted for much of the
costs of publications this year. £4 was
spent on replacing the silk screen on the duplicator, and this has paid off
handsomely when one compares the Headwear and Lighting Report with the Pyrenean
publication. Reports brought back into
circulation are No 5 (Headwear and Lighting), No 3A (Lightweight Ladder
Construction) and No 11 (Long Chamber and Coral area of St. Cuthberts). A further reprint of No 1 (Redcliffe Caves
Survey) will be available during the coming winter. Stencils for numbers 3A, 6, 9 and 11 have been
destroyed and so these reports will be phased out of the series.
New reports in the pipeline are No 14 (Balague 1970), No 17
(A Burrington Atlas) and No 13 parts G, I and J. Numbers being printed are 500 for No 17 (an
increase from 350 due to orders) No 14, 100 and No 13, 250. The cost of production of the new reports is
approximately £100 for No 17 and £20 for No 14. No 13 has not yet been fully costed but is thought to be in the region
of £60.
The help given us by Barry Wilton has helped to keep costs
down enormously, but the full cost of production will be felt now that he is
unable to continue helping in this way. The increased cost has already been felt in the Burrington Atlas. The estimated cost (using metal plates) was
£70 but the final cost has risen to just under £100. Due to the enormous capital sums that are
required for launching a new publication; authors, I hope, will not be too
upset if some publications are printed by Gestetner and not by offset
litho. This is not a slur on their work
but should the manuscript be such that only small numbers will be printed, this
will be done on the Gestetner.
The policy of producing a popular 'best seller' is
continuing. Following the success of
'Vanishing Grottoes' we are following up with 'A Burrington Cave Atlas'. This brings a quick return into the coffers
and helps finance the less popular and more specialised publications that
should be published. Therefore, it is
better when discussing publications with regard to cost that one takes them as
a whole and not individually. So long as
the Publications Department as a whole is paying its way and producing enough
money to finance further MSS, then all is well.
New reports in the pipeline at preparation stage are 'Caves
of
During the past year, Publications has added surveys its
sales material. So far, sales have
proved the popularity of such a stock at the Belfry - so much so that the
pattern of sales is not yet clear. In
one case Swildons - 10 copies were sold in 10 days. Profits from the sales will be used to
purchase new surveys for the club Library of caves both on and off Mendip.
Due to work on the cottage and other pressures such as
caving (!) much of the donkey work on the actual production of the reports has
been left to Doug Stuckey to carry out. Thus, typing the draft has been principally my responsibility plus the
general layout; drawing of the diagrams and surveys has been split between Doug
and myself, and liaison with the printers and use of the offset litho machine
at Alfie's has been dealt with by Doug. Postal sales are being handled by Chris Howell in
Thought I've enjoyed being editor of the Caving Reports for
the last five years, I feel it is time to give way to some new blood. A frequent change in such a position will
inject new ideas for subject matter and presentation and so I would like to
offer my resignation as Editor of the Club Publications.
Lastly, but not least, I would like to thank all who helped
and those that are still helping in the many problems in producing the
publications (and a great number of man-hours are being spent on them - a fact
no generally realised by those who pay so little for them, 10,000 man-hours on
the Cuthberts survey alone!) - Bar
Dave Irwin.
Saturday and Sunday, 1st and 2nd September
BIRK'S FELL - Leader D. Irwin.
Saturday, October 20th
DAN-YR-OGOF - Leader P. Kingston.
Sunday, November 11th
AGEN ALLWEDD - Leader D. Stuckey.
Friday, December 7th
RESERVOIR HOLE - Leader D. Irwin.
(Evening trip. Meet at 7.30 p.m. AT THE CAVE.)
Note: If you wish to go on any of these trips,
contact the Caving Secretary OR put your name up on the list at the Belfry.
Note: Dave Irwin can obtain the key for Reservoir
Hole at any time. See him if you want to
do this cave other than on the date shown above,
The Caving Secretary would be pleased to hear of any other
suggestions for caving trips. If you can
lead a party down a particular cave; or if you have any special access
arrangements to any cave that you think the club would be interested to visit,
or if you merely want to do a particular cave if a suitable trip is laid on.
*****************************************
IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN ATTENDING A GET-TOGETHER ON THE
SUBJECT OF ELECTRONICS IN CAVING (Communication; survey aids; finding new caves
etc.) PLEASE EITHER WRITE TO SETT OR TALK TO HIM AT THE A.G.M. OR DINNER. SETTS ADDRESS IS PUBLISHED BELOW.
*****************************************
Any older members who are interested - and younger ones too,
who may like the opportunity of meeting some of the cavers and climbers who
helped to make the B.E.C. what it is to-day - should get in touch with
"Sett". His address is:- R.A.
Setterington, 4,
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Across:
3. Formations. (5)
6. Ran pole differently? (5)
8. Reverse of 2 down. (3)
9. Lower part of cave? (5)
11. Black part of well known Welsh cave? (3)
12. Warts information. (5)
14. Extracted from Mendip once. (5)
15. Hilliers Hall. (3)
Down:
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2. Reverse of 8 across. (3)
4. Ledge Pitch, Mud Hall or Traverse Chamber? (5)
5. Rested perhaps on a caving trip. (3)
7. May describe water or some of 8 across in a cave. (5)
9. Nobody is to blame for this cave feature. (5)
10. Ledge Pitch, perhaps, but not really Mud Hall or Traverse Chamber. (5)
11. Found constructed in Cuthberts. (3)
13. Reverse of 15 across run in Cuthberts. (3)
Solution to Last Months Crossword
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