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EDITORIAL Most members will have read, in the June issue of the B.B. a report on a meeting held between representatives of most of the Mendip caving clubs and a representative of the Bristol Waterworks. Again, most members will be familiar by now with the fact that an increasing number of Mendip caves will be eventually owned and controlled by the Waterworks, who are quite prepared to allow caving to continue providing they can deal with a single representative body. This situation was discussed at the last committee meeting at which it was felt that it would be of advantage if we, as a club, could formulate our ideas on the sort of body we should like to see and the way we think it could act as the agent of the Waterworks as an intermediary between it and the caving clubs. To this end, we are publishing this month, an article containing one such suggestion, which we hope will stimulate discussion among members and others. We must make it quite clear, however, that this article expresses the opinions of the author as an individual and should in no way be taken to represent the official views of the B.E.C. committee or the club as a whole. We shall look forward to receiving correspondence as a result of this somewhat controversial article and hope to print as much as possible in next month’s magazine. If there is not room all the replies, a selection will be published concentrating on these putting forward opposing points of view. In any case, all such replies will be handed to the committee, whether published or not. Our Annual General Meeting occurs after next month’s B.B. and before the next meeting with the Waterworks, so that all members will have an opportunity to help formulate the eventual policy of the club on this matter. In view of the importance of this subject, we trust that readers will approve cur decision to devote the main part of this and next month’s B.B. to giving it the good airing we feel it needs at this stage. "Alfie." _______________________________________________________________________________________
AUGUST COMMITTEE MEETING In addition to the subject mentioned above, the August committee meeting discussed the creosoting of the Belfry, the completion of the kitchen renovations, the club projector and the Dinner. The main water will soon be installed, as Bob has received a reply from the council. More C links are available for tackle. Club ties will soon be organised, but not in time for the dinner. It is hoped to get the roof on the new hut before the winter. Work is proceeding on the Coase Memorial Tablet, and the following new members were elected: - R.J.H. Bunce, R. Eyles, R. Casling and A.C. Davidson. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Personal Congratulations to Ken Dobbs on recently becoming a father; George Honey, whose wife has presented him with a second daughter and to Tom and Rusty, who also have a daughter. More congratulations art best wishes to Bob Price and John Stafford on their respective weddings. We don't know if they will be married by the time this B.B. comes out, but they have arranged the usual celebratory barrels of beer for the 26th of September at the Hunter’s! _______________________________________________________________________________________ Classified Advertisements. For Sale: Large box s/c with fittings for spring frame A.M.C. machines. Any offer considered. Get in touch with George Honey, c/o Mr. Giddings, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdonshire.
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No. 140
AN APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF A COMMITTEE TO CONTROL CAVES OWNED BY THE BRISTOL WATERWORKS by S.J. Collins. Before writing the suggestion which follows, the author has assumed several points. summarised formally below:-
There are
1. That the reader is acquainted with the reasons for the necessity of the existence of a single authority to act as agent of the Bristol Waterworks Company. 2. That, while a strict control of their caves may not be required by the Waterworks, it is prudent to assume that it might be, and to work out a method of control which would work in even the most restrictive situation. 3. That the most generally acceptable form of overall authority would take the form of a committee. 4. That, within the framework of such a committee, the individual clubs would wish to preserve their own character and existence, and would wish for a minimum of direction and interference from the committee. 5. That, since no two caves are alike, it is reasonable to suppose that arrangements concerning them may also be unlike each other. 6. That, for the good of caving as a whole, due consideration should be given to the past achievements of individual clubs and to the need for stimulating more discovery, exploration and other work. 7. That, however, certain basic rights of access be accorded to all cavers, whatever their interests, with minimum restriction of freedom or initiative. If the above assumptions are granted, the problem of combining them into one working, practical solution becomes a complicated problem. No apology is therefore made for the complication of the suggestion made later. In particular, the assumptions can only be combined into one suggestion by recognising that some areas of agreement will exist between clubs, and by allowing a solution which permits a degree of disagreement within a general framework of agreement. An idea of the extent to which different approaches exist at the moment will be apparent on examination of individual's views on such questions as the leader system, the relative importance of the preservation of formations against freedom of exploration, and the right of a club to control a cave which it originally discovered. The suggestion which follows admits that such differences exist and outlines a possible method whereby they need pot form an insuperable barrier to the formation of an overall controlling body. The Suggestion. 1. The Committee shall consist of one representative from each of the recognised Mendip caving clubs. Each club shall, however, elect two or even three representatives, only one of whom shall attend any one meeting of the committee. 2. The Committee shall meet quarterly. A chairman shall be taken from the clubs' representatives in rotation. 3. The committee shall elect a secretary, who shall be responsible for recording and distributing all necessary paperwork and arranging dates and places of meetings.
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4. The quorum at such meetings shall be four fifths of the total representation. However, if any club fails to attend two meetings in succession, that club shall be deemed to have attended the second such meeting for the purposes of counting a quorum only. 5. Each club shall register, in writing, the digs on Waterworks property which it is working or intends to work. During the course of such a dig or digs, the working club shall have sole rights with the exception of the provisos in section 9. 6. Other clubs may request permission, at any quarterly meeting, to take over or assist in a dig. The Chairman shall then ask the original club for a statement of progress and future intention. Should any disagreement arise, the matter shall be dealt with in accordance with section 10. 7. A dig shall be known as a cave when either the digging club announce a successful penetration of a reasonable cave system or a simple majority of the committee agree that a cave has, in fact, been entered. 8. At this stage, the club or clubs involved must submit, in writing, a proposal to the committee, and must renew it on demand from the committee thereafter at intervals of not less than six months. The proposal must include the club's arrangements for the distribution of keys and must include access arrangements for other clubs, although this may not necessarily include permanent holding of keys by other clubs at this stage. In all cases of proposed restrictions of any kind, reasons must be given. These may be dictated by the future of the cave, gear left in the cave, etc. 9. In all cases, however, members of other clubs shall have a right to participate in trips organised by the discovering club provided they agree to be bound by any conditions imposed by that club. These conditions shall not include the taking of photographs, on which there shall be no restrictions. Other clubs may also publish accounts or descriptions of trips so undertaken by their members. It should be made clear, however, that the work is not that of their own club by suitable acknowledgements. 10. In all cases, the proposal submitted, and all subsequent proposals, must be agreed by the committee. However, since the proposing club or clubs are likely to wish to included some restrictions, and giving due consideration to the fact that they discovered the cave, the voting shall be biased in favour of the club proposers in such a manner that shall require four fifths of the remaining members of the committee to vote against it before the proposal may be overruled. 11. In the event of a proposal being overruled, the Chairman shall ask for amendments form the floor of the meeting. He may also act as a member and propose an amendment himself. Voting on such amendments shall be in accordance with section 10. 12. In all cases, the Chairman shall also act as a member of the committee. While voting as in section 10, he shall merely exercise his club veto. In all ether cases, he shall also have a casting vote. 13. The arrangements of sections 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 shall be applied by the committee to all existing caves as they come under the ownership of the Waterworks. Where more than one club has been involved in the discovery or enlargement of the system, either a joint proposal or a number of separate proposals may be submitted. In the case of separate proposals, each proposing club shall have voting power as in section 10 divided by the number of clubs involved. 14. Existing caves coming under the ownership of the Waterworks for which no club has any particular claim shall form the subject of a proposal by the committee which shall be agreed by a simple majority vote. 15. The access to any of the Waterworks caves shall be conditional on acceptance of the rulings of the committee at all time and in all cases. ************ I should like to add one last point. As an individual, I should much prefer to see the existing state of affairs go on, and regret the situation which has led to the compiling of the suggestion above. If we have to have some sort of control, however, I think it will have to be on the lines of the above suggestion.
Page 4 We have received the following from Johnny Ifold: -
No. 140
In 1952, a club member had a new Matchless 500 Twin. While running it in, he was pushed over by a cow (one with four legs) and was landed in dock. He now has a 1959 Matchless Twin, and on the 17th June was again pushed over by a cow, but this time didn't land in dock. Why is it that cows like pushing over Matchless Twins? Or is it the rider? Third time lucky! _______________________________________________________________________________________ DON'T FORGET to come to the A.G.M. at 2.30 Saturday, October 3rd at Redcliffe Hall, followed by the Dinner at the Cliff Hotel, Cheddar the same day. _______________________________________________________________________________________
RAIDERS RIFT by Raymond Winch (East Devon Caving Group.) In the autumn of 1956, a group of scout speleos began a systematic search for caves in the limestone area of East Devon. This search is being rewarded with more success than was anticipated. Early this year, others wished to join the work and it was becoming apparent that the original cavers would not longer be able to act together as scouts, so the East Devon Caving group was formed. Where are at present five known caves in the area. Outstanding among them is Raiders Rift (Nat. Grid. 31/052169) which was discovered on February 2nd 1958, under the leadership of Pat Temple-West and Ray Winch. Its original very small entrance was found on a ledge thirty five feet up the exposed face of a quarry. Raiders' Rift is some 1,200 feet in length and consists basically of a number of high narrow rift chambers and tight solution passages running parallel and running about N.W. from the entrance. These are connected at right angles in three places. Above the two principal shafts, which are about two thirds of the way down the cave, there is a good deal of orange flowstone. Below the shafts there is only rock and earth. The cave is comparatively dry. The entrance chamber is some thirty feet high, but can be climbed to a greater height by going round shelves of rock. On the south side of the entrance chamber is a shaft which descends through a small chamber and by a grotto containing helictites to the floor of the Boulder Chamber some twenty seven feet below. Boulder Chamber is by far the finest in the cave. Enormous boulders mount upwards from the bottom of the shaft, and many displaced stalagmite bosses suggest that this chamber once had a false floor, which was later smashed by a great rock fall from the N.W. On the south side is a particular fine flowstone grotto, which descends below the floor to another chamber. Underneath Boulder Chamber is the maze, which consists of a number of muddy crawls and short but steep climbs. Beyond Boulder Chamber are some more spacious chambers. The upper and lower parts of the cave are sharply defined by two pitches of twenty seven and twenty eight feet, which lead into two parallel rift chambers. These are connected at the far end. The highest of these rifts is fifty feet. Eventually the cave terminates in a tight passage which runs along the anticline and is perpendicular to the general lie of the cave. This passage is itself crossed by three small rifts and bridged by two others. There are several likely places in which the cave may be extended. Notably at the S.W. end of anticline passage and downwards at the junction of the two major rifts. A grade 5 survey has been completed by Phillippe Trabes. A simplification of the plan from this survey will be found on page 5 of this B.B. Survey sheets can be obtained from the E.D.C.G. price 5/Unfortunately, Raiders Rift is situated in an active quarry. Already blasting has affected the Entrance Chamber to a considerable extent. The quarry owners insist that cavers should give notice of their visits to the rifts. E.D.C.G. would be grateful if visitors would co-operate by first getting in touch with the secretary, Raymond Winch, 1 Stanley Villa, Crewkerne Road, Chard, Somerset.
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No. 140 THE BRISTOL EXPLORATION CLUB
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD AT REDCLIFFE COMMUNITY CENTRE AT 2.15PM ON SAT. 3RD OCTOBER 1959 AGENDA 1. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN 2. COLLECTION OF BALLOT PAPERS 3. COLLECTION OF MEMBER’S RESOLUTIONS 4. ELECTION OF TELLERS FOR BALLOT 5. ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF LAST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 6. HON. SECRETARY’S REPORT 7. HON. TREASURER’S REPORT 8. CAVING REPORT 9. CLIMBING REPORT 10. TACKLE REPORT 11. BELFRY REPORT 12. LIBRARY REPORT 13. BELFRY BULLETIN 14. MEMBER’S RESOLUTIONS 15. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
The meeting will be followed by the ANNUAL DINNER to be held at the Cave Man Restaurant, Cheddar. A coach has been arranged to start from Redcliffe after the A.G.M.
The Financial Statement for the year will be found on Page 7 overleaf. _______________________________________________________________________________________ B.B. DIGESTS. Have still not been sent to those who ordered them by post. We apologise for this, but the Editor has been away for ten days on business and is even more behindhand than usual as a result.
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Page 7 Financial Statement for Eight Months to the Thirty First August 1959 Annual Subscriptions Belfry: Annual Dinner: Redcliffe Hall: Caving Report and B.B. Sales: Post Office Savings Bank Interest Deficit: Donations: Belfry Bulletin: Public Liability Insurance Tackle Tackle Store, changing room & park. Postages, Stationary, etc Cave Research Group Subscription M.R.O. Donation Sundries Goods for Resale:
£ 59- 2-3 Receipts Less Expend Receipts Less Cost Levy Less Hire
£57- 6- 2 £45- 0- 2 £48-13- 6 £45- 9- 0 £ 19- 5-10 £ 10- 0-0
(2 years)
Stencils, paper Postages
£ 27- 9- 5 £ 9- 5- 3
Expenditure Less Levy
£ 11-17-5 £ 1- 7-0
(2 years)
Expenditure: Less Sales
£ 20-11- 4 £ 17-16-11
Total Club monies @ 1st January, 1958 Less Deficit as above
£ 12- 6- 0 £
3- 4- 6
£ 9- 5-10 £ 5-11- 6 £ 5- 7-11 £ 44- 0- 2 £ 3-16-10 £ 142-14- 9 £ 36 -14-8 £ 8-10- 0 £ 10- 10-5 £ 71- 4- 6 £ 3- 2- 9 £ 2-10- 0 £ 2- 2- 0 £ 4- 3- 0 £ 2-14- 5 £142-14- 9
£157-18- 3 £ 44- 0- 2 £113-18- 1
£112-17- 9 Post Office Savings Bank Account 31.8.58 Cash in hand 31.8.58 £ 1- 0- 4 TOTAL CLUB MONIES AT 31ST AUGUST 1958 £113-18- 1 _______________________________________________________________________________________ SPECIAL NOTICE…………..1960 COMMITTEE. The following nominations have been received by the Hon. Sec, for the 1960 Committee: - A. Sandall; S. Hobbs; G. Mossman. Since a total of six members of the 1959 committee have expressed their willingness to stand again, the total number of candidates for the 1960 committee is nine, and an election is therefore unnecessary. The 1960 Committee will therefore consist of: - R.J. Bagshaw, R.A. Setterington, A. Collins, N. Petty, B. Prewer, A. Sandall, C.A. Marriott, S. Hobbs and G. Mossman. _______________________________________________________________________________________ We regret that we have insufficient room to publish a letter from Jack Waddon this month. We will include it in November's _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Belfry Bulletin. S.J. Collins, 33 Richmond Terrace, Clifton, Bristol 8. Secretary. R.J. Bagshaw, 699 Wells Road, Knowle, Bristol 4.