Club Committee
During the last year there has been a good deal of criticism of the way the Club has been run, not all of it entirely irresponsible. The Annual General Meeting is approaching, and it will then be time to elect a new Committee, It is obviously unfair to simply re-elect the Committee year after year and then complain bitterly that they are doing the wrong things in the worst possible way. Now is your chance to voice your opinion by filling up the Nomination Paper attached to this BB, and getting it to the Hon, Secretary before 13th December 1951.
The Committee consists of 8 members, including the Climbing Section representative, and at least one lady member. There is also a London Section representative, who is not voted for, as anyone present from
The present Committee is: -
R. Bagshaw, D. Hasell, J. Ifold, R. Ifold? G. Lucy, R. Cantle. K. Dobbs,. Miss J. Rollason, M. Hannam, A. Setterington,
Members can only be nominated for election to t h e Committee with their knowledge and approval.
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting will be held at Redcliffe Community Centre at 2pm on Saturday, 26th January 1952, All members are asked to make a note of this date, and to endeavour to be present. There will be a break of about half an hour for tea, at 4pm, and the meeting will close at about SIX O'clock, so that members will be able to get to the Annual Diner
Annual Dinner
The Annual Dinner will be held at the Whiteladies (Cinema) Restaurant,
The cost is only 7/6,and those who were at last year's dinner will remember that it was a really jolly affair.
London
The London Section will hold its Annual Dinner on Saturday, 8th December, 1951, at the Atlas Hotel, Earl's Court, The cost will be 10/6 per head, payable at the dinner, As Bookings must be made in advance, all those who will be coming are asked to inform D.A.Coase, 18, Headington Road, Wandsworth, London, S.W.18, as soon as possible, and in any case not later than Saturday 1st December, The dinner is not confined to London Section Members, and the support of those, who live far from civilisation will be cordially welcomed.
Hon Secretary
Bobby Bagshaw is now acting as the Clubs Hon Secretary All correspondence should be addressed to;-
Mr R.J. Bagshaw,
56,
Knowle,
BATS -- b y J.W. Ifold.
As a part of the research into the habits of bats, a large number have been ringed in the Mendip caves. The bats are marked with a metal ring bearing letters and a number on one wing. Those most likely to be encountered on Mendip bear the letters UBS. Having been affixed by the
a) Letters and number on ring (if any)
b) Name of the cave and the part of the cave where found, and
c) Date and time when seen.
This information should be sent to Mervyn Hannam or John Ifold, who would also be glad to receive offers of help in this fascinating work.
ON NO ACCOUNT SHOULD A RING EVER BE REMOVED FROM A BAT.
There are a number of books on bats in the Club library.
Club Library
There arc still too many Club library books missing. Will all members please have a good look in their attics and coal cellars, or, in the case of lady members, in their bottom drawers, to see if they can find any of the missing books.
The library needs a copy of "Cave Hunting" by Boyd Dawkins. Any Members who knows where a copy is to be obtained should let the librarian know as soon as possible, giving details of the price asked and of the book's condition,
The library contains a number of six-inch maps covering most of the Mendip area. These maps have been marked to show most of the known caves and possible digs. Members knowing of others, or finding new sites are asked to give full details to the librarian so that these maps can be kept up to date. The maps are of course available for inspection by members, as are a number of assorted maps of the
The library catalogue is as follows.
Caving
(In this section, recent acquisitions only are listed)
Cave Science Nos 15 and 16
C.R.G. Newsletters 1 to 11
U.B.S.S. Proc. Vol. 5 no 3, Vol. 6 no2
The Caves of
Cave Dwelling Bats in S. Devon.
Subterranean Climbers P. Chevalier,
Cave. Men Old and New N. Casteret.
British Bats B. Vecsey-Fitzgerald.
The Cave Book C. Hendrix.
Geology
Wells and springs of Herefordshire
Climbing
Climbing Mount Everest G. Ingle French
Climbing in
Welsh Three Thousands T. Fairbank
Snow on the Equator H.W. Tilman
Epic of
Rock Climbing and Mountaineering C. Brunning
Photography.
The All-In-One Camera Book
Archaeology
Early
Man the Toolmaker K.P. Oakley .
Roman Folkestone S.E. Winbolt
Pyramids of
Anthropological Papers of the
British association Handbook, 1898
Malmesbury Short History
Prehistoric and Roman
Excavations at Lea Mills
Ancient Monuments of
Ancient Monuments of
Prehistoric
Anthropology,
Discovery of Man S. Casson
Descent of Man C. Darwin
Head Hunters. A.E. Haddon
Historical Sociology V. Brelsford
Reconsideration of the Gally Hill Skeleton K.P. Oakley
Dental Anatomy and Physiology
Touring and Walking
Rambles and Walking in
Ward Lock Guides. Dartmoor, North Cornwall, South
New Forest,
Blagdon on Mendip
Cotswolds Murry
Derbyshire Penguin
South Devon and
Gloucestershire J.D. Meath
Hike Tracks of the West H.F. Lock
West Country Hosteling Y.H.A.
Unbeaten Tracks A and B Barnes
Mendip Rescue Organisation
All members are reminded that the Mendip Rescue Organisation may be put into operation with the least possible delay by telephoning Wells 2197.
GB Restrictions
The club has been informed by the UBSS that the Axbridge Urban District Council has imposed further restrictions on GB. Consequently no one should visit this cave, take photographs there or publish information concerning it without UBSS permission. For the present all arrangements to visit the cave should be made through Mervyn Hannam.
Inquiry
Don Coase would be very glad to learn who has been digging at the top of the Bone Chamber In Stoke Lane. Any news?
Planning a Motor-Cycling Trip in
This article is written with the intention of helping you to plan a motor-cycle trip in
There are four necessary requirements for a successful trip, namely:
1) A bike which can be relied on not to break down. This, does not necessarily mean a new one, and in fact It is better to take a bike that is a year or two old (D.A.C. please note!) than one that still has its initial snags t o be ironed out. The bike should be well run-in as there are stretches of road where it is possible to travel flat out for distances of up to twenty miles while in other places it may be necessary to climb gradients of about 1 in 8 for ten miles or so.
2) A well-tried companion or companions. It is surprising how somebody who is normally good company for a week end can get on one's nerves w h en there is practically no-one else to talk to for a fortnight
3) Some money. About £25 will cover a fortnight, living on the cheap, This includes the cross-channel transport charges shared between two. Get 5000 francs and four £5 traveller's cheques from your bank, you will need your passport for this.
4) A plan of campaign. It is advisable to have some object in view for the trip, such as visiting a dozen or so commercial caves in various parts of the country. Arrange a tour that at a reasonable mileage speed within the limits of the bike, will take about two days longer than you have available.
If you find that you are running short of time, you can always cut the trip short and beat it northwards but I can imagine nothing more than a dead long drive to Boulogne or Calais with two or three days in hand.
It is also a great help if one has a working knowledge of the language… school certificate French is quite good enough, and it would be possible to get along with a phrase book, but this is not much fun.
Three or four months before the trip is due to start confirm the date with your companion(s) and then write to your AA or RAC office and ask for transport across the channel and back on the necessary dates. They will send you one large form to fill out which will cover everything. Fill it up, making sure that the data in your log book are the same as the actual frame and engine numbers on the bike. At the same time it is advisable to ask for a general road map of
A week or so before you are due to sail the AA or the RAC will send you all the necessary gen, forms etc., and a bill, but not the boat tickets, which are collected at the port office when you show a receipt for the cash paid,
About three weeks before you sail start going over the bike with a fine-tooth comb. Check everything, fix on panniers and GB plates, if not already on, and finally finish up with a decoke. It is quite easy, with a little common sense, to put all one person's gear into one pannier, and to put a tent and two sleeping bags across the top of the panniers, carrying pyjamas as well in case of bad weather. One pannier will carry all the tools and spares you can't carry in the normal tool box, a towel, washing shaving and tooth-cleaning equipment swimming trunks, one set of pyjamas, three pairs of socks, two shirts, four handkerchiefs, a shoe brush and the maps, guide books, passport and other paperwork. Carry your camera at the ready, not in the pannier. Don't forget that the French roads can very rough at times and sturdy panniers are essential, especially of a solid frame model. If you are not used to travelling long distances make quite sure that both the driving and pillion positions are as comfortable a s possible.
As a final preliminary, get an insurance policy for the continent. This will cost two or three pounds but is well worth while for the added peace of mind it affords.