The
Belfry
Bulletin
THE JOURNAL OF THE BRISTOL EXPLORATION CLUB Volume 5 No.49/50
July/August 1951
We would like to apologise to members for the delay in the June issue. We are combining the July and Aug. numbers to keep things moving. As mentioned before there is still a shortage of material for B.B. Come on you scribes….. We would also apologize for the way we have had to split Pongo’s article on Festival Caving but we won’t be saying that it is your own fault. We had no suitable half page article to finish the last B.B. FESTIVAL OF CAVING cont. Having run the gauntlet safely, pausing en route four bestial sub human creatures (I refer to the Four Winds, not the attendants) we come to what must be termed the ‘Short Dill Way’. This soon passed and some formations appear, together with a powerful spring, playing upwards in three jets. The lighting is most cunning. As any cave photographer knows, formations are fluorescent, and we received a demonstration of this in the next section, by courtesy of G.E.C.'s Ultra-Violet lamps. Apparently Cavernophilious fish are too, for we saw some of them as well. Similarly, visitor’s shirts take on new and unexpected hues. The nature of this passage remains unchanged until the exit - in the words of the guide ‘Hurry along, Sir, it’s just the same all the way’ The moral appears to be that ‘Schweppervescence lasts the whole cave through’. Souvenirs are available at 3/- each. N.B. admission to the Amusements Gardens is 2/-. MENDIP RESCUE ORGANISATION Do you remember the Telephone No. you have to ring to contact M.R.O???? WELLS 2197. Don’t forget, you may need it in a hurry one day. Put it in your diary or address book now. MISSING from Belfry one rubberised Brown fabric Groundsheet. Would possessor return to the Hut Warden. EXHIBITION More members of the Club in and around Bristol will have visited the B.E.C. stand at ‘Our Way of Life’ exhibition, organised as part of Bristol’s Festival celebrations. For those who were unable to attend, it can be fairly safely said that the Club stand was one of the most interesting and attracted quite a lot of comments. Am elderly lady strolled in one evening, stared horrified at the case of human bones from Wookey Hole, then rushed over to Mike Jones and demanded to know why they weren’t buried in consecrated ground. Mike told her that it was not certain that they were Christians, but she kept on nattering away, and said that he would no doubt go to Hell. A breezy type walked in with his girl, looked at the mountaineer (a dressed up tailors dummy) and then turned to the Divers (similar dummies). When his girl friend asked him what they were, he replied that it was apparatus for climbing in rarefied air.
BB49-50/2 A lady came in with her husband, and told him that the people from whom the Wookey Hole bones had come, must have been Negroes as the bones were dark brown. Another woman came in with her small boy, who asked her what the breathing bags round the divers necks were for. Her answer was ‘Water Wings’ (did she know that G.T. Lucy cannot swim?) Several people thought that the model of G.B. (made by Stan Collins) was the skeleton of some cave dwelling animal now extinct. (so did I, it certainly didn’t look like G.B. to me, still I haven’t been there as much as Alfie. DAC.) After glancing at the divers and mountaineer many people said that the mountaineer rig out was a primitive diving suit. Congratulations to all those who helped to make the stand a success it undoubtedly was, especially Tony Johnson, who did all the organisation, and to the younger members who stood guard and answered all the silly questions. And whilst on the subject… CONGRATULATIONS. to Jo and Henry Shelton, a daughter, Jill Vivian. Margaret and Pat Woodroffe, a daughter, Pamela June. Bobby Bagshaw a wife………..(Dark Horse, what’s her name?). Don Coase a fiancée, Clare Ainsworth. It is also rumoured that Roy Ifold has sold or is selling his bike, because of a female. Shame! Any more for the lists. MISSING from the Belfry, that well that well known book of songs and verse, Theo Cons. This has taken a number of years to compile, and we would be glad if the present possessor (after copying out the parts that interest him, or her) would return it to the H.W. Patrick Browne It is the greatest regret that we have to announce the death of Pat Browne on Sat Aug. 18th whilst climbing on Snowdon. He was leading over a slight overhang on a severe climb when he fell off, then the rope broke, and he fell 50’. The Coroner, recording a verdict of accidental death, said ‘The tragedy is that a man of his experience should have undertaken a difficult climb like this with such a poor rope’. It will be for his caving activities that Pat will be mainly remembered. In particular his work, in conjunction with Don Coase, in exploring Stoke Lane II. He spent a large amount of his time in the smaller caves of East Mendip, and with his parents, excavated Browne’s Hole and Withybrook Swallet. It was with sorrow that the caving section of the Club learnt that he had been bitten with the climbing bug, some two years ago, as people with his keenness and determination are few and far between. We would like to offer his parents our deepest sympathy in their tragic loss. CIRCULATION LIST. The Club receives quite a number of newsletters from C.R.G. and other clubs. It is proposed to circulate those and other items of interest that turn up from time to time by post. Each person on the list would pay the postage to the next person, and to avoid delay, will be expected to keep the newsletter, etc. no longer than two days. Names please to Johnny Ifold. C.R.G. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. Will be held at the City Museum, Bristol on Sat. 17th Nov. The Club will be organising a trip on the Sun. for the benefit of C.R.G. members. If there is sufficient support, it is hopped to ladder Eastwater by both old and new routes.
BB49-50/3 SWILDONS HOLE The C.R.G. Som. Section are going to have a crack at the second Trap (or Sump, if you prefer it) of Swildon’s on Sept. 15th. (Sat). The Club has agreed to help with this operation. We require 12 bods on Sun. 9th. Sept. to help carry in some of the kit. Then 20 on Sat. 15th to carry in more kit, assist the divers, and probably carry out the divers and kit (lazy devils these divers). The following weekend, more bods. Note. The operation referred to in the last item has now been postponed until early spring. LONDON SECTION ANNUAL MEET The London Section held its annual meeting during the week preceding the August Bank Holiday. The meet was centred on the headquarters of the South Wales Caving Club, who very kindly provided facilities of a very high order. The first arrivals on Saturday 28th July were Clair Ainsworth, Don Coase, Tom Ratcliffe, and Pongo Wallis. These were the sole occupants of the cottage until the following Friday, when Johnny Ifold and Mike Jones arrived. The Shorthose ménage arrived around six am the following morning after invoking the aid of the local police and part of an honoured gear box. (Thanks Ras!). The Section, as usual, got to work on, or in, the local caves without delay with Don Coase leading the field. The first Sunday saw the three photographers in Ogof Ffynnon Ddu, confining their activities to Llethrid the following day. As Monday was a boiling hot day, the party required all its determination to leave the bathing on the Gower coast to go in search of the cave. While Clare stayed outside to watch the clothes, and incidentally put some useful target practice on the local cows, the three musketeers dug out a new entrance passed the boulder ruckle by yet another new route, but then failed to find the way on. At this stage, one member of the trio sustained a cut finger, and owing to the lack of a pricker, the lighting position deteriorated still further. There seemed only one thing to do, and it was done…..just in time for a pint before closing time. Then a wild dash back up the Swansea valley chased by a thunderstorm. The storm lost, fortunately. The next day saw the start of the serious caving, with five hours spent in Ffynnon Ddu, mainly taking photographs in the RAWL series. That evening the party celebrated this achievement in true caving style at the ‘Gwyn’. Wednesday was observed as a day of rest, but was followed by even greater exertions on Thursday. These were called for during a trip to Llygad Llwchwr (or words to that effect!). This trip started off as a practice run for the International Six Days Trial, apart from the unduly large amount of freight that was carried. Coase pioneered an entirely new route to the cave, which is thoroughly to be recommended after they have got round to making the road there. It suffers from one grave disadvantage. Only one pub along it; and here, needless to say, a halt was made. It was noteworthy that even the beer was canned, quite literally. National Grid ref. will be supplied in plain envelope on request, enclosing stamps to the value of 1/4½ to cover the cost of postage and a pint for D.A.C. Again, five pleasant hours were spent in the cave, chasing an elusive river. When the correct section was found, the entire party proceeded to have great fun with the rubber dinghy. More photographs were taken, some of them in glorious Technicolor. The party retreated in good order, and having changed set off in search of refreshment and the way back to the cottage. Their enquiries led them to the local hostelry at 9.56pm, where three obliging natives explained three entirely different routes home at one and the same time. By taking the middle one, the party found its way back without mishap. Friday was observed as a day of rest, until Shorthose upset everything at about ten pm, by calling the aid of Coase and Ratcliffe. Saturday, or what was left of it, was observed as a day of rest, except for the Bristol contingent, who had a look in O.F.D. The Sabbath day was kept really holey by a mass attack on Dan-yr-Ogof. This was a most interesting trip, and a good time was had by all, including D.A.C., who celebrated his newly announced engagement by taking a swim in the first lake. His take-off was well assisted by staunch companions, but was not entirely voluntary. Most of the rest of the party were new to rubber dinghy caving, and were rather impressed by the size of the underground river. That evening, Pongo retired to the bath. Ifold and Ratcliffe attempted a major trip into O.F.D. on Monday, but owing to faulty staff work, found that there was an acute shortage of spare
BB49-50/4 carbide, so left the cave and took up hiking instead. The party then adjourned to the ‘Gwyn’, there to be entertained with song and impersonation by the Hon. Sec. of the South Wales Cave Club. This proved a most acceptable finale to the meet. CAVING REPORT There was plenty of caving activity during July and August. Johnny Ifold has led some trips around his new series while the Birmingham Crowd started the task of surveying Eastwater while on holiday at the Belfry. Miss Jill Rollason and Alfie Collins have now succeeded in getting to the farthest point of ‘Ridyard’s Wriggle’ in Stoke Lane. Apart from a number of local trips to such places as Swildons, Eastwater, Stoke and Burrington, some members have wandered further a field. Two spent a week in Yorkshire and managed a couple of trips down Gaping Ghyll, thanks to the very helpful Craven Pothole Club. There was also the London Section visit to South Wales. Seen in the British Medical Journal…."The patient suffered from breathlessness on exertion lasting more than a month”…..Can’t say we’re surprised. BB49/50/4 TRIP CARD……….OCTOBER October 6th
Burrinton Caves, August Hole Leader, M. Jones, J. Ifold. Meet, Burrington Café 2.30pm. Lower Farrm 2.30pm.
October 14th.
Stoke Lane Leader, S. Collins, N. Petty, and M. Hannam. Meet, 1pm. At cave.
October 20th.
Sandford Levy Leader, R. Bennett.
November 10th. Swildons Hole. Leader, M. Hannam. Meet, Belfy, 2.30pm. All those intending to join any of these trips should notify the caving secretary several days before the trip is due to take place.
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