Round and About
A Monthly Miscellany
Compiled by 'Wig'
163. Political Caving:
Moves being discussed in the Regions and at national level indicate that the
bureaucratic master minds are attempting to hamstring caving as we know it. To keep members up to date, a précis of the
various minutes received by the Hon. Sec. will be included in the next B.B.
together with guidelines to be followed by your committee.
164.
165. B.C.R.A. Conference, 1975:
166. B.C.R.A. Bulletin No 7:
Latest French discoveries, chalk caves near
167. Jonah is 70 years old!: An
entry in a caving log for 1955, dated 30th August and written in Bryan Ellis's
handwriting states, "On Feb.10th, 1975, 'Jonah' will be seventy years of
age. Meet at the Hunters. Free beer all round." Well, although we didn't see Jonah at the
Hunters for our beer - in fact we'd be buying HIM pints - we'd like to offer
our congratulations and hope to see him down on Mendip soon. Incidentally, is Jonah the oldest member of
the B.E.C.?
168. New Surveys available at the Belfry:
Surveys of FLOWER POT and
169. B.C.R.A. Transactions:
Volume No 4, December 1974 includes Single Rope Technique Caving; Lead/acid cap
lamps; Resistivity over caves and a History of Yorkshire Karst Studies. Also included is an index to volume 1.
170. Subscription Rate: Club subscriptions have been held steady since
1972 and Belfry fees since 1967. Belfry charges have had to be increased
recently to cover increases in rates, insurance, electricity etc. The costs of club administration are also
rising, and with increased postal charges, a rise in the annual sub, seems
inevitable. Don't be surprised if next
years sub is £3. The committee are
looking into the subject at the moment.
171. Otter Hole: In addition to Roy Bennett's article in the
B.B. for December 1974 little is being reported in this column, interesting
though the site is. Just wait a while
and buy your copy of Cave Notes later in the year!
172. Swildons in Stereo!: A fascinating half hour was recently spent by
a few members viewing a stereoscopic drawing of Swildons Hole drawn by Mike
Cowlinshaw. Peering through the familiar
red and green glasses, the illusion was remarkably realistic and it was
illuminating to see the rise and fall of various parts of the system that,
unfortunately, the extended elevation of the
173. An Important Addition to the Library: We are already blessed with a reasonable
collection of C.D.G. records of the 1944 to 1950 vintage, but Tony Johnson's
recent gift makes it even more impressive. A large collection of newspaper cuttings,
mainly of the Marriott death and explorations in Peak Cavern. There is also ample coverage of the
archaeological remains found in the Witch's Kitchen at Wookey Hole. Also included in the file is a collection of press
photographs (originals) of the Wookey archaeological exercise and the swimming
pool training dives for Operation Vernon (the attack on sump 2 in Swildons.) For older members, here are superb photographs
of the young Hasell, Coase, Lucy, Setterington, Pain etc. Copies of the photographs will be made and
hung in the Belfry. This file will be
available to members for inspection only and our thanks are due to Tony for a
very fine gift. Any members having
similar material are asked to consider giving it to the club library.