Ian Dear Memorial Fund
A meeting was held recently between the Caving Sec., Sett
and Bobby Bagshaw in order to clarify/update the IDMF rules. These are as follows:-
1. Any applicant must be a fully paid-up member of
the Bristol Exploration Club.
2. Any monies granted should go towards travel
expenses. This grant can be used
worldwide and not just for Europe. Grants can be used for other expeditions, not just for caving.
3. All applications must be made to the current BEC
committee who with their approval will pass it on to the IDMF trustees for
approval.
4. The limit of the grant must not exceed one third
of the cost of the expedition.
5. A full report must be written within three
months of the applicants return, for the BB, and must be at least four sides of
A4 size paper.
The trustees are the current Caving Sec., the current
Treasurer, Mike Palmer and Sett.
Jeff Price.
Hut Engineer's Report
Nigel Taylor
I intend to break with my usual tradition of a long
report. You have all heard my views on
those who don't care about the hut, and "can't be bothered to work on
it" before. I have held this post
for three years, and I believe that it is time for a change in Hut Engineer. Most especially so when one hears that other
members would like a try at the post, and voice their views to this
effect. I understand that Trevor HUGHES
is standing for election, and present committee members Ian CALDWELL and Graham
JOHNSON also have their eyes on this post. Please consider this when voting at the A.G.M.
I am generally pleased with the overall state of the BELFRY,
but a shortfall in club finances (until the St. Cuthbert's Report enters
profit?) really restricts any proper re-vamping of the hut or major
improvements. Money is going to have to
be spent on the front porch roof, rear weather-boards and bunk-room fire door
in the not too distant future. The club
must decide WHAT and HOW the kitchen area is to be improved, but I leave this
to the A.G.M.
At the time of writing, the excellent efforts of Pat CRONIN
to install Central Heating are nearing completion. The oil tanks are up, and full, and if lucky,
we may just have a warm hut for the A.G.M. (No puns!).
I would like to thank all those who have helped me on the
various working weekends, especially during last Winter/Spring when several
members worked all day on five successive weekends in the attic after Jack
FROST did his worst.
One of the problems this year has been advertising the
working weekends due to the B.B. being issued at different times, but this in
no way reflects on the tireless efforts of its editor. He cannot be expected to bring out an empty
B.B. just to advertise a working weekend. Past experience also shows that if you have long term fixed dates,
members seem to be away up north, or it rains all weekend.
I should also like to thank all those stalwarts who have
worked on their Hut and site, over the last three years, not to ignore those
members wives, girlfriends (etc!) who though not always members themselves,
mucked in on several occasions and supported their partners and the club. I personally thank my wife, Vivi, who puts up
with absences phone calls and has helped out with catering during my period in
office.
I have great hopes that funds will be found in the future to
make the improvements this hut so badly needs. I am still standing for election to the Committee, and if successful,
would like to have a floating-post should the A.G.M. agree, in order that I can
assist in fund raising and long term planning for the BELFRY. May I offer my successor every helping hand
he/she needs!