The Annual General Meeting.
Once again, the voting forms go out with this month's B.B.
and the A.G.M. will soon be upon us. These are the two methods whereby the average member gets his (or her)
say in. the way in which the club is run - so do turn up at the A.G.M. and
don't forget to vote for the next year's committee.
A number of members have suggested in past years that we
should give a resume of the past activities of various committee members to
acquaint those who do not know them personally. This, we have always skated out of, since completely factual accounts
are very difficult to present. This
year, however, our anonymous correspondent Stalagmite has come forward with
his own list and, on the principle of giving him his head, and with the usual
proviso that his opinions are not necessarily those of the Editor or the
Committee, we are letting his article stand exactly as he wrote it.
Covers
Owing to delays in the printing, a few of you will be
getting this B.B. with a temporary cover. Next month, it is possible that we may have to send out a B.B. without a
printed cover. This is a strictly
temporary measure.
A big 'thank you' to all those who have sent in articles of
late. With the promise of more to come,
it looks as if we shall be all right for a while, but don't stop writing! It's surprising how quickly they get used up!
Alfie
A.G.M. & Dinner
A.G.M. The
following resolution has already been received for discussion at the
A.G.M. It; is proposed by I. Dear and
seconded by A. Sandall that A sum of Fifty Pounds be put aside to purchase an
efficient hot water system - either solid fuel or perhaps oil - in the Belfry
as a positive move towards a cleaner Belfry.
Dinner. Ian
Dear has suggested a competition for the dinner and is prepared to give a copy
of one of Balch' s books as a prize for the winner of a competition to 'Write a caving story (fact or fiction) in
not more than 250 words suitable for an
after dinner speech. The three best (or
only) entries to be read by the authors at the Dinner.'
A.G.M. We have
been criticised in past years for not telling members where and when the A.G.M.
is. Here goes then. The Annual General Meeting of the Bristol
Exploration Club will be held on the first Saturday of' October 1963 at
Redcliffe Hall, Guinea Street, Bristol at 2.30 p. Please be punctual.
Dinner. Dinner
bookings should be made by application to the Hon. Sec. R.J. Bagshaw, 699 Wells
Road, Knowle, Bristol 4 and should reach him at least ten days before the
dinner. Applications received after this
date cannot be guaranteed places. The
price is 12/6 per head.
Fairy Cave Quarry
Recently, it was decided by the Cerberus Committee and the
quarry management that some form of government was required for cavers in the
Fairy Cave Quarry group of caves and so, in addition to Cerberus leaders,
members of other clubs were appointed leaders in order that they need not apply
to Cerberus each time that they require trips. Leaders are:-
Wessex B.E.C. S.M.C.C.
M. Thompson. M. Thompson. M. Thompson.
M. Baker. M. Baker. F. Davies.
J. Hanwell. B. Ellis. B. Ellis.
I. Davies. S. Collins.
D. Warburton. J. Rollason.
B. Prewer. B. Prewer.
D. Berry. D. Berry
G. Pointing. G. Pointing.
A. Surrel. M. Wheadon
D. Ford. M. Palmer.
G. Selby.
The Committee appreciates that duplication has
occurred. The committee would also like
to ensure that the number of persons per leader be limited to a reasonable
number. Six has been suggested, and that
the leader ensures that the cottage and surroundings are left in a reasonable
state.
Mr. Garlick, the quarry Manager, requires at least 48 hours
notice of pending trips and his decision regarding access is final. Mr. Thompson has received permission to
organise any diving which might be carried out.
To obtain entry, leader to apply to Mr. Garlick, Manager,
Fairy Cave Quarry, Oakhill (Oakhill 267) stating name and name of club. Cerberus Cottage is locked and the key is
obtainable from Mr. Garlick or R. Frost, 1 Creighton Close, Wells. Trip fees are 1/- per person. Cerberus Trip Sec. is. D. Percival, 27 Maple
Gardens, Bath.
Trips from the Caving Log
by John Ransom.
On the 6th, a Hydrodynamic Engineering Trip in St.
Cuthberts by Messrs Bennett, Miller and King. Down to sump via September, they found the water overpowering. Final remarks at sump. 'Disgusting Dig! Mike Calvert and party followed at sump
digging on the 9th. Left spade there. .
The 13th saw R. Roberts, A. MacGregor, D. Smith and A.T.
Williams in St. Cuthberts. While
exploring Upper Long Chamber they found a tight squeeze under a slab which
leads to a small chamber. A squeeze in
the lower part of this chamber leads to a small 'v' shaped pitch which in turn
leads to the upper reaches of Coral Chamber. The initial chamber is located near an incessant drip.
More discoveries by Richard Roberts and party on the 14th
again in St. Cuthberts. In climbing to
the highest part of Long Chamber, they found a large chamber with no previous
boot marks with the floor covered in white flowstone and containing some very
fine erratics. The way in is very
unstable. This party also found a new
way from Long Chamber to the Central rift leading down to Coral Chamber. They propose to call the new chamber Straw
Chamber unless there are any objections.
On the 30th, Mike Thompson, Jim Giles and Pete Miller
carried out an experiment in St. Cuthberts Sump, using a rubber ball on a
string. They lost the ball, but are
confident of going through to Wookey and asking for their ball back! A polythene bag was found on the way out. Mr. Miller investigated the contents and will
give you his opinion if asked. Spade
brought out.
Forest of Dean
(13th and 14th July, 1963.)
During this weekend, members of our club were guests of the
Gloucester Speleological Society, and a trip was arranged for Saturday down
some of the local Iron Ore mines, to be followed in the evening by beer and
skittles at one of the local hostelries (of which there are a large number).
The first party was led by Dave Parker and consisted of 'Mo'
Marriott, the Franklyns and Joan Bennett. The second party was made up of Alan and Carol Sandall, Norman Petty and
our beloved Hon. Treas/Sec. This party
was led by Tony Iles and they were joined by three other members of the G.S.S.
The mines visited were old iron ore workings which are
situated in the Carboniferous Limestone which outcrops around the Forest of
Dean coalfield. The impression which one
gets after visiting these particular mines is a confused picture of a series of
quite large natural chambers interconnected by mine galleries. There are a large number of mines in the area
which interconnect underground. We in
fact, from one entrance, visited four mines - Old Ham, New Ham, Swing Pit and
Easter Pit. The entrance is
approximately 600' above sea level and the water table is at about 300. During mining operations there was continued
pumping but now that activity has ceased, the water table has risen to its
natural level and many of the lower stretches are not now able to be
explored. To Mendip cavers it seemed
most odd to go through long, dry, dusty passages and suddenly to come upon
static bluish (or was it greenish?) water stretching quietly away into the
darkness.
According to our guide, and also gathered from a little
homework, the metallic ores were found in irregular pockets in the
Carboniferous Limestone. Iron bearing
solutions from the Coal Measure Shales, which overlay the limestone, permeated
the open jointed rock and deposited the ore. Removal of the ore gave rise to the large natural chambers which are
the major feature of the mines. Iron Ore
has been worked in the area since Roman times but most of the mines closed at
the beginning of the century as the ore field became exhausted. Several of the mines, including the mine we
visited, were opened during the war, but were finally closed in 1945.
Saturday evening was devoted to beer and skittles at the New
Inn near Five Acres. The G.S.S. arranged
an alley for our use and also provided us with two players to make up
numbers. The B.E.C. team lost the match
despite the efforts of Keith as Sticker Up (or Snooker Down?) and Bobby as
keeper of the score. The game was
nevertheless most enjoyable and much beer was consumed. When the game finished a section of the party
adjourned to an upper room from which the sounds of music had come during the
evening, the undoubted highlight of the weekend was when Keith jived with the
local oldest inhabitant, and only stopped because he thought she might have
heart failure. However, the sight of the
Franklyns Mo and Kangy twisting in climbing boots ran it a close second.
The party then returned to the camp site and Mo demonstrated
that he climbs as well, if not better, under the influence than when
sober. He completed a very fine traverse
round the barn which the G.S.S. use, going daintily from ledge to ledge and
over rafters, demonstrating his 'clutterbucks' to perfection.
Sunday morning found several members of the party in a very
delicate state of health, and so we will pass on to some of the events of the
afternoon. At this time, some of the
party went to Wintour's Leap and a little climbing was done. The weather was not good and Roy Bennett and
Dave Quicke went up Corner Buttress (Diff) while tigers Marriott and King went
up Beginners Route.
There are 13 climbs listed in the guide, and we understand
that a new one is being produced. This
cliff should provide quite a good practice area for climbers from Bristol when
the Severn Bridge has been completed, as it should be within easy reach for
climbing on summer evenings.
The name of the cliff derives from Sir John Wintour who,
being closely pursued by the parliamentarians in 1642 galloped in desperation
over the shelving precipice, escaped unhurt on the ground below, and got away
by swimming the river. This explanation was
viewed rather sceptically, and we wondered if the cliff had become rather more
precipitous due to subsequent quarrying. A very fine weekend, and our grateful thanks to the G.S.S.
Joan Bennett.
On The Hill
(or T.W.T.M.T.W.)
I propose to vary the article slightly for this month and
deal firstly with our own club. I make
no apologies for views expressed in this article and whilst accenting that, as
I write them, they must reflect my own views I would add that a lot of this
information is gleaned from you - the average club member.
Next month will see us again at the A.G.M. & Dinner and
each year a committee is elected to carry on the club's business for the
year. This is all very democratic. We members elect them so let us at least know
who we elected last year and my (and some of your) opinions of these
'Officers'.
R.A Setterington. (Sett)
Has been with the club since the
beginning and is present chairman of the committee. Has in the past been a very good Hut
Warden. Does not nowadays take part in
caving. Goes car rallying.
R.J. Bagshaw (Bobby)
Devoted Treasurer and practically
a monument. Caves annually and collects
subs at any given opportunity (N.B. makes his own opportunities!)
S.J. Collins. (Alfie)
Editor (very ably) of the
B.B. Ex Hut Warden and digger of
numerous small holes scattered round Mendip. We don't agree on all things. Belfry
builder. Too fat to cave.
Norman Petty
Tackle Officer and Belfry
Carpenter. Does both very well, but some
feel that these are ex officio posts. Is
an active Cuthberts Leader.
Tony Dunn.
Climbing Secretary. Do we ever do any? If so, we never hear of it (R.S.K. excluded)
C.A. Marriott. (Mo) & Mike Palmer
Caving Sec and Assistant. Club meets appear to be becoming, very
successful and, with the C.C.C. blood chit this looks like being a very
important job. Both are Cuthberts Leaders
and cave occasionally.
John Ransom & Gordon Tilly.
Two dedicated Belfry Builders who
cave also occasionally. I notice that
the Belfry is progressing well, almost time for a write up, since more people
deserve thanks than I can name.
Garth Dell
Retired to join H.M. Forces and I
hear rumours of Sarawak.
John Cornwell.
Defected to the Wessex whilst on
the committee. Is this compatible? Cuthberts Leader.
Alan Sandall.
Seems to be known to all and his
reputation precedes him. Used to cave
actively and still does occasionally.
Talking of active caving, I hear that Mrs. C. (Spike) Rees
has managed to get tubby hubby caving - to Swildons IV. Turning now to drinking, Priddy Fair has once
more come and gone and I hear that Messrs Fowler and Mills were to be seen at
the New Inn as usual, but this time on the other side of the bar where they
were helping to speed (pardon the pun) the service. The other day, I
wandered into one of the better class of drinking establishments in Wells to
find one of the B.E.C. associates - Miss Pat Laws - serving behind the
bar. There's not much hope of free beer
however.
It appears that nine acres of the mineries on the eastern
side of the depression from the Shepton Hut to the pool were bought by two
members of the M.C.G. If any club is
looking for a site for an H.Q. perhaps it will be possible to come to an
agreement.
An interesting letter in the Wessex Journal on Swildons
Hydrogeology by Derek Ford. It seems to
me that its a pity to confine this sort of thing to one journal. There is one other article of note, Jim
Hanwells Growth of Wessex'. I suppose
that if we boast of bed-nights, Wessex are allowed to gloat over
affiliations. I see Wessex have acquired
some exposure suits. Has B.E.C. ever
tried this, or are its members too hardy?
Mendip surveyors have
held, an important meeting recently at which agreement was reached on several
points and I expect an article may well appear in a future B.B. (Certainly - Ed). The thought that comes to mind here is why
havent the C.R.G. organised something like this? It was obviously desirable.
The S.V.C.C., only recently formed, has turned out a fairly
good newsletter, though naturally enough with contributions by Tony Oldham.
Thought for the month - I'll be at the A.G.M. and Dinner.
Stalagmite
*****************************************
It is intended to hold a trip to the Buckfastleigh
area. Camping, Bed & Breakfast or
staying in hotels can be arranged to suit taste. Please contact Mike Palmer for details.
*****************************************
It is intended to hold a Treasure Hunt over about thirty
miles in the area covered by the 1 O.S. map of the Weston-super-Mare
district. Will those interested, please
contact Mike Baker.