Belfry Bulletin Number 107

Belfry Bulletin THE BELFRY BULLETIN JOURNAL OF THE BRISTOL EXPLORATION CLUB Volume 10 No.107

November 1956.

WHY NOT COME CAVING?

This was the poster that appeared on the front of a lorry in the recent Frome Carnival.

Three weeks before the Carnival there was a gathering of the Clan of ‘Browne’s Hole’ at which Mr. Browne made his annual suggestion of putting a ‘Caving Tableau’ in the Carnival. Much to his surprise, everyone agreed.

Several suggestions as to the form of the Tableau were put forward, the one which was finally agreed upon was a reconstruction of ‘Swildons Forty’.

Three days before the Carnival the exhibit was began. Ladders formed the main support, covered by old sacks sewn together.

Owing to the shortage of materials red dust was used to darken Snowcem, and it was applied by hand (literally).

The waterfall effects were supplied by a stirrup pump and a large tank of water. The water was pumped inside the construction and allowed to fall outside into the tank, forming as continuous cycle. The last paint was applied ten minutes before we left. We put on normal (?) caving gear and set off six minutes after we were due to be judged.

The whole (Hole) construction was 18 feet and we went under a 17ft. bridge! We arrived at the field nailing the top of the exhibit together, and expecting to be thrown out for bringing such a disgusting tangle of sacks and snowcem. The diver on the back of the lorry had just soaked the judges when we were awarded first prize of our class (Youth Organisation).

One member of fell off the lorry in his haste to get the prize card. After being photographed we set off at the head of the procession. Two days later it was noticed in an evening paper that we had won the ‘Jennings Cup’ for the best exhibit in the Carnival and Official notice was received four days later.

Anyone wishing to hear more about this should come to ‘Browne’s Hole’ any Sunday after 11am or phone Underworld 7.7.7.

D.W. Mitchell F.H. Nicholson o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

1, Kensington Place Clifton Bristol 8.

13th September 1956 To the Editor Dear Sir, As Caving secretary of the B.E.C. I should like to take this opportunity of replying to the letter written by Johnny Skinner which was published in BB105.

All the arguments he uses and points which he makes are of long standing, and without boring blokes by wittering for hours and quoting all sorts of guff, I think that the crux of the matter is simply this:The general membership of the B.E.C. has shown itself in the past to be very much opposed to any form of organised caving. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Over the last four years we have opened up four caves of varying size and one a fair amount of general caving as well. Whether we want to get organised is, as Skinner has pointed out, a matter for the Club to decide. The members of the committee exist merely to carry out the wishes of the Club on such points, and not to impose their own theories on the members of the club.

One last point I should like to make. Any member wishing to find out the feelings of the club on such a subject has only to make a resolution to the effect that the committee be instructed to follow a certain line of action and he can have it voted on at the next A.G.M. If a majority decide in favour, then his resolution becomes the policy of the club on the matter.

Whatever criticisms are levelled at the club, we do pride ourselves on being a thoroughly democratic organisation whose committee acts on the instruction of the membership – a state of affairs which is by no means found in all clubs. Thus any change in the caving organisation of the club is, as Skinner has rightly pointed out, entirely in the hands of the members: I shall be interested to hear further on this subject and I am quite prepared to do any organising provided this is wanted.

Yours Sincerely, ‘Alfie’ Collins Caving Secretary. o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o University of Bristol SPELAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Session October 1956 – March 1957 Meetings.

Tutorial Classes.

‘An Introduction to Prehistory’ by Mr. Arthur M. A. Simon (Institute of Archaeology University of London) 8.15pm. Fridays October 12, 19 and 25th and November 9th 1956.

These meetings will be held in the Society’s own rooms and will be illustrated by lantern slides. As accommodation is limited these classes will only be open in general to members. Others may attend by invitation or by application to the Hon. Secretary.

SESSIONAL MEETINGS.

BB107/3 These will be held on Mondays at 8.15pm in the Geography Lecture Theatre. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. All the lectures will be illustrated by lantern slides.

Entrance along carriage way from University Road, fourth door on left.

October 29th 1956

Professor F.E. Zeuner, D.Sc. Ph. F.S.A. F.G.S. F.Z.S. “The Rock Tombs of Jericho”

November 29th 1956

Mr. H.St. George Gray, O.B.E. M.A. F.S.A. “The Lake Villages of Somerset”

December 29th 1956

Mr. A.D. Lacaille, F.S.A. “Caldy Island”

January 29th 1956

Mr. R.J.G. Savage, Ph.D. “Adam’s African Ancestors”

February 29th 1956

Mr. J.C. Coleman “Irish Cave Exploration A Review”

February 29th 1956

Mr. Nicholas Thomas M.A. “Excavations at Snail Down”

March 29th 1956

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Presidential Address ‘Wookey Hole cave’ o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o CLIMBING HUTS IN WALES.

The Cread Mountaineering Club has very kindly offered B.E.C. members the use of its Hut in Wales.

The Hut was at one time a Vicarage and is a large stone building standing in its own grounds above the Afon Dwyfer.

Position.

O.S. 1” map 107 or 116 grid Ref. 524453. Turn off the main Caernarvon – Portmadoc Road A4085 at Dolbenmaen. At Port Gyfyng an under faced road leads off left over a bridge and across a field to the Hut. Accommodation.

Lounge, dining room, two kitchens, drying room, bathroom etc. 5 bedrooms (30 people). Bring sleeping bags.

Lighting by Tilley lamp, cooking by Calor gas and Primus stoves.

Hot water, coal, coke, wood, paraffin, crockery, pans, cutlery etc. is provided.

Charge.

3/6 per night.

The address: - BRYN-Y-WERN, CWM PENNANT, GARN DOLBENMAEN, CAERNS. Pat Ifold will arrange bookings for those wishing to avail themselves of this kind invitation.

BB107/4 Also there is in the Nant Ffrancon Valley a farmer who is pleased to provide accommodation for B.E.C. members. A small room and barns and outhouses are available at a charge of 2/- per night. No equipment is provided.

The address: - (Bookings direct) Mr. Jones GWERN-EGOF-ISAF, NANT FFRANCON VALLEY, NR. CAPEL CURIG, NORTH WALES. Please brush floors and leave place tidy as it is a good plan to leave other people’s ‘door-steps’ clean for the next visit.

Pat Ifold. o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF PEN PARK HOLE Sanction has been given by the Corporation of Bristol to excavate Pen Park Hole, the location of which has recently been re-determined by Professor L.S. Palmer. A geo-electrical survey was carried out and the results disclosed the presence of a large cave with several associated passages and with some water in the bottom. It is proposed to excavate one of the filled-in entrances (probably an old mine shaft) and then to explore and survey the cave. The possibility of making it a show cave is a matter for further consideration.

At the invitation of the Corporation, Professor Palmer has agreed to organise and direct this work, and he has very kindly requested the Bristol Exploration Club, the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society and the Wessex Cave Club to participate in a joint dig.

To enable the work to be started as soon as possible the following appointments were proposed by Professor Palmer.

Director Assistant Director Pen Park Hole Dig Secretary Co-ordinating Engineer Equipment Officer

Professor L.S. Palmer Professor E.K. Tratman Mr. R.J. Bagshaw Mr. P. Dolphin Lt. T. Shaw

It is intended that the work should be carried out under the control of a leader from each of the three clubs on the basis of the accompanying roster. The leaders would organise the work during their week with Mr. Dolphin as co-ordinating engineer.

To simplify this organisation it is suggested that a party of say no more than six persons would be arranged by the leader from his own club, but could of course ask one of the other leaders for any additional workers required.

Before work could be started ‘Blood Chits’ would have to be signed and it is suggested that the leaders are authorised by their clubs to ask only suitable persons to sign. The completed blood chits would be forwarded to the Dig Secretary to enable him to keep a record of the persons allowed to dig and to ensure that only one blood chit would be signed by any one person (who would then be considered for the purposes of the dig, as a member of the issuing club only).

At the present time and until appropriate facilities are provided it is not Proposed to invite lady members to take part in the preliminary excavations.

It is suggested that the financial expenses of the dig should be met by the three clubs, but the City Engineer has promised valuable assistance with fencing the site, timbering the shaft etc. The actual area to

BB107/5 be fenced will probably be decided on Wednesday next the 19th September. It is probable that a small borehole will be drilled where the dome of the main chamber is believed to exist. o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o