Belfry Bulletin Number 136

No. 136

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EDITORIAL Words have been written in this space before now on the desirability of maintaining some sort of balance in the B.B. between the varied subjects appearing in it. What we would like to see each month is a nice blend of serious articles on caving, climbing, archaeology and other types of scientific nature, mixed with lighter articles and humour. As it is, we have to print whatever members and others send us and although we try to ration out the material we have, so that too much of anyone type of article does not appear in any one B.B., we cannot always do this. At the moment, we are getting rather too few of the more serious types of contribution and hence the B.B. is becoming unbalanced. We would sooner continue to print original articles, than have to rely on reprinting from old B.B.'s or other sources, so please, blokes, send in a few learned dissertations for the general uplift of the B.B. " Alfie. " _______________________________________________________________________________________

CAVING 1st March

7th March.

21st March 22nd March.

26th March.

27th March.

28th March.

29th March.

1st April.

5th April.

11th April.

12th April.

LOG

Alfies Hole. Working party. This included three Hut Wardens (Wally, Mike Holland and Alfie). Mike Holland uncovered a second crack in the floor of the chamber going straight down (the crack, not Mike Holland!)

St. Cuthbert's. Party including Mike Wheadon, Mike Holland, D. Farr, M. Bywater, Prew and one other. Descended to Dining Room. Phone Checked and receiver found D/S. party came out via Bypass Passage, Lower Traverse Chamber and Lower Bud Hall. Total time 5hrs. N.B. The telephone was found later to be completely corroded. The receiver unit has now been repaired and moulded in Araldite. A new microphone is being obtained.

G.B. Club Trip. Main party of 7 members went in via Devil's Elbow. Alfie and Jill did a photographic trip.

Swildons. Top of Swildons by Ian Dear and 2 Weymouth Rover scouts. Pleasant trip of high educational value to the two scouts.

Eastwater. Tony O'Flaherty and Ralph Lewis. A pleasant trip.

Eastwater. Tony O' Flaherty, Ralph Lewis and 4 members of B.C.S.S. Dolphin route to second bold step. Introduction of 4 to ladder work. Went a different way through Boulder Ruckle. 7 minutes from Boulder Chamber to the surface.

Swildon's IV. Dave Hoskyns, Barry Tiddler and Ray from Liverpool. Water conditions very good but found high flood level in 4.

St. Cuthbert’s. Alan and Carol Sandall. High Chamber, Curtain Chamber, Everest, Fingers, Cascade and out.

St. Cuthbert’s. Roger Stenner, Tony O’Flaherty, Rowena, Mike Baker and two others. As above without High Chamber.

Cuckoo Cleeves. Keith Gladman and Martin O’Neill. Went on until it got too tight.

St. Cuthbert’s. Bryan Ellis and Chris Falshaw. Spent four hours surveying in Upper Traverse Chamber without any startling new discoveries being made.

St Cuthbert's. Tourist including Catgut and September Series. Out via Lower Traverse Chamber and Lower Mud Hall. It seems the telephone reception is perfect in the dining room and nil in the Belfry.

Swildons. Tourist trip by Mike Baker - closely followed by Tony O'Flaherty.

St. Cuthbert's. Al Francis, Gerry Wright and Mike Wheadon. Went to find Coral Series.

Not quite sure what we did find.

Hunter's Hole. Leader, Ian Dear. Party included Chris Falshaw, Prew, Vivienne PreFalshaw and Jill (by permission of Alfies Hole Inc.) Chris and party pressed on in Dear's Ideal until prudence decided them to let the boulders settle down for a while. Digging then continued in the Railway Tunnel.

Swildons. Dave Hoskyns and party of 12 visited the sump and upper grottoes.

St. Cuthbert’s. Surveying Trip starting from entrance. Alfie, Jill, Dave Hoskyns and Colin. St. Cuthbert's. Leader Roger Stenner. Via Cascade through to the fingers. Back to Quarry Corner, Everest Passage and the Dining Room. Tried to ladder Stal Pitch - ladder too short. On way out, amazing straw noted in Pillar Chamber. P.S. Nife Cells are a nuisance.

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No. 136

18th April.

St. Cuthbert's. Leader Alan Sandall. Tourist trip with Cathedral Caving Club to most of the main features. N.B. Nife Cells are wonderful for use in St. Cuthbert's.

19th April.

St. Cuthbert's. Trip to September Series led by Mike Wheadon. Via Sentry Passage, Stream Passage to Dining Room, Rabbit Warren, Catgut, September Series and out via High Chamber. The profusion of formations in the September Series was really staggering.

St. Cuthbert's. Leader Norman Petty. Party from Clifton School.

26th April.

Goatchurch. A party led by Tiddler and consisting of Mo Marriot, Colin Smith and Ian Dear spent three hours rediscovering the intricacies of this delightful cave.

Hunter's Hole. Leader, Ian Dear. Further work in the Railway Tunnel and examination of Dear's Ideal which looks very promising. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Archaeology Keith Gardner, our tame Archaeologist, is the Secretary of the Clevedon arid District Archaeological Society, and sends us this note, which may be of interest to readers of the B.E.C..

CADBURY CAMP, YATTON Excavation will commence on the morning of Saturday 9th May (O.S. Grid Ref. ST/440.650.) The camp occupies the summit of a limestone hill, is defended by a double (?) line of ditch and bank, and is presumably early Iron Age in date.

Many Roman remains have been discovered round the hill, and in 1877, a Roman burial, a coin, Samian Ware, Castor Ware, and roofing tiles were found on the North side of the hilltop. The latter particularly, were regarded as suggestive of the presence of a substantial building.

An attempt will be made to locate this building, and also to gain evidence of the Iron Age occupation, by making a series of small cuttings over a large area.

Work will continue over May and early June, and arrangements can be made for those wishing to camp.

Facilities are available for those who would like to fly the site. The cost will be 7/6 per person. _______________________________________________________________________________________ U.S.S.R. Siberian Salt & Nut Factory, Spelaeological Society, Siberial, Russial.

Dera Sur, With regard to the letter published in the B.B. from the Kornish Kave Klub, I would like to clear up the darkness regarding the ownership of the cave in question. In the manner of the imperialistic clubs throughout the world, this club is guilty of enticing away of the cave from the U.S.S.R. Only three months ago, a party of cavers from the above factory went out in the usual weekend way to spend their leisure hours in this old established Russian Cave and found to their horror that it had gone.

We believe that it was coaxed and cajoled away by means of subversive propaganda regarding lighting and concrete floors and hope that it will be returned to us without delay. Will you please therefore send our cave back parcel post at your convenience, within the next week or so. We hope to receive it in good condition, that is, without damage caused by the bloated capitalist boots of your members. If, however any damage is found on inspection, we shall claim through the Cave Insurance Co of the U.S.S.R. The Red Flag for ever, Up Checkov.

I am, sur, The Servant of the state, Ivan Ivanovitch Ivanovitchsky Popolofshichechipolishzxi.

The above letter, in spite of its formidable signature, comes in fact from Anne Gardner

No. 136

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THE K.K.K. The letter last month from the Kornish Kave Klub seems to have provoked the young ladies of our club to reply. Here are letters received from two of them, one on the previous page:The Editor, Belfry Bulletin.

Ignoring Mr. Dawe's remarks about the origin of St. Cuthbert's Swallet, which are absurd, I must protest at the slighting reference to 'faithless Englishwomen' in his recent letter. (Incidentally, the word “English� is written with a capital E and Mr. Dawe may like to note the shape of this letter, which is obviously new to him.

Englishwomen are usually faithful to their menfolk, and Mr. Dawe should not generalise from a particular case. Any unfortunate English maiden espoused to a Kornish Cing, and no doubt tormented by piskeys, should not be blamed if she prefers to return to her natural level of culture and elope with one who reminds her of a worthy Englishman.

The conditions in the small territory across the rivulet whose name escapes me at present, but which debouches (*) into Plymouth, may be imagined from its place-names, such as Hells Town, Lost-with-all, and Foulmouth which still survive in a modified form.

Kornwall is notorious for its wild animals, which have remained wild since they were first included in the rites of the furry dance. If Cing Arthur refused even to be buried there, he could scarcely expect his wife to live amongst those primitive and uneducated barbarians, next door to the Untied States.

It is surely not praiseworthy to accept inferior standards when one can raise oneself to a better level and I feel that Guinevere was fully justified in her flight towards a less rude domicile.

Yours Respectfully, Jill Rollason. (*) Debouch. c.f. Debauch, v.t. Debauchery n. These words became confused by the Early English who came frequently into contact with the Trans-Tamarian aborigines. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Persona1 We hear on good authority that JOHN LAMB will shortly be back amongst us for a visit.

Mervyn Hannam was recently married, Ian Dear acting as best man. Congratulations, Merv.

SID HOBBS has offered to make a collection of limericks for the club. If any member thinks they know one that Sid won1t have heard, he would be obliged if they would get in touch. _______________________________________________________________________________________

COMMITTEE MEETING The April Meeting of the B.E.C. Committee gave Mo their permission to continue to buy lamps and spares from the cash already received. This will ensure that a supply of these is always available. An offer has been received for the making of club car and bike badges which will be taken up. The doors are now fitted to the kitchen cupboards. It was agreed to urge the obtaining of mains water for the Belfry. Nigel Clarke and Rowena Lewis were elected as full members of the club.

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No. 136

SONNET For full a dozen years I've often sat Beside Ben's table in the cavers bar.

Played Hunter's Bridge on it, or stood a jar Of ale to rest upon its surface flat.

With Beer and Screech t'was impregnated deep No wood worm could attack its innards tough Around it we would play at Card'nal Puff While Johnny Lamb would underneath it creep.

Alas! Last week a dreadful thing befell.

Quite suddenly, for everyone to see The table split across from A to B, Upsetting glasses, bods and booze as well.

I wonder if the table's final role Will be to act as shoring in a hole? _______________________________________________________________________________________ ODD REMINDERS Lamp spares are now on sale at the Belfry. Apply to the Hut Warden for details.

The club's offer of free colour file for taking pictures of caves for the club's use still stands. The club will also pay half the cost of a film taken on a one-for-me-and-one-for-the-club basis. Impecunious gentlemen will have to make their own arrangements with Mr. Bagshaw about the cost of flashbulbs.

The club tent is available for hire by the weekend or longer periods. Norman Petty is the chap to see about this.

HAVE YOU PAID YOUR SUB??? SEND IT STRAIGHT TO BOB. _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Belfry Bulletin. S.J. Collins, 33 Richmond Terrace, Clifton, Bristol 8.

Secretary. R.J. Bagshaw, 699 Wells Road, Knowle, Bristol 4.