Belfry Bulletin Number 139

No. 139

Page 1

Editorial August being the month when most people get their holidays, the B.B. is usually typed and duplicated in odd moments. For this reason, at the time of writing this, we have very little idea of what the contents of this B.B. will be. We do know that it will contain more than last month's skinny effort.

The B.B. Board has tended to change its composition of late. Bob Price, who finds himself very busy with domestic matters, and "Spike", who is having to put in a lot of hours at his job, are not now available.

We thus welcome the offer of help from Roger Stenner and Anne Gardner, who have volunteered to help out with the B.B. production. The postal Department, under Prew" and Tony O'Flaherty still continues, we hope, to flourish.

Finally, we should like to thank Bryan Ellis for his very considerable help. Not only has he recently edited and produced the B.B. Digest No 1, an index of the first hundred B.B's (copies of which are available free to any member who can collect one) and is now working on a second Digest, but in addition he has arranged for the new shape B.B. which will be starting next year, to get off to a flying start by relieving us of some of our problems. Thank you very much, Bryan!

“Alfie." _______________________________________________________________________________________

NOTICES B.B. Digest, No 1. Some people have already booked one of these, and others have sent in the money as well. Since it may not be possible to send out all of them at once, a list of those who have booked and/or paid will be found below. If your name is not here, and you want one, let us know soon! If you have paid and we haven't received it, let us know even sooner!!

Booked but not paid. (l) "Prew". (2) Chris Falshaw. (3) "Sett". (4) "Mo". (5) Roger Stenner. (6) Colin Smith. (7) "Alfie".

(8) Jill. (9) Frank Darbon. (10) Bryan Scott.

Booked and paid.

(11) Alan Coase. (12) "Totty". (13) George Honey. (14) C.R.G. Library. (15) Jim Pembry.

It is hoped to be able to supply all the people whose names appear on these lists within the next week or so .

A.G.M. & DINNER. The Annual General Meeting for 1959 will be held on Saturday, October 4 and will be followed, as usual, by the Annual Dinner which will be held at the Cliff Hotel at Cheddar. This is an early advance warning so that you can keep this weekend free.

Nomination Forms. A nomination form will be found with this B.B. Members are reminded that nominations must reach the Hon. Sec. at least three week’s before the A.G.M. In order to comply with articles 6 & 7 of the club constitution, the September B.B. will be published late, on Thursday September 17th. _______________________________________________________________________________________ DON'T FORGET ... The date of the A.G.M. and dinner….to send in your nomination form……to order a B.B. Digest if you want one ..... and to settle your Belfry account by the end of September

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No. 139

Caving

Log

For June and July 6th June.

13th June.

21st June.

27th June.

28th June.

4th July.

5th July.

11th July.

12th July 13th July.

19th July.

St. Cuthbert’s. Johns Stafford and Attwood, The Bennetts, Colburn and Kangy did a 5½ hr round trip via Dining Room, Rabbit Warren Extension, Crossleg Crawl, Catgut, September Series, High Chamber and out. Disappointed to find formations are not being treated with respect. Brought out empty carbide tines and chocolate papers from High Chamber. Suggest more care be taken.

St. Cuthbert’s. Mike Thompson, Ken Dawe, Gerry Wright, Chris Falshaw and Mo. Down to the first sump via Pulpit route. Through first sump to second. Digging commenced in passage to left of sump itself. Roof appears to be descending but still carries on. Conditions in dig b+++y awful. Norman Petty joined us later on in the afternoon. Digging was also commenced in roof of stream passage between sumps and ceased when air became foul (due to many bods smoking). Party then left.

St. Cuthbert's. Roger Stenner, Sid Hobbs, Scottie and party. Scottie brought up the telephone for servicing. Roger and Sid started Rabbit Warren survey. Wire broke in Wire Rift during the trip.

Swildons. (late entry dated 6/6). Party, Steve Woolford, ‘Jim’, Rowena, Anthony O'F. Leisurely. Very leisurely. Point of return determined wholly by promise of free beer. We missed it.

Emborough. Cunning boulder juggling by Eric Towler resulted in a fine new entrance. Rock at bottom must now be removed.

Cuckoo Cleeves. It was reported by a would be party that the entrance shaft has now run in too far for the cave to be entered.

Cuthbert's. Magnetic survey of entrance passage by Alfie & Jill and repair of the phone cable

by Prew. Jill did Ochre Rift on the way out.

Eastwater. Dolphin Pot to Ifold's Series. Interesting cul-de-sac off beaten track. A. O’Flaherty, Rowena + 1. Party later amalgamated with Philip Iles (?) and Co. St. Cuthbert’s. Roger Stenner + 4. J. Tucker photographing using a Leica with two lenses. To Curtain Chamber, back to Cascade Passage. Photographed Fingers. Then down Rabbit Warren (Far entrance in Cascade Passage) and into R.W. Extension. Back to Dining Room, where we were joined by Alan Colburn who had come down looking for Mo. Out via Everest.

St. Cuthbert's. Mo + 4. Tourist trip to sump.

Swildons. A. O'F., Rowena and 3 guests. To 1st sump. Returning via Long Dry Way. Much enthusiasm.

Eastwater. Dolphin, Two Verticals, round trip. A. O'Flaherty & Rowena in conjunction with Mike Holland and 4 Wessex members.

Swildons. Ian Brown, Roger Wakefield, P. Stone + 4. To first sump via Wet Way and Barnes Loop. Returned same way. Considering size and inexperience of party, the ease and speed of the trip was to be marvelled at. No snags at all. It was noticed that the cave was almost dry, only a trickle going over the forty.

Stoke Lane. Short photographic to the Crypt. Alfie, Jill and Prew. Out for Free Beer.

Emborough. Rock blocking way on removed. The cave still survives.

St. Cuthbert’s. A Monday Night trip. To September Series with Mike Wheadon, D. Ford, G. Candy, D. Farr, Mike and Prew. Returned via Harem passage and Cascade Chamber. G. Candy noticed several forms of Cave Fauna. M. Wheadon says that from now on he caves only under protest.

Stoke Lane. Roy Bennett, Mo Marriott, Norman Petty, Johns Attwood, Eatough and Stafford, and four others on a trip intended to be a photographic one but which ended as a tourist trip.

Sump cold and miserable, otherwise a very interesting trip. Throne Room and Bone Chamber very impressive.

No. 139

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We have just received an article from Johnny Lamb, who is, of course, in New Zealand – where Lamb comes from.

A WEEGEE IN NEW ZEALAND My first impression of New Zealand was that the countryside was very much like England. But when you set away from the farmland and into the native bush, it appears sub tropical, with Fern Trees, Cabbage trees and tall Kouri forest. The are still large areas of this unclaimed land, although land reclamation is going on all over the country.

For B.E.C. types, New Zealand offers a good many attractions. There arc several areas where caves are to be found. Waitomo is the most famous. There is an active caving club here that is engaged in exploring these caves, many of which have never been entered. The only caving I have done over here is a trip to the glow worm grotto at Waitomo. The glow worms were very impressive but the interest of the cave was rather dull with very few formations.

There is also climbing in North Island around Mount Ruapahu (9,000 ft) and there are a few Alpine and Ski Clubs. There is also excellent climbing and mountaineering to be had in the Southern Alps, with Mount Cook the highest mountain (12,350 ft). Skiing is a very popular sport here and the big resort is easily reached being in. the centre of North Island near Mt. Ruapehu overlooking the active volcano Mt Ngaurahoe.

About sixty miles from Mount Ruapahu is Lake Toupo which is New Zealand's largest lake. The trout fishing here is reputed to be the finest of its type in the world. All around the shores of the lake there is deer and pig hunting to be had. There is no close season for deer in New Zealand, as they are considered to be vermin.

The weather is ideal for motorcycling, especially in summer, when only a shirt and shorts are needed.

The roads, on the other hand, are very poor. Many are of loose gravel and call for great care, as "Spike" will tell you! For the tourist, or Weegie, there is a lot more of general interest. There are several active volcanoes and a large number of thermal regions. You must have your own transport, or it impossible to visit many of these beauty spots.

Having an idle nature, most of my spare time is spent lazing on one of the many wonderful beaches where there is good surfing and safe swimming. Also, there is big game, fishing for Blue Marlin which is quite cheap to take part in.

The big disadvantage from the B.E.C. member's point of view is the social side. There is no equivalent of the “Hunters” here. The high pressure, super-speed drinking houses shut at 6 pm, although I am told that the situation is better in the South Island. I hope to find out soon and also get a look at the Southern Alps. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Speleological Air Surveying Several enquiries, received as a result of the comment in the B.B. that a plane was available to Clevedon Archaeological Society, brought the realization that the principles of aerial survey and photography as applied to archaeology would be quite simply adapted to speleology.

The perspective view, for example, of converging lines of drainage, perhaps unnoticed on the ground, could well lead to the discovery of new sink holes. An hour's flying could do the work of months of field survey. The cost is low, purely that of running the plane from Lulsgate. Three people including pilot for 15/- for half an hour. This covers 60 miles. 1 mile for 3d. Cheaper than the bus!

Enquiries to Keith Gardner.

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No. 139

CADBURY CAMP The trial excavations recently announced in the B.B. as taking place at Cadbury Camp, Yatton, have now been successfully concluded, with the able "assistance" of certain members of the B.E.C. This assistance was of a varied nature and included the services of a runner between the site and the 'Prince of Orange'.

Work was further impeded by the constant flow of highly improbable anecdotes and such amusing interludes as the writer removing his finger nail with a pick axe.

Several new features of the camp were noted and surveyed, including a number of primitive hut sites and a pair of gate houses guarding the main entrance on the N.E. Trenches were put through one of the latter and pottery of the early Iron Age was found, together with other rubbish piled against the outer wall. Other trenches in the central area produced some shards of Roman pottery (although no sign of the suspected Roman building was found) and a very fine Bronze Age arrowhead. The most interesting remains, however, were shards of Dark Age pottery imported from the Mediterranean in the 5/6th Cents.

This period, following the collapse of official Roman authority, but preceding the foundation of Saxon cultural life, was one of chaotic turbulence producing many legendary figures the most famous of which was Arthur. It seems as if Cadbury, a pre-Roman hill fort, was re-occupied in the Dark Ages, possibly as a stronghold against the Saxons. A central stone "Motte" (with a 13th Cent, Coin) may be the result of this secondary occupation and presents a great point of interest for future work.

K.S.Gardner. * Members will be glad to learn that they were the remains of wine jars. _______________________________________________________________________________________ ODD FACT. I noticed, on reading the Newsletter of the L.S.G. & C.S.S. the other day, a spelling of a word used by all caving clubs on Mendip which was new to me. I hope they won't mind me commenting, but it was spelt 'ouijee'. The official B.B. version is spelt 'weegee', but I have seen 'weagy', 'weegy' and 'weejy' before now. Does anyone know the correct spelling? There are, naturally, a number of spelling mistakes incorporated into each B.B. as it is felt that this lends a haphazard appearance, but this is one word I would like to take care with. Can anyone tell me?

'Harassed Editor.' _______________________________________________________________________________________ The OREAD MOUNTAINEERING CLUB have a new club hut at RHYN DDU, on the south slopes of Snowdon. B.E.C. members are welcome. The charge is 3/- per night and bookings should be made to F.C. Allen,69, Brentford Drive, Derby. _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Belfry Bulletin. S.J. Collins, 33 Richmond Terrace, Clifton, Bristol 8.

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