Belfry Bulletin Number 082

BB82/1

“B

B”

THE BELFRY BULLETIN JOURNAL OF THE BRISTOL EXPLORATION CLUB Vol. 8 No.82

June 1955

Caving Report. January to June 1954. by ‘Alfie’ According to the usual custom very little caving was done before Easter, although according to the Log, I should imagine that the amount of activity compared favourably with similar periods in the past. Trips entered before Easter included a G.B.; three Full Swildons; Three top of Swildons; the Burrington Caves and a top of Eastwater.

The main features of the Easter Weekend were two Cuthbert’s trips on Good Friday and Easter Sunday which were the first photographic trips down this cave. Three Swildons trips, two Eastwater and a G.B. completed the weekend. Visitors included bods from Reading University and several Derbyshire types.

Between Easter and Whitsun trips included two Full Swildons, a Goatchurch and an August Hole.

The shocking weather at Whitsun cut down caving considerably, but another Cuthbert’s trip took place, also a Swildons and an Eastwater.

The Redcliffe surveying restarted on 9th of April and has been progressing steadily. Plane tabling of detail is almost complete and final detail sheets are being prepared of most sections of the system. As the overlaying road plan is received, the final map will be started on. This is going to be drawn on a scale of 1:200.

Future caving events include a scheme to dig out Hunters Hole during the last week in July. Also, if anyone feels like a dig immediately after August Bank and would like to contact me, I have details of a very promising Swallet on Eastern Mendip which might go with quite a small amount of digging.

‘Alfie’ ******************************************* “Conversation Place” Present – Mik Jones, Judy Osborn & Dave England.

Jones: -“When we’ve got a place of our own we’ll have a dirty great work-shop in the garden”.

England: - “There’ll be enough dirty work going on without having a special shop for it”. ******************************************** Change of Address May we stress to all members that if you change your address it is essential that you inform us as soon as possible. We’re overworked, not paid and we’re not psychic either. Sorting out grouses wastes time that we can’t afford, especially when they are about non-receipt of BB that is solely due to the person concerned forgetting to tell us that he has moved.

K.C.D.

BB82/2 Forestry.

A number of young trees have been planted near the Belfry. We hope that in the future they will replace those used to grace the site. May we request that members do not interfere with these trees and exercise care if and when they move amongst them. They are chestnut and pine and are planted mostly near the walls. ********************************************* Climbing Section We now have no climbing hut in North Wales. accommodation please contact Pat Ifold.

If you require further details or alternative

********************************************** Additions to Club Library.

B.C. & C.C. Journal Vol. 3. No. 3 Mch. ‘54 B.C. & C.C. Journal Vol. 3. No. 4 Apl. ‘54 B.C. & C.C. Journal Vol. 3. No. 5 May ‘54 N.S.S. Newsletter Vol.12. No.3 Mch. ‘54 N.S.S. Newsletter Vol.12. No.4 Apl. ‘54 Bulletin 15 of N.S.S. W.S.G. Newsletter No.28. Oct.’53 W.S.G. Newsletter No.30. Dec.’53 W.S.G. Newsletter No.32. Feb.’54 W.S.G. Newsletter No.34. Apl.’54 W.C.C. Newsletter No.44. 1954 S.W.C.C. Newsletter No. 7, Jan 1954 J. Ifold *********************************************** A ‘Pongo’ Book Review ‘The Darkness Under the Earth’ by Norbert Casteret.

(Dent, 15/-).

The publication of a new book by Casteret is always an event though many people feel that none of his books have come up to the standard of ‘Ten Years under the Earth’.

‘The Darkness under the Earth’ consists of two halves – or rather about 1/5 and 4/5. The first part is called ‘The Joys of Speleology’ and is concerned with the exploration of a number of ice caves on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees.

The second part – ‘The Dangers of Speleology’ – is a catalogue of the accidents which have befallen people in caves. It makes rather doleful reading, but the repetition of accident after accident is certainly very effective in making the author’s point that although some accidents are due to bad luck, in most cases they could have been avoided, or the consequences minimised. Casteret does not pretend that he has never done any of the foolish things he writes about – he has merely been lucky in avoiding the worst consequences.

Some of the accidents are almost unbelievably foolish. A party went down a pothole, using ropes to get down the pitches. Being short of rope they pulled the ropes down after them when they were all at the bottom! When they did not return a search party set out and eventually found them. They were most annoyed at being searched for and they said that they were quite capable of looking after themselves, in spite of the fact that had been sitting helpless at the bottom of the cave for 30-odd hours.

BB82/3 I hope that the B.E.C. does not need the warnings Casteret gives, but reading through his book should make all of us conscious that caving is not child’s play and that if we want to get home outside of 6 foot box we had better take reasonable precautions.

R.M.W. ****************************************** Kracks in Klassics for Keener Kavers by Prof. Krun Spelunk.

After a Full St.Cuthbert’s.

Ah, my bone ache, my limbs be sore, alas I have the sciatica full evil in my hip.

John Skelton.

New Belfry Illuminations Pendent by subtle magic, many a row of starry blazing lamps fed with naphtha and asphaltus.

John Milton.

Closing Time The Tuneful voice was heard from high, Arise ye more that dead.

John Dryden Sett indulging in Technical Explanation His listening brethren stood around, and, pondering on the faces fell.

Ibid.

On coming off a bike.

Were it not I have a lucky wooden skin, I had been hurt.

William Butler Yeats.

New system of Jobs at the Belfry.

I am sent with broom before To sweep the dust behind the door.

Shakespeare.

Belfry Stew.

Thou comest in such questionable shape.

Ibid.

Waiting to use the stove.

And now about the cauldron sing Like elves and fairies in a ring.

Ibid.

N.B. Prof. Krun. Spelunk graduated from Nine Barrows College (Prodd) in 1945 with first class honours in Mendip Folklore and Cave economics. He has published several papers, most of which are buried in the field behind the Belfry.

BB82/4 It is a very long time ago that a membership list was published in the BB. There must be a large number of members who have no idea where some of their ‘oppos’ live or if there are other members ‘around the corner’ from them. Consequently I propose to publish each month (providing of course that I receive them) lists of member, their membership numbers and their addresses. Regarding the latter item I would refer you gentle reader, to page one of this issue. These lists will be printed in alphabetical order to avoid any recriminations from anyone who may be tempted to think that his (or her) name should ‘go in’ before anyone else's.

T.H. Stanbury.

Membership list No. 1 1954. .

D. Ackland A. Ball Roy Bennett J. Buxton S. Bowden-Lyle Ray Brain Viv. Brown Don & Clare Coase Tony Crawford R.E. Collier

No.301 No.295 No.214 No.201 No.145 No.36 No.270 Nos34 & 211 No.71 No.302

94, Grittleton Road, Horfield, Bristol. 7.

36, Manchester Road, Stockport, Cheshire.

37, Queens Road, Ashley, Nr. Bristol.

Nr. Ashbourne, Derbyshire 185, Church Road, Redfield, Bristol.

10, Weston Ave., Cossham Road, St. Georges, Bristol.

1, Luccombe Hill, Redland, Bristol. 6.

Batsford, Lower Failand, Nr. Bristol.

10, Elm Close, Hendon, London, N.W.4.

35, Swiss Drive, Ashton Vale, Bristol. 8.

****************************************** Request.

Although it is only June thoughts are already turning towards the Xmas BB. There is very little for it yet, but I am hoping to produce an even larger one than last year's, providing that I receive suitable material. So start early this time and send in contributions as soon as you can, and anyway not later than the second week in November. If your contribution is especially for the Xmas issue please mark the MSS ‘XMAS ISSUE’ at the top so will not be disappointed.

T.H.S. T.H. Stanbury Hon. Ed. 48 Novers Park Road, Knowle, Bristol. 4.

K.C. Dobbs Esq:, B.B. Distribution, 55 Broadfield Road, Bristol .4.