Editorial

The original function of the Belfry Bulletin was, as its name suggests, to report to club members on the progress made on the construction of the club hut – The Belfry.

The last month has seen spectacular progress made on the Belfry site.  The redecoration of the living room is almost compete; the kitchen has been tackled and only requires a few finishing touches; the exterior  of the hut has been creosoted and, joy of joys, we have obtained permission from the Ministry of Town and Country Planning to go ahead with the building of our new stone tackle store and changing room and have lost no time in starting to dig the foundations.

As far as we know, the new stone building will be the first permanent building ever to be erected on Mendip for the purpose of caving, and those of us who remember the old Belfry in its heyday will feel that it is appropriate that this new building should be rising, as it were, from its ashes.

Appeals are not indulged in much in the B.B. nowadays, but we feel that an exception could well be made at this stage to appeal to all members on two counts.  The first is that we now have a nice looking, freshly painted, clean hut.  Let us all try to keep it the best on Mendip!  The second is that the erection of the new hut will take a lot of work. We have never lacked willing hands in the past, who put up the New Belfry and added the extension and porch. Let's get that new stone hut up before the winter!

Finally, a big "thank you" to all members who have sent in material for the B.B. of late. At the moment, we have a surpl¬us, so don't be worried if your article doesn’t appear in this B.B. and don't stop writing!  We use it up very quickly!

" Alfie. "

July Committee Meeting

Arrangements for the redecoration of the kitchen and the creosoting of the outside of the Belfry were finalised at the July committee meeting.  Other matters deal with were the provision of nylon lifelines, Certificates for Hon. Life Members and the provision for a club tie.

The Tackle Officer reported that we now possessed four 20ft and one 15ft standard lightweight ladders.  With two more 20 foot lengths under construction.  It was also agreed, in view of the new decorations, to prohibit the use of paraffin for burning purposes in the Belfry.

Change of Address.

Alfie has now moved to 33 Richmond Terrace, Clifton, Bristol 8

Annual Dinner.

This will be held at the CAVE MAN RESTAURANT at CHEDDAR on SATURDAY  OCTOBER 4TH, 1958.  The price of tickets will be 10/-.

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We must apologise to “Kangy” whose letter would have been printed at this point in the B.B., had it not been lost in the Editor’s recent moving activities.

Make a note of the date of the Annual Dinner & A.G.M. - Oct. 4th!

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Caving Log

Hunters Hole

Sanctimonious Passage

On Sunday, 13th July 1958, a party descended Hunters Hole under the misdirection of Ian Dear with the intention of digging at the end of the Railway Tunnel.  Before work was started, an attempt was made to reach a small ledge eight feet up the right hand wall and seventeen feet from the bottom of the main pitch.  Ian had attempted to climb up to this ledge a fortnight earlier but, due to mud covered rock and loose boulders, had been unsuccessful.  On this occasion, a lighter person wearing rubber soled boots was able to make the climb by using another persons back as a start and then, when on the ledge, cleared most of the loose boulders, thus enabling others to climb. It should be pointed out that many of the boulders are still loose and care should be taken when climbing this.

The removal of a few more boulders enlarged a hole at the back of the ledge and it was possible to squeeze through into a boulder floored passage about three feet wide and two feet high.  The passage ends after fourteen feet, but just before the final wall is reached it is possible to squeeze between two boulders which brings one to the edge of a pot six feet in diameter and nine feet deep.  It is an easy climb to the bottom, and a low passage leads off parallel to the Railway Tunnel of the main system.  After thirty feet, including a further squeeze, a small chamber is reached where there is a four foot drop. Near the roof is a small grotto from which leads a small passage which closes down after six feet.

Below the grotto a passage leads off, and after proceeding through a fourth squeeze, the top of another pitch is revealed.  This was named ROVER POT and is eighteen feet deep.  It is probably easy to climb, but a short rope or a ten foot ladder belayed from a convenient spur of rock six feet down makes the climb much easier. At the bottom of the pitch is a fairly large chamber with a passage continuing at right angles to the Railway Tunnel, but unfortunately this closes down after twenty two feet and is blocked by a stal flow.  The final passage is some twenty lower than the bottom of the Railway Tunnel and more than ten feet lower than reached so far in the dig.  It is the lowest part of the cave and approximately 160 feet below ground level.  The total passage length is about 125 feet.

It is probable that readers will wonder about the name given to the new extension.  It so happened that the previous night a visitor to the Belfry had been offended by the lads, and rather than spend a night in such company, had packed his bags and made the 150 mile journey home by car.  It was felt that such gallant behaviour should be commemorated and hence the name!

During the following week, the passage was surveyed Bryan Ellis and Brian Sneddon as part of a survey of the complete cave which is hoped to publish at a later date.  Although the measurements for the survey are made to C.R.G. grade 5, the survey accompanying this screed (or article? See B.B. No. 126!) has only been drawn up roughly, and not more than grade there is claimed.

The following weekend, another descent was made, and after a superb tangle of ropes, caused by Ian’s attempts at directing the lowering of tackle down the main pitch, had been sorted out, digging was started at the terminal stalagmite and the mud filled passage. Both look promising and it is intended to carry out further work at both places in the future.  While this was going on, work was also carried on in Dear’s Ideal.

(We regret that this article has had to be cut short to allow the survey to be included.  A full report will be published in B.E.C. Caving reports at a later date.  Ed.)

To the Editor Belfry Bulletin.

Early this year a B.E.C. party was trapped below the 40' pot in Swildons because a second group took out the tackle believing the first party to be already out of the cave.

The misunderstanding that took place calls for some comment on cave leadership and safety.

1.                  Every party should have a recognised leader responsible for making all major decisions and for seeing his party has got adequate lighting and clothing.  He should also look after the safety of his group and ensure that nobody is persuaded to go beyond his capabilities, and help and advise novices.

2.                  With a party of equal caving experience, this leadership will be rarely exerted, but nevertheless a leader should be chosen and must be able to exert authority if necessary in case of accident, dangerous exploration &c.

Under club rules all trips should have a leader whose decisions must be obeyed.  There is a tendency nowadays to ignore advising novices on carrying equipment and techniques.  A practical training in this is essential and to supplement this letter I shall be submitting an article on caving equipment and methods shortly.

M. Hannam.
Caving Secretary

Open Letter

To those Whom the Cap Fits: -

During the Bank Holiday weekend, some members of the Wessex Cave Club were interrupted in the process of setting off some fireworks etc. outside the Belfry.  This is fair enough and we would be a pretty dim lot if we couldn’t take a joke.  What we don’t think very funny; however, it is the attempted setting off of a detonator on the roof of the Belfry porch.  This could have been dangerous to anyone passing at the time, particularly as there were two expectant mothers at the Belfry that day.  A dim view would also have been taken by our Fire Insurers. In addition, the frivolous use of explosive materials would result in the withdrawing of “bang” licenses.  On top of this, the perpetrators of this joke attempted to light an electric detonator by setting fire to the leads! Obviously anyone so unaware of its use should not be handling a detonator anyway.  We trust we have made our point clear.

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The Belfry Bulletin. Editor: S.J. Collins, 1 Kensington Place, Clifton, Bristol 8
Secretary: R.J. Bagshaw, 56 Ponsford Road, Knowle, Bristol 4