belfry bulletin number 154

19
Christmas 1960 Number 154 Page 1 This Christmas number of the B.B. not only marks the first such number to be produced in the new smaller format, but also celebrates the Christmas nu8mber of the Club’s Silver Jubilee year and the tenth anniversary of the first Christmas number of the B.B. The heading on this page is taken from the front of that number – No. 41 for Christmas 1950. We have therefore tried, not only to produce a bigger B.B., but also, we hope, a more neatly printed and better laid out and printed number to mark the occasion. If we actually succeed in this you, we hope, will be pleased and we shall be amazed. In any cases, we hope that this B.B. will serve to while away the odd moment before opening time and, as we usually say about this time of the year. We wish all Club Members, other Readers, and all Cavers everywhere, A Very Merry Christmas. _______________________________________________________________________________________ DECEMBER COMMITTEE MEETING At the December meeting of the committee, David Drew was admitted as an associate member. The Caving Secretary reported that he was arranging a trip to the back of Gough’s cave. This will be announced in the B.B. when details are known. The Christmas covers for the B.B. are being printed by Garth. It was also reported by Alfie that the club ties should shortly be arriving. Other business dealt with included new tackle, M.R.O. arrangements, progress on the new hut and other details. _______________________________________________________________________________________ NOVEMBER COMMITTEE MEETING At the November meeting of the committee, Dave Causer and Jim Giles were admitted to full membership of the club. It was agreed to reduce the rate for hiring the club tent. Other items dealt with included the authorising of a further 5,000 B.B. covers, to the three colour design used at present, the arrangements for the club tie and the inclusion of a final reminder to members whose subs were still outstanding. _______________________________________________________________________________________ DO YOU WANT? A club car badge? A club tie? Back numbers of the B.B.? Caving Reports? B.B. Digest No.1? Some books to read? Caving Lamp Spares? All those things are available through the club. See Bob Bagshaw for Ties and Car Badges, Alfie for B.B. spares &c and ‘Mo’, Sett or Alfie for lamp spares. See John Ifold for Library books ROUND AT REDCLIFFE HALL on the first Thursday of the month or the assistant librarian. Books may be borrowed from John Ifold by Post. _______________________________________________________________________________________ YOU MAY NOW HIRE THE CLUB TENT FOR 1/- PER PERSON PER NIGHT!!

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A club car badge? A club tie? Back numbers of the B.B.? Caving Reports? B.B. Digest No.1? Some books to read? Caving Lamp Spares? _______________________________________________________________________________________ YOU MAY NOW HIRE THE CLUB TENT FOR 1/- PER PERSON PER NIGHT!! In any cases, we hope that this B.B. will serve to while away the odd moment before opening time and, as we usually say about this time of the year. Christmas 1960

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Christmas 1960 Number 154 Page 1

This Christmas number of the B.B. not only marks the first such number to be produced in the new smaller format,

but also celebrates the Christmas nu8mber of the Club’s Silver Jubilee year and the tenth anniversary of the first Christmas number of the B.B. The heading on this page is taken from the front of that number – No. 41 for Christmas 1950.

We have therefore tried, not only to produce a bigger B.B., but also, we hope, a more neatly printed and better laid

out and printed number to mark the occasion. If we actually succeed in this you, we hope, will be pleased and we shall be amazed.

In any cases, we hope that this B.B. will serve to while away the odd moment before opening time and, as we

usually say about this time of the year. We wish all Club Members, other Readers, and all Cavers everywhere, A

Very Merry Christmas. _______________________________________________________________________________________

DECEMBER COMMITTEE MEETING At the December meeting of the committee, David Drew was admitted as an associate member. The Caving

Secretary reported that he was arranging a trip to the back of Gough’s cave. This will be announced in the B.B. when details are known. The Christmas covers for the B.B. are being printed by Garth. It was also reported by Alfie that the club ties should shortly be arriving. Other business dealt with included new tackle, M.R.O. arrangements, progress on the new hut and other details. _______________________________________________________________________________________

NOVEMBER COMMITTEE MEETING At the November meeting of the committee, Dave Causer and Jim Giles were admitted to full membership of the

club. It was agreed to reduce the rate for hiring the club tent. Other items dealt with included the authorising of a further 5,000 B.B. covers, to the three colour design used at present, the arrangements for the club tie and the inclusion of a final reminder to members whose subs were still outstanding. _______________________________________________________________________________________

DO YOU WANT? A club car badge? A club tie? Back numbers of the B.B.? Caving Reports? B.B. Digest No.1? Some books to

read? Caving Lamp Spares? All those things are available through the club. See Bob Bagshaw for Ties and Car Badges, Alfie for B.B. spares &c

and ‘Mo’, Sett or Alfie for lamp spares. See John Ifold for Library books ROUND AT REDCLIFFE HALL on the first Thursday of the month or the assistant librarian. Books may be borrowed from John Ifold by Post. _______________________________________________________________________________________ YOU MAY NOW HIRE THE CLUB TENT FOR 1/- PER PERSON PER NIGHT!!

Page 2: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Page 2 Number 154 Christmas 1960

Caving Articles; Log and News Although we normally publish only original articles on caving, we have been sent by Mr. G. Platten –

Editor of “The British Caver” – some information about Scottish caves which he has kindly allowed us to publish, since he will be unable to produce Vol. 33 of the British Caver this year.

Some Scottish Caves Fraisgall Cave is situated on the west base of Whitten Head, roughly six miles north-north-east of Heilem

Ferry. The name is derived from Hugo, son of Freskyn de Moravia. The entrance is anything from 20 to 50 feet wide and between 50 and 80 feet high. The tunnel runs for about half a mile into the bowels of the earth. The walls are variegated with a thousand colours. The interior of the cave – on both sides – is lined with kedges or slabs of rock. There are a further series of caves on the east shore of Loch Eribell pronounced – by Dr. Maculloch to be ‘tch most extensive and extraordinary in any part of the Scottish coast.’ This is a truly conservative statement in view of page 80 of “The Scottish Clans & Tartans” published by W.A.K. Johnson Ltd., Edinburgh. Extracts from this book read: - “We drifted up the deep channel under the gigantic arch….as we peered through the darkness we could see dimly, at the far end, the place where the roof and the water met at the termination of this long and lofty chamber. On each side were huge ledges of shelving rock running parallel down each side of the cave, at an angle downwards towards the water, behind these, inky blackness….we could see clearly perceive the bottom through the greenish blue water. The rock walls, on which were occasional patches of colourful conglomerate, were brilliant planes of yellow, green, red and blue stains.

As we made our way up the long channel, the cavern seemed gradually to contract in height and width

towards the extreme end…..to us, the length of the cave seemed endless. On approaching almost to the uttermost part of it, we perceived that it shelved down and narrowed to the extreme end, on the right hand side, to join a gravely beach which met the massive rock roof, where it dipped threateningly at an awkward angle. To our left, the arches dipped more abruptly amid a number of scattered stones and boulders, behind which was faintly visible in the din light, the dark outline of a small crevice.”

The above extracts were taken from “Angling in Wildest Scotland” by R. Macdonald Robertson and

supplied to the British Caver by J. Salvera. Also supplied by J. Salvera and J. Jonkinson are the following descriptions of Scottish caves.

Pipers Cave. Campletown. 1” O.S. 729/191. Sheet 65.

Located on the north slope of Bein Ghuilean, the entrance is situated immediately under a small rockface

on a shoulder of the hill. This can easily be seen from the road at the cemetery. This is a ‘gull’ type cave formed in mica schists. The overall depth is roughly 60’ and the length of lateral chambers 250-300’. The cave is damp and middy with little to recommend it except one or two short climbs and an interesting straddle traverse which is an optional method of reaching one of the largest chambers near the main entrance.

As for the piper, it is by no means strange that he did not return, although one wonders at these

miraculous pipers who had such an affinity for the most difficult caves in Scotland. Of course, they must have has as many arms as an octopus. Two for the pipes, one for the torch and two for climbing. The piper’s dog, as usual, was more fortunate, and managed to reach the light of day at the sea caves at Southend. There are three of these on a raised beach at Kiel Point. The most westerly has a high climbable aven. The centre one is the largest, two hundred feet high, fifteen feet wide and 81 foot long. The easterly cave has a small entrance but goes tunnel like for ninety feet. The Piper’s cave. Sandyhills Bay. 1” O.S. 891/546. Sheet 81.

The cave is situated on the beach roughly forty yards east of the Needles Eye. This latter being a cave

driven through the narrow headland at approximately right angles to the strike of the tide. The entrance is comparatively narrow and high with a pleasant sea washed sandy floor. Progress is easily made along this section of the first eighty feet or so. Here it is necessary to climb a few feet (quite tricky) to gain the

Page 3: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Christmas 1960 Number 154 Page 3 extension of the cave which has obviously been tunnelled by man. Some yard along this tunnel and let into the right hand wall is a deep well roughly six feet square and over ten feet deep. A few yards further on, the floor of the passage is covered in water up to a depth of nine inches. Eighty two feet from where this pool commences, the mine finished abruptly, the mineral vein having apparently petered out at this point. The overall length is about 250 feet.

There are a few other sea caves in this area, but nothing particularly worthy of note. We spent a couple of

hours searching for a cave shown on the 1” O.S. as being on Clawbelly Hill, but without success. In the Lothians, there are caves under Hawthorndon Castle and Yester Castle. Both of these are referred

in “The Lothians” by Ian Findlay. Of Hawthorndon Castle caves he says: - “The caves are directly under the castle and go far into the rock. They are on two levels and there are many chambers. There are fireplaces, seats and cupboard accommodation and a window or two giving on the chasm. There is also a deep well shaft which would keep the castle and caves supplied with water for any length of time.” The caves at Yester Castle are associated with the black arts of Sir Hugo and are reached by a worn stair reaching steeply downwards.

Of lofty roof and ample size Beneath the castle deep it lies To hew the living rock profound The floor to pave, the arch to round There are never toiled a mortal arm

_______________________________________________________________________________________

LETTER To members of the B.E.C. and all who go underground to dream about places like the Hunters. Here, such places close a 6 pm. All shops are closed for Saturday as well as Sunday. New Zealand is a

place for the outdoor sporting type. If you are brave enough, you can even go pig sticking. Most people here hunt with guns, and this can be dangerous.

I am living with some university students who also belong to the U.C.G., Aukland. We have a flat and it

is used as a meeting place for cavers. “King Country” is where most of the caving is done from Aukland. It is about a hundred miles from Aukland in the centre of the North Island. Cave systems are very plentiful, and it is possible to do a new cave on each trip. They were very amused when I told them that we spent weeks just trying to get into a hole, which even then does not usually go into a decent cave system. The caves here are very much like those of South Wales.

There is plenty of bush, rivers, mountains and miles of beaches. I have spent one or two Sundays

tramping and this is nowhere as tame as it may sound. The bush is so thick that one has to keep to streams and tracks. I spent one Sunday travelling from A to b and the water went from my shoes to my waist and one chap was so short that he had to swim.

Hope you get through Priddy Green soon. Colin Knight.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Page 4: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Page 4 Number 154 Christmas 1960

Fernhill – A New Mendip Cave During the course of geological field work on Mendip over Whitsun this year, I noticed in Fairy Cave

Quarry, near Oakhill, a prominent enlarged bedding plane feature in the northwest corner of the working face. The bedding plane dipped steeply in a northerly direction and was completely filled with an eight inch thickness of banded stalactite. Towards the floor of the quarry, the bedding plane widened, until there was a gap some five inches above the stalagmite flow. A strong draught blew outwards from this gap. The bedding plane continued downwards for some distance and appeared to widen with depth. I was not sure whether this was a new cave, or a portion of either Fairy Cave or Hilliers Hole, about to be exposed by quarrying. On my next visit to Mendip on 17th June, I again visited the place – this time accompanied by Phil Davies. After we had made a rough survey of the surface and plotted the position of the bedding plane on the Fairy Cave/Hilliers Hole survey, we came to the conclusion that it was not a known portion of either cave.

Some time was spent in removing enough rock to make a tight, but passable entrance, and a considerable

amount of loose and shattered rock had to be made safe. I then squeezed into the hole and chimney down the bedding plane, which was sufficiently steep to present the appearance of a rift, until I reached a boulder floor 43 feet below. A quick look round confirmed that this was a brand new cave and I made the return climb to the surface, deciding as I did so, that a “knobbly dog” would be useful at this point. Next day we both descended into the cave and made an exploration. A short distance along from the bottom of the entrance pitch, we came to the “Main Chamber” which is about forty feet wide by sixty feet long, having a sloping roof ten to twelve feet high and a sloping boulder ruckle floor. The chamber had once been a pretty place; there were several large stalactites and stalagmites, a pillar and even a few straws – although those near the entrance had been severely damaged by rocks which had dropped down the bedding plane after from being dislodged from higher up by blasting from the quarry outside. A chamber which we named “Curtain Chamber” adjoined the Main Chamber. This was long and varied in width from twelve feet to seven feet. It contained several fine banded curtain stalactites, one of which was about five feet square. The floor and walls were covered in flowstone. A small crawl from the end of this chamber led to a boulder choke from which a slight draught blew. This probably connects with Fairy Cave or the Upper Grotto of Hilliers Hole, both of which are within a hundred feet of this point. A further small passage at the foot of the entrance pitch led us to a somewhat shattered region which we calculated to lie only a few feet below the quarry floor. The remainder of the trip was spent in photographing every important feature of the cave, as it was obvious that many of the fine formations were in great danger of being destroyed by the effects of quarrying operations, even if they were spared by vandals once the news of the cave got round!

The name “Fernhill Cave” was decided on, as the name of the quarry could not be used – imagine “Fairy

Cave Quarry Cave”, The 1” O.S. map shows Fernhill as the name of the area to the northeast and as we did not wish to add another meaningless named cave to the list that already exists, Fernhill was chosen. Other urgent business prevented me from taking part in the survey of the cave, which was carried out a few weeks later in case quarrying should close the cave. During the surveying operations, voice communication was established between a hole in the boulder floor of the Main Chamber and nearby Duck’s Hole.

The exploration and survey could not have been carried out without the co-operation of Mr. A. Garlick,

the quarry manager, to whom my thanks are due. Jack Waddon. Editor’s Note: Although this cave was not a B.E.C. discovery in the usual sense of the word, we can at

least say that it was first entered by a B.E.C. member. In fact, we have had to omit the last paragraph of Jack’s article, as events have already made it obsolete. In case Jack does not know, his trip on the 17th June was followed by a photographic trip two weeks later by Alfie, Jill and Garth. On 26th July, a voice connection was established by Pam Russell, Fred Davies, and Phil Davies between Fernhill and Fairy Cave, and towards the end of August, Alfie contacted the museum about the possibility of ‘rescuing’ some of the formations before blasting finally shattered the cave. A trip was run on 28th August and the actual ‘rescue’ trip took place on the 22nd September. This was a Thursday evening, and four members of the club assisted Peter Bird to obtain some formations, as the cave was due to be closed the next day. It is now closed until further notice. It is hoped that the curtains and other formations in Curtain Chamber will survive this phase of quarrying, but in any case, the B.E.C. may fairly claim to have taken a hand in preserving some of them, which will be on view – suitably treated to preserve their lustre – in the Bristol Museum.

Page 5: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Christmas 1960 Number 154 Page 5

C A V I N G L O G

For August, September, October and November. 7th August. St. Cuthbert’s. Party, A. Sandall, T. Blake, T. Chamberlain. Down to Cascades and through

Rabbit Warren to Dining Room. Back by way of Rat Run and out. 10th August.. Goatchurch. Leader, Jonah. Party, Malcolm and Linda. Pleasant trip to Drainpipe. As it

was my first trip down, I went through first, then Jonah and Linda. On the way back, Jonah tried to persuade himself that he was thin and wore his ‘Nife’. This was unsuccessful. Went out through the Tradesman’s Entrance. I was quite impressed by the Drainpipe. So was Jonah, in a rather different way.

10th August. Sidcot. Party, Malcolm and Linda. We got lost. 7th August. St. Cuthbert’s. Party, Mo Marriott and Keith Franklin. Trip to Pyrolusite Series to have a

look at small holes at end. Obvious signs of previous day’s thunderstorm. 13th August. Swildons. Party, Mo Marriott, Keith Franklin and 17 boy scouts. Top of Swildons, all 3

main routes covered. 13th August. Priddy Green Swallet. Alfie, Willy Stanton, John, Nigel and Alan. Digging to pass

squeeze at bottom of bedding plane. Willy passed squeeze and reached chamber. A sudden rise in water was noted and a quick about turn was made. Water was flowing from everywhere including all around the concrete entrance shaft. It was noted that Willy wasn’t with us and contact with him was impossible due to the amount of water. Willy, however, came up later when the water subsided none the worse for his experience.

14th August. Vee Swallet. Digging trip. Mo Marriott and Keith Franklin. 14th August. Swildons. Nigel, Garth, Alan and 7 scoutes. Tourist trip to top of Twenty. Too many

people to go any further. Scouts not exactly dressed for the job. White shirts, Blazers and Plimsolls. 20th August. Stoke Lane. Tony O’Flagherty, Roger Luttmer and Mike Holland plus Garth. Wet but

uneventful trip through to first choke after sump. 20th August. St. Cuthbert’s. John Attwood, Kangy and John Eatough on a photographic trip to the

Maypole Series. The photography was preceded by an exploratory couple of hours during which Purgatory Passage and Echo Chamber were discovered. Photographs were taken of some small but interesting formations.

21st August. Hunters Hole. Llew Pritchard. Nobody interested in caving this week, so I decided to clear

out the Letter Box in Hunters Hole. In keeping with the wishes of Ian Dear, I would have not liked to go further even with a party. After two hours of removing mud, rocks, live frogs and dead mice, I reached bedrock. The entrance shaft is now four foot deeper and the letter box between 30” and 2’. Obviously, the next party down here will clear off the first ladder pitch and the ledge.

21st August. St. Cuthbert’s. Party. Keith Franklin, Laurie Maynard, Geoff Tudgay, three scouts and Mo.

Trip to sump via Cascades and Railway Tunnel. Returned via Cerberus Series and Lake Chamber. A very enjoyable trip.

24th August. Swildons. Garth, Owen and Michael Calvert. Upper Series. Much water in rift above the

Forty. 24th August. Swildons. Alan Nash, “Sip”, Griffin and “Nosser”. Very wet photographic trip to Sump 1

or thereabouts.

Page 6: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Page 6 Number 154 Christmas 1960 25th August. Swildons. Intended trip to Sump 1 but only two people were available, so did a short trip

tom the forty. Gareth Owen and Michael Calvert. 28th August. Fernhill. Alfie, Jill and Peter Bird on short photographic trip cum museum type tour of

inspection to see if any curtains were removable and/or suitable for exhibition. Party made safe exit unaided by any form of rescue party!

2nd September. Swildons. Party, Alan Lynn, Gareth Owen and Michael Calvert. Down Short Dry way

up Long Dry Way, down Kenny’s Passage into Wet Way and out. Quite wet. 2nd September. Goatchurch. P. Miller and Miss M. McDonnell. 4th September. St. Cuthbert’s. Attwood, Margelts and Eatough on a tourist trip to Cascade, Curtain and

Rabbit Warren Extension. Very wet in entrance. 7th September. Swildons. Pete Miller, R.J. Brook and Miss M. McDonnell. Down Long Dry way and

up Wet Way. Conditions quite good. (What for? – Ed.) 11th September. Reads & Goatchurch. Garth, Llew, John, Dick & Eddie. Quick Goatchurch & Reads

with Z Alley and Formation Chamber. 12th September. Swildons. Intended trip to Sump 1 but one of the younger members of the party

complained of feeling very cold after the Forty and Twenty, and as this did not improve even when the party got on the move, we turned round just after Barnes Loop. There was a lot of water at the entrance. All this meant a short trip but it was most satisfactory. P. Eyles.

13th September. Swildons. Short trip to fetch the twenty feet ladder some fool let fall at the Forty

yesterday. All right for him – he was back in Bristol. A quick trip in wet clothes. Bob Grace and P. Eyles. 14th September. Longwood. P. Miller and Miss M. McDonnell. Cave was surprisingly dry after all the

rain lately. No water down the entrance and stream quite low. 17th September. Swildons. D. Causer, Rowena, Garth, Peter Lewis, S. Causer plus three theological

students. Long Dry way, Barnes Loop to Sump 1, back via Trat’s Temple. Also trip on 3rd September round top of Swildons to break in Rowena after holidays.

20th September. Swildons. J. Davey and G. Shaw (B.P.C.) A steady trip down to Sump I via the Wet

Way. Fair amount of water on both pitches. At Sump I the party enticed a couple of Wessex members to follow them through to Sump II. A quick exit via the Short Dry. A very enjoyable trip.

22nd September. Fernhill. B. Bagshaw, Garth, Jim Hill, P. Bird + one unknown. Formation rescue op. 23rd September. Goatchurch. J. Davey and G. Shaw (B.P.C.) Full exploration of the cave. Party

wondered if the cave inscriptions were pre-historic, and why every tight squeeze is labelled ‘Drainpipe’ (surely one of them is labelled ‘Bloody Tight’? –Ed.) On the way back we had a quick look at Sidcot and Tunnel Cave.

24th September. Swildons. Leader, M. Boone. Party J. Davey and G. Shaw. Working trip to P.R.,

Inserted rawlbolt at head of Shatter Pot. 24th September. Goatchurch and Sidcot. Party, Jim Borchard, Tim Giles and Pat Irwin. Two very

enjoyable and speedy trips. Two members both got top to bottom of Purgatory. Giles’s first caving trip. 25th September. Cuthbert’s Culvert. Alfie, Jill, Roger, Jim Hill, George Tomkins and Birch. Spoil heap

divided into two by-products. Clay for dams and stone for Belfry Construction. 3 hours digging. 25th September. Sidcot and Rod’s Pot. Garth and Llew. Full trips through both systems. Helictites still

to be found in 80’ rift at bottom of Rods. Strenuous works in all chimneys of Rods.

Page 7: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Christmas 1960 Number 154 Page 7 9th October. Reads. Llew, Garth, George Honey, Richard Roberts, Jim Borchard and Jim Giles. No

positive leader – we all took turns. Had one Weegee with us i.e. Garth – who forgot his helmet and went with light in hand. From the Main Chamber we started to go to the ‘18’ by a devious route, but became hopelessly bogged down in the Stream Passage. The amount of water coming in made it a sporting trip.

9th October. Reads. Richard, Jim Borchard, Jim Giles. Short trip down to Gravel Pit and back. Fair

amount of water in Pit. Met a party of nine year olds from Clifton School complete with plimsolls, candles and no helmets.

15th October. Goatchurch and Sidcot. Sago plus six T.A. bods. Beginners trip through the Drainpipe in

Goatchurch and Paradise in Sidcot. 16th October. Swildons. Sago plus three T.A. bods. Trip to Sump I. Out via Wet way. Very wet. 16th October. St. Cuthbert’s. Norman, Peter Miller, Nigel C and Dick. Tourist trip to sump via the

Water Chute. 16th October. Swildons. Garth, Llew and Jim Giles trip to Swildons Four. Trip basically to bring

Sheptons digging gear out of Four, into the Breakfast Chamber. Goon suit trip though Jim didn’t have one and suffered for it. A lot of water going down. After bringing the gear up Blue Pencil we were all nadgered and getting out was a job, especially as we spent 45 minutes waiting below the Forty. In and out via the Wet Way.

22nd October. Goatchurch and Rod’s Pot. Tom Sage and Aldermaston Mountaineering Club. We

played around in Goatchurch trying out the tightest squeezes possible. Rod’s Pot was very damp. Tried to descend the Fifty Foot Aven without any tackle. Only got halfway down.

23rd October. Longwood. Tome Sage and four members of Aldermaston Mountaineering Club. Arrived

at 1 pm at entrance to Longwood and descended entrance shaft. On arriving at the bottom, I was told to call out the M.R.O. as there had been an accident on the 33’ into the Main Chamber. This was done immediately. Aftre this, I returned to the cave and discovered the nature of the persons injuries, which were not severe. He was mainly shocked and with the aid of the rest of his party, was able to reach the surface. The M.R.O. arrived, together with an ambulance, about an hour after the call was made.

Report on the above by B.E.C. M.R.O. representative. The Police phoned Howard Kenny, who directed

Tom Sage and raised the alarm in Wells. Luke Devenish raised a party from the Wessex hut, the Hunters, Priddy Green and the Belfry and all available members proceeded to Longwood. The injured person was poorly equipped, apparently wearing a beret instead of a helmet. Which accounted for the minor head and facial injuries.

23rd October. Swildons. Garth Dell, Jim Borchard, Lady ‘C’. Tour round Upper Series. Water about

normal. Nothing exceptional except that it was Lady ‘C’s second two hour trip. 30th October. Swildons. Mike Baker, Llew, Garth and Jim. Down the Short Dry Way to the Forty,

taking pictures of the Old Grotto and Stream Passage and out the same way. Stream about normal for winter. 6th November. Emborough. Inspection trip to Emborough Swallet by Alfie and Jill. Torrent of water

has removed old rock blockage and stream is again running into old entrance instead on new one as planned. Dam replaced and water re-directed. Noticed that new sink hole has opened up in field outside swallet area. An area of about 5’ x 7’ has dropped about five feet. Farmer has commenced filling in.

6th November. Back of Goughs. A genuine Weegee trip. After leaving the show cave, the going

became rather muddy, with a few dicey traverses and climbs IF you wanted to do them. The trip was arranged by courtesy of the W.S.G. Some photographs were taken. It was the first time I have even seen mushroom beds (at least I think that’s what they were) in a cave. Party from B.E.C. consisted of Mike Baker, Jim Giles, Pat Irwin and Garth. We just about managed to make it in time for a ‘quick un’ at the Cliff Hotel. Garth.

Page 8: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Page 8 Number 154 Christmas 1960 5th November. Swildons. Leader, Tom Sage. Party David Stoke, David Worley, Peter Burnham. Very

wet with much water going over the Forty. 5th November. Rods Pot. Party; Pat Irwin, Jim Borchard, Jim Giles and Ginger Owen. A very

interesting and active trip, involving a climb down the first aven and Gravel Pit. Both Jims and Ginger performed by falling down at various points and all had lamp ‘pox’. The journey out was a case of the blind leading the blind. This was a first Rods for both Pat and Ginger.

7th November. Goatchurch and Sidcot. Bob Grace and 15 Q.E.H. First caving trip for most. 8th November. Rods Pot. Same part as before. Laddered down the sixty foot aven and climbed up the

other aven. Then down to the end of the cave. Enjoyable trip with some photographs taken. 13th November. Cuthbert’s. Party, Mike Baker, Pat, Garth and Jim Giles. Photographic trip as far as the

Dining Room. 19th November. Swildons Four. Party, Garth, Pat and Jim Giles. 40’ and 20’ kindly laddered by W.C.C.

It was at the Double Pots that Sod’s Law first struck. Garth, having packed his cigarettes into a waterproof bag, discovered that it was not. At Shatter Pot, we found that man Holland making an anchor for his sherpas. After passing a few indolent type minutes at this point, we carried on to do a quick up and down trip of ‘four’. It was on our return through the Blue Pencil that Sod’s Law struck again. Garth entered Blue Pencil as far as the first bend with Pat making the chain climb when he espied a pair of bots followed by Mike Boon and ‘Oppo’ with the obvious result. With the second attempt, we made our way to the Forty, picking up a couple of diggers from Shatter Pot on the way, who left us at Barnes Loop. At the 40’ we noticed a marked increase in the water rate. Due to lamp ‘pox’ we came out via the Short Dry. In an attempted carbide change in the Old Grotto, Jim lost his ring. On the whole, it was a good, appetising trip and the first ‘four’ for Pat.

20th November. Great Oone’s Hole. Party, Llew, Lady ‘C’ and Peter Scott. The delightful indolence

struck again, due to Peter’s barrel. Hence there was no support for a decent cave today. We went to Cheddar as a change from Burrington. A quick trip with easy going. Peter seemed to like his first cave. _______________________________________________________________________________________

MENDIP NOTES

Wednesday night, 26th October to Thursday, 27th October, 1960.

Thirty six hours of continuous rain over the two days above produced the heaviest flooding seen on Mendip for many years. Our ‘local lads’ on the spot, reported abnormal conditions in nearly all the major Mendip caves, the most notable being: -

SWILDONS. A river seen here, flowing onto the ‘fish pond’ was up to ten feet wide. The grating as

completely covered to a depth of twelve to eighteen inches. An exceptionally large stream disappeared under the tree. Peak volume was early on Thursday morning as the rain ceased. By 11.30 pm, the flow had reduced to normal winter level. The cave was enterable by approximately 5 pm.

ST. CUTHBERT’S. The water at St. Cuthbert’s was the highest ever seen. The water at midday on

Thursday was running from the lake down the entrance shaft in a considerable stream. This condition was also observed at again midnight. On Friday the water had only dropped by a few feet and the entrance rift would have been quite impassable. These conditions persisted well into the weekend. Plantation Swallet was only taking a normal volume of water, which suggested that, in these conditions, it cannot be persuaded to take more. The main difference between the conditions at Cuthbert’s and Swildons must surely be the mineries reservoir. Cuthbert’s remained impassable until Sunday, which, we think, justifies our calling out the fire brigade and emphasises the need for further ‘waterworks’ in the Cuthbert’s depression.

EASTWATER. Water here was seen pouring into the main entrance shaft and entry was quite

impassable. A moderate sized pond had built up behind the stone wall beneath the Eastwater Hut.

Page 9: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Christmas 1960 Number 154 Page 9 Cheddar Gorge was seen on Thursday morning and although the Gorge itself was completely clear, the

area round the show caves was quite amazing. The entrance tunnel to Goughs was a gigantic sump and water was issuing form the mouth of the cave in a large river. The river flowed down the main road, through the Cliff hotel and back in the stream. The drinking members of the club will be glad to know that the local fire brigade saved the cellars.

No flooding was observed on Rodney Stoke Moor until Friday, showing the usual delay for water to

reach the resurgences of 24 to 26 hours, when the area from Wedmore top the foot of the Mendips surpassed that of the lakes on the northern side of the hills.

Mike Baker & “Prew”. _______________________________________________________________________________________

EMBOROUGH Digging out this cave will be quite feat of engineering, unless we get more of the normal run of luck. It

was hoped that the Priddy Green dig would be finished by now and a joint gang of navvies from the S.M.C.C. and the B.E.C. were going to descend on this swallet and have a concerted bash. We have had to start a new scheme owing to the applications of Sod’s Law to P.G. Swallet. A team of diggers, including ‘Mo’, Ian Dear, Alfie, Jill etc. have arranged to keep the last Sunday in every month during 1961 free for this project. We could do with all the help we could get, so if you have no trip on for any of those days, we can offer an interesting dig. Everyone will be welcome! _______________________________________________________________________________________

ODDS AND ENDS, MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES ETC.

WHO?

Who gets his breakfast brought in bed? Who’s got a thumbprint on his beard? Who wants to buy a minicar, And is not often at the bar? Who’s taken off his fungus (face) And gets put firmly in his place? Who soon will have to buy a ring? (For finger, not the other thing.) Who’s at least three inches off his waist Considering his lady’s taste? Who waits his orders from above And rushes off with thought of love? It won’t take long to work this out. It’s rather sharp end and round about.

U.N.X. Pergated.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Page 10: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Page 10 Number 154 Christmas 1960

THE BELFRY BULLETIN CHRISTMAS ADVERT PAGE

Following recent suggestions at the last A.G.M. that the B.B. should include some advertising matter, we are pleased to present the advertisements below. Although it would not be possible to persuade a nationally known firm to take space in the B.B., we feel that the products we are advertising will be of valuable assistance to all avers. DON’T STAY A MORON ALL YOUR LIFE!!!! Join the London Somerset Missionary Society Subscriptions nominal (Example £105 per anum) Details obtainable from: - A. Metrals, 2 High Street

HAVE YOU TRIED SQUEEZAID? The Wonder squeeze Eliminator! Do you find that squeezes are getting smaller? Use SQUEEZAID. No more applications of carbide lamps necessary! Just POUR the contents of wonderful gooey bottle of SQUEEZAID all over your caving clothes and SLIP through! Astound your friends!! Only 2/6 in a throw away bottle. From VISCOSITY LTD. DEPT. S.A.E.20

KEEP GOING ON G U T T O The Fabulous Body Building Caving Food. Do you feel rogered in the Rabbit warren? – or clapped in the Cascade? You need a pick-me-up. Try GUTTO. It’s perfect for that undergrpound snack or meal. Just mix with water – what could be simpler? Obtainable in NATURAL, DEER or SCREECH Flavours. Free gift PLASTIC TROUGH given away free with each large packet! 1/11 per packet……..30/- per ton. REDISTRIBUTED FOODS LIMITED (1936)

- HOGSNORTON-

F CUBES Keep out the cold! Put one in your stew – or your radiator – or your sleeping bag. Works by ATOMIC ENERGY. Try one today.

NO CAVER CAN AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT THE NEW

Vertimeter This amazing scientific instrument (not a toy) is based on genuine principles of the physical sciences. The pointer of this instrument is attached to a GENUINE LEAD WEIGHT and indicates whether the wearer is pointing UPWARDS or DOWNWARDS. Invaluable in boulder ruckles! Also supplied with dual reading TOP and BOTTOM (For Yorkshire Potholers) or ENGLAND and AUSTRALIA (For prospective emigrants. Only a few left. NOT ex-WD. PLUMBLINES LTD. BOX No. 981g

For that perfect holiday, why not stay at THE BELFRY! All mod. cons. Inexpensive. Unusual. All the best people stay at THE BELFRY Folow their example – Give yourself a treat – Find out what you’ve been missing

Fillacan FORTIFIES YOU UP THE FORTY Now with the new magic ingredient

(C2H5CH)

IS YOU ADDRESS CORRECTLY PRINTED IN THE LIST OF MEMBERS NAMES AND ADDRESSES AT THE BACK OF THE B.B.? IF NOT, GET IN TOUCH WITH BOB BAGSHAW OR ‘MO’ MARRIOTT. THIS COULD BE THE REASON WHY YOUR B.B. IS SOMETIMES LATE OR NOT DELIVERED _______________________________________________________________________________________

This ‘Odds & End’ section of the B.B. on the next page was intended to be taken up with articles of a humorous nature. The club appears a bit short on humour this year, so we hope the author will understand if we include a travel type article. – Editor.

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Christmas 1960 Number 154 Page 11 Preface – by the Author. In response to a cry from the wilderness, i.e. Alfie, you are about to be inflicted

with a series of articles by myself. The main purpose of these is to fill up space, but I hope you enjoy them all the same. If not, no doubt you will be able to put these pages of the B.B. to some worthwhile use.

Llew Pritcherd.

The East Indies – Part 1 As some of you know, I’ve just finished nine year holiday at the taxpayers expense – Spike’s

view of the affair. Actually, the Royal Navy can be a very hard taskmaster at times, but I must admit that I enjoyed being in the service.

In January 1956 I joined my first ship, after serving my apprenticeship in the lab. This was a 6”

cruiser, the Superb. Incidentally, she was the same order initially as our new ships Tiger and Blake. My purpose in life was to see in practice, for one year, all the theory I had been taught during the past four years. The ship had almost finished within the yard and by February we were ready for trials. The North Sea was particularly inhospitable that winter and I remember, above anything else, the bitter cold which penetrated every part of the ship. It had fallen on me to work the light AA guns, which were exposed to everything the weather produced. Surprisingly, I wasn’t sea sick, and soon the comparatively welcome sight of Sheerness hove into view again. To a landsman, it must seem pretty desolate, especially in winter. To me, over the years, it came to mean England, home and all that I loved in life. We anchored off Sheerness for a couple of days before going to Chatham and during this time I saw an unforgettable sight – even more do because the hero of this scene later died in the Madagascar Straits, thousand of miles from his home land. As usual, a very heavy swell was running and the boat’s crews had great difficulty in getting off the boom into their boats. The Marines were manning the Master Pinnace, a big and cumbersome thing. As the last man came down the Jacobs ladder, the swell dropped the boat away and he finished up swinging from a boat rope by his arms, being continually submerged by the swell. Of course he was in full winter issue of waterproof clothing, but this only becomes a dead weight when actually submerged. He was in imminent danger of drowning when Eric Underhill flashed along the boom, down the ladder and pulled him out. Not an easy task when about two hundredweight of wet marine is concerned.

After leave, we set sail for Gibraltar. Unlike normal ships the navy always seem to travel in

circles. However, Ushant and Finisterre dropped astern in time and we were soon running through the straits, after a week in the Atlantic. The powers that be decided to send us straight to Malta, so we watched forlornly as Gib slipped by. For those of us who were on their first voyage, it was a great disappointment, for we had learned wondrous yarns of the rock.

Here days slipped by as we steamed east in a transformed world. We had left the cold Atlantic

behind and were now in a civilised, warm sea – the friendly Mediterranean. After painting ship – Lord Louis refused to have dirty ships in Malta – we steamed into Grand Harbour one fine sunny morning. My first impression, and it’s a lasting one, was of the huge walls of Valetta rising sheer out of the water. Soon, we were surrounded by Maltese boats. All of us, especially the married men, were itching to get ashore. The married men always are first ashore. There must be a moral somewhere. But it was not to be. Suddenly a very black cloud descended. Apparently the Arabs on the Persian Gulf island of Bahrain were rioting. We were the flagship of the East Indies Squadron, so the call was sent out for us. The Persian Gulf is still one of those places where the presence of one of Her Majesty’s ships settles all local problems in no time. After a six hour turn round, we left Grand Harbour like a Grand Prix car getting off the grid. In no time at all, Port Said was off our starboard bow, and we went straight through the canal like a dose of salts – one of the last before Suez.

(To be continued in next month’s B.B.)

Page 12: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Page 12 Number 154 Christmas 1960

L.S.M.S. NEWSLETTER

(London-Somerset Missionary Society) Our Ref: LSMS/NL/1

Some years ago, it was brought to the notice of certain members of Civilisation that there were, in a

foreign country known as Somerset, many illiterate varlets. (NOTE Civilisation being that area east of Reading and South of St. Albans.)

A pioneer missionary who visited this obscure but interesting land brought back an encouraging report.

Apparently, it was possible, after much concentrated effort, to convert the ignorant populace of the “rough” country. To this end, the L.S.M.S. was formed by a group of very charitable people of Civilisation.

The early missionaries had to fight all kinds of hardship ranging from travel sickness caused by travelling

on “rough” roads, and Doghair Poisoning, to the ignominy of working with the U.E.C.F. in such strongholds as the B.E.C. and the W.C2.

One of the main drawbacks which have had to be overcome is the illusion held by the Uneducated

Country Folk that they are already civilised. Just where this idea originates from at present defies all research. It can only be put down to ignorance.

There is still one illness which we missionaries have not yet been able to cure; the disease known as the

‘Dreaded Indolence’. The U.E.C.F. have strongly resisted all attempts to cure them of this strange disease and many original ideas have been thought up by members of the L.S.M.S. One of the latest ideas, due to a female member of the Society, is to form a romantic attachment with a male member of the illiteracy. To date, this is having heartening results (at weekends, anyway). Another method being used by several missionaries is to try to be more indolent than the sufferers from this complaint, thus shaming them out of this disease.

However, all the work of the Society has not been in vain, for several successes have been recorded. One

very notable success has been the conversion of a certain money lender to Whitechapel tenets. Alas! Even this victory was marred recently when the poor fellow was heard to say, “We ought to spend some money! A brainstorm was recorded. Another success was spoilt when a certain converts went abroad and came back de-converted. Happily, though, the groundwork put in by the Society was not lost and the poor fellow is becoming quite sett in his ways again

All peoples of Somerset (and other uncivilised communities) may obtain details of the L.S.M.S. and its

good work from A. MOTRALS via the Editor. (Thus preventing A. MOTRALS from being filled in). Correspondence will be very welcome.

(Signed) A. Motrals President L.S.M.S. _______________________________________________________________________________________ A G U I D E T O C A V I N G T E R M S……. By Jim Giles and Jim Borchard.

“Easier than it looks” “Harder than it looks” “Hard to get started” “Safe” “Interesting” “Beginners Cave” “Active Caver” “Expert” “Slightly damp” “Entrance Squeeze” “Cave” “Exit”

A flagrant lie. True. I’m off form. A relative term. With intense concentration it is just possible to avoid getting lost. Cave done by middle aged. Beginner. A picture of indolence. Submerged. Turnstile at Goughs. An avoidable complication. Take it!

Page 13: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Christmas 1960 Number 154 Page 13

CLIMBING, HILL WALKING, TRAVEL & SIMILAR ARTICLES _______________________________________________________________________________________

The recent appeal for more climbing articles has met with a good degree of success. It has been possible

to pick out some of this type of article which is hoped will be of interest to all members.

A Month in the Cumbrian Mountains.

By Nigel Hallett Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to spend a month in the Lake District on a mountaineering

course. I say ‘earlier this year’, but in actual fact, the snow was falling ‘orrid’, so you can guess it was much earlier.

The course consisted of climbing; mountain rescue; fell walking; physical training; map work and forest

aid, so we were kept pretty busy to do all this in four weeks. The first week was spent in map reading, and a three day fell walking scheme. The scheme was designed

to break us into the rigours of walking in the Lake District. The first day we set off from Eskdale after lunch and after about three hours we arrived at Wasdale Head, only about six miles away. Even after this distance, there were several of the party suffering from blisters. There we pitched our bivouac sheets (no luxuries such as tents allowed) had an evening meal cooked on a very temperamental primus stove and settled down for the night. For several who had led a sheltered life, it was their first night camping out. The next day we set off at 0900 hours with the intention of going to Scafell. After about three hours we reached Sty Head and the weather was beginning to look a bit grim and by the time we reached Sprinkling Tarn a strong wind was blowing. We pitched our bivouacs and then set off for Scafell. When we reached Esk Hause, a blizzard had started and we turned back. On the way back to our camp, we came across a nice ice slope and were introduced to the pleasures of glissading. Oh! Was that ice cold! Then back to camp; an evening meal and so to sleep.

The next morning we awoke to find ourselves snowed under and due to the uncertain amount of chaos

this caused, some items of kit were lost. Going past this place a week later, I collected fourteen skewers, two mittens, part of a primus and an unopened tin of baked beans.

We had in front of us the thought that what had taken us a day and a half now had to be done in less than

a day. So we set off down to Sty Head, down the pass and eventually arrived at the Wasdale Head Hotel where our spirits were revived with spirits and setting off with renewed vigour, we were soon back at Eskdale.

The second week was spent in climbing some crags near Eskdale, also learning how to take a stretcher

and bed down a sixty foot pitch. The general opinion of this was that it was all right being a guide, but no joke being the bod in the stretcher. A feeling of absolute helplessness as you hang fifty foot up, all trussed up like a chicken, is rather nauseating. Whilst we were climbing, we had to fall off once and also hold someone falling off. On the end of my lifeline I had a sixteen stone copper. The belay nearly cut me in half as I had allowed him about four feet of slack in the line – nylon at that, too!

A solo scheme of two days helped pass the second week away. The scheme was in the low land country

between Eskdale and the sea. It was made more interesting by low cloud on a ridge along which we had to go. Once again, the compass was put to good use. The third week held the most interest for me, as we went on a five day scheme with a day spent climbing. The first day was pent in getting there. The walk up the side of Great Gable with a forty pound pack was murder. We stayed the four nights at the hut of the Keswick Climbing Club, who have, by the way, a very smoky fire. The afternoon of the first day, we went to see a small cave about two miles from Borrowdale. The entrance is extremely tight – about the same as the entrance rift in St. Cuthbert’s but with an inch loss in width. It is only a short cave but quite interesting.

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Page 14 Number 154 Christmas 1960 The second day, we split into three parties, one going climbing, one going fell walking and the other

going on a 13 mile stroll through Keswick – just to prove that there were more than houses every thirteen miles, I think. The egg and chips we had there tasted lovely after pom and beans.

On the third day, my friend and I, together with an instructor, went climbing up Shepherd’s Crag. It was

originally intended to do Great Gable, but low cloud ruled this out. We started off at 0830 hrs and reached the Borrowdale Hotel at opening time, which was fair judgement. The first climb was on Brown Slabs Arête and after this and a meal, we started to climb Jackdaws. Only going halfway up this, we did a nice hand traverse to do the top half of Donkeys Ears. This is a V. diff. climb, but has one severe move on it. My friend became nicely stuck here and, because it was his first experience of climbing, almost required a new pair of trousers. After we had finished climbing, we set off back but only got as far as Borrowdale when the hop-call was heard. Honister Pass is much easier after five or six pints!

On the fourth day, we went fell walking while others went climbing and on the last day, we slogged it

back to Eskdale in snow, sleet and rain according to the altitude. In the last week of the course came the climax of the month with a three day scheme. The idea of this

scheme was to go via various check points, including as many peaks as possible in our route. Our first day took us from Eskdale, over Yewbarrow, Dore Head, Red Pike, Steeple, Wind Gap, Pillar and bivouac down by the Ennerdale Youth hostel. The second day’s route was from the Youth Hostel to Hay Stacks, High Crag, High Stile, Chapel Crags, Red Pike (another one) Buttermere, High Snockrigg, Robinson, Dale Head and down to Honister Pass. We finished pitching our bivouacs at 1800 hrs and it started to snow at 1815 hrs. It was still at it the next morning at 0800 hrs when we set off on the last day. Going via Grey Notts, Brandreth, Gillercombe Head and Green Gable, we decided that the weather was too bad to attempt Great Gable, so we dropped down to Sty Hotel. From Honister Pass to Sty Head – a distance of four miles – took us five and quarter hours. I never realised until that day what weather we could have in England. A quick decision (unanimous) ruled out Esk Hause and we went down Sty Head Pass to the Wasdale Head Hotel where the refreshments were more than welcome. Then on again for the last seven miles to Eskdale to arrive in at 1730 hrs, very tired and soaked to the skin. Never was bed so welcome.

When we left Eskdale to return to our various parts of the country, it was mixed feeling. On one hand, we

were leaving behind a region where there are too many hills and on the other hand, we had all enjoyed ourselves enormously. We were all much fitter than when we arrived and I don’t think anyone regretted the month away from it all. We had walked about 200 miles in that month and climbed over 37,000 feet in all kinds of weather. I look forward to the next time I visit the Cumbrian Mountains. _______________________________________________________________________________________

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Christmas 1960 Number 154 Page 15

A ROPE LADDER FOR CREVASSE RESCUE

By R.S. King There are plenty of ingenious scheme for crevasse rescue, full details of which may be found described in

climbing books with any calm to be instructive. Starting with a single climbing rope worn in the usual manner and used for straight pull out, they evolve until eventually one can read articles fervently recommending complicated techniques needing several ropes and dozens of snap links.

Briefly, the methods are as follow. Each method assumes, to start with, that Charles has slipped into a

crevasse and that his fall has been checked by the climbing rope, which, ideally is belayed to an ice axe. He may be rescued by: -

1. A straight pull out. 2. A second rope – or part of the main rope – with a loop, is lowered to Charles. Then by putting his

weight alternately on the second rope and the main rope, which are each raised as they go slack, Charles can get himself out.

3. By means of Prussic Loops (friction hitches) which are attached to the rope and pushed higher by Charles as he uses them as stirrups to get himself out. Note. A mechanical Prussic Hitch may be purchased – at great expense – which eliminates the knot.

4. By using snap links and the climbing rope to make a pulley arrangement to give a mechanical advantage when pulling.

These are the most common methods in order of simplicity and have all been used successfully.

Unfortunately, no two crevasse accidents are the same and none of these methods is suitable for every emergency. My faith in them has been reduced by at least three incidents.

I was with a party of three climbing on a very wet day in Snowdonia. We were trying a short climb

containing a place where it is necessary to lasso a spike and swing across a gap into a steep corner. This was done at last, and our beloved leader swung mightily across and thudded against the opposite wall. The move is deplorably irreversible and though he struggled, pulled and yelled, a combination of thin rope, cold fingers, slimy rock and a persistent dribble of water down his neck defeated his attempts to climb on. We quickly roped off the route and made a traverse above him. With much effort we pulled him up the rope. He had been dangling for three quarters of an hour and he stated that he could not have held on much longer. The painful cutting of the rope and the wet had rapidly exhausted him. This and other cases show that endurance is short when hanging from rope, even when provided with a foot loop.

In Austria, traversing a glacier, one of the party I was in, dropped into a crevasse. Charles jammed in the

crevasse about twenty feet down with his rucksack pinning his arms, making it impossible for him to help himself. Pulling from above proved conclusively to us that he could be hauled up, but the rucksack and arms would have to stay. Fortunately, it was possible to climb down and free him. We pulled and he was dragged out in poor shape after about twenty minutes or so. He was badly bruised and very cold. So there are situations where it is vital to climb into a crevasse where a fall and the effects of cold make it difficult or impossible for Charles to help himself.

Then a hard case friend of mine decided it would be necessary on one occasion to climb down and collect

some equipment. He cane back on Prussic Hitches. It took a long tome and tired him. So much for Prussic loops. A highly theoretical method to be used only as a last resort.

A basic requirement of crevasse rescue is that is should be simple and quick. Frank Smythe used to carry

a rope ladder. Thus seemed a good all round answer with the merit if simplicity and triggered off a design for a very light crevasse rescue ladder. Made from the lightest commercially available materials – dural rungs and nylon line – the twenty foot ladder weighs ONE POUND. Deliberately, for lightness, the rungs are calculated to be just strong enough to take the weight of a medium weight Charles and no more. They are amply strong enough for one rescue, during which some rungs may bend. These may be easily replaced. Rung spacing is enough to take a boot with a crampon. The ladder is intended to be carried around in a rucksack ready for use. Though the nylon line has a large safety factor, it may fray and should be checked.

Page 16: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Page 16 Number 154 Christmas 1960 No fraying is apparent on the prototype ladder, which has been on two holidays in the Alps. Ideally, one should be carried by each member of a party so that there will also be one on the surface. The ladder may be used according to the circumstances. Departures from the standard method of clipping the top lops of the ladder round a belaying axe and then lowering the ladder down the crevasse may be readily made. An obvious one is that the ladder may be given a greater effective length by lowering it on a rope. It then can be climbed to the top and when the weight is being taken by the climbing rope, the ladder is pulled up ready for a further ascent. It will facilitate climbing into a crevasse. Its shape, besides being ideal for gripping, is similar to a caterpillar track and will help top pre]vent it cutting into the lip of a crevasse. It will also speed rescue and reduce the effect of exposure.

The editor regrets that he lost the specification of this interesting form of ladder. Failing his either

finding it, or persuading the author to give him another copy for the January B.B., it is suggested that those interested in making up a length of ladder to this specification should either get in touch with the Climbing Secretary or with “Kangy” direct.

“Kangy” also writes on this subject…”Etiers, used in artificial climbing, could be, and probably are, used

for the further purpose of crevasse rescue. It is worth remembering however, that the special ladder at one pound weights the same as four small snap links – considerable less than an etier. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Weekend in North Wales

By Tony Dunn The party consisted of Joan and Roy Bennett, Ivy and Alan Bonner, Geoff Mossman, Sam Tarling, Pat

Irwin and myself. The trip was result of a request by the London Mountaineering Club for the use of the Belfry to enable to climb in Cheddar and an invitation to use their hut in North Wales in return. Geoff, who was then Climbing Secretary, accepted this offer with clarity.

We left Bristol in heavy rain at about 6.30 pm, three cars being used and Jean and Roy about ninety

minutes ahead of use. As we drove north, the rain eased and by about Worcester it had stopped. We were very fortunate in having a fine weekend. The hut – “Fronwydyr” (Grid Ref. 606587) is reached by taking the turning to the right about ten yards beyond the Nant Boris post office (when going towards Llanberis) and the gate leading to the hut is just beyond the third lay-by and on the left hand side of the broad. The hut is very well equipped with accommodation for about 18 people; calor gas cooking and running hot water by electric immersion heater. There is also coal available, and on Saturday evening we lit a fire in the front room and it proved so comfortable that we went down to the local pub, bought some bottled beer and took it back to the hut instead of stopping in the pub.

Saturday morning Geoff, Pat and Alan did Flying Buttress on Dinas Cromloch while Joan, Roy and Sam

went round the Snowdon Horseshoe. Roy and I then set off accompanied by a friend of Geoff’s and mine from Swinton, Lancs called Peter Roberts. When we arrived at the floor of Main Wall there were three parties ahead of us, so that although we were roped up by about 11 am it was one o’clock before we had climbed the first two pitches. However, once we were past the Gangway Pitch, there were no more delays and we finished the climb at about 3.30.

On Sunday Geoff, Sam, Ivy, Pat and Joan went up Cricht and having two cars at their disposal were able

to park one at the far end of the ridge so that is was not necessary to return to the starting point on foot. Roy, Peter, Alan and myself made for Clogwyn-y-Ddisgl and we did the Gambit Climb. A very fine climb of V. diff standard and too serious a proposition as the hard pitches were fairly low down. In fact, a very pleasant relaxation after the very exposed and slippery Main Wall of the day before. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Apart from the list of members addresses, which follows, that’s yer lot for Christmas 1960. We could

point out that this B.B. is by quite a long way the biggest we have ever tackled; thank our contributors for enabling this to be so, and apologise for the usual amount of errors which, in spite of our rash promise on page 1, have still crept in. Ed.

Page 17: Belfry Bulletin Number 154

Christmas 1960 Number 154 Page 17 Annual List of Club Member’s’ Names and Addresses

This list which follows is that used by our Postal Department and includes all the paid up members to

whom this magazine is sent. If your name is not on this list, or your address is incorrect, please contact C.A. Marriot.

418 306 236

20 392 290 214 390 451 370 417

454 364 460 145 320 209 190 429 366 447 211

89 377 494

71 405 464 350 226

S.F. Alway T Andrews T. Attwood R.J. Bagshaw M.J. Baker R. Bater R. Bennett J. Bennett D. Berry W.L. Beynon P. Bird J. Binden C.H. Blonkthorne P.M. Blogg P.J. Borchard Miss S. Bowden-Lyle N Brooks P. Burt Mrs P. Burt R Casling B.R. Chamberlain B.G. Clark Mrs C. Coase S.J. Collins D. Cooke-Yarborough. J. Cornwell A.J. Crawford F.G. Darbon J. Davey Mrs A. Davies I. Dear

102 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol 8 135 Danson Road, Bexley, Kent 4 Bridge Road, Shortwood, Nr. Mangotsfield, Bristol 699 Wells Road, Knowle, Bristol 4 Morello, Ash Lane, Wells, Somerset 108 Memorial Road, Hanam, Bristol 3 Russells Cottages, Backwell Common, Somerset. 3 Russells Cottages, Backwell Common, Somerset 1 York Place, St. Augustine’s , Brandon Hill, Bristol Bulimba Hostel, Brisbane Street, Bulimba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia City Museum, Queens Road, Bristol Tynan, Victoria Road Hill Farm, Bishop Norton, Glos No address 35 Hallstead Road, Harrogate, Yorkshire 51 Coronation Road, Bristol 3 392 Victoria Road, Ruislip, Middlesex. 3 Manor House, Rothamsted, Harpendon, Herts 3 Manor House, Rothamsted, Harpendon, Herts 51 Oakdale Road, Downend, Bristol 102 Egerton Road, Bishopston, Bristol 7 Ferrybridge Cottage, Wyke Regis, Weymouth P.O. Box 1510,m Ndola, Northern Rhodesia 33 Richmond Terrace, Clifton, Bristol 8 The Beeches, St. Briavels, Lydney, Glos 26 Russell Road, Fishponds, Bristol 3 Hillside, Harefield, Uxbridge, Middelsex 43 Arthur Henderson House, Fulham Road, Fulham, London, S.W.6 25 Hanson Lane, Halifax, Yorks 10 Bramley Road, Street, Somerset B.T.V. Staedy, c/o C.D. Office, Portsmouth Dockyard

449 164 457 325 331 322 263 446 426 232 394 496 371 453 278 469 468 385 404 251

G. Dell K.C. Dobbs J. Downie A.J. Dunn J.A. Etough B.M. Ellis D. England M.H. Evans P. Eyles C. Falshaw Mrs C. Falshaw P.G. Faulkner A. Fincham D.C. Ford G.A. Fowler K. Franklin P. Franklin R. Francis A. Francis K.S. Gardner

5 Millground Road, Withywood, Bristol 3 85 Fox Road, Pinhoe, Exeter, Devon Wardroom, R.N.A.S. Yeovilton, Somerset 70 The Crescent, Henleze, Bristol 116 Newbridge Road, Brislington, Bristol Oakmead, Cher, Minehaed, Somerset 28 Mendip Road, Bedminster, Bristol 3 20 Norfolk Road, Westham, Weymouth, Dorset 2 Manor Street, Cambridge 2 Home Croft, Bramcote, Nottingham 2 Home Croft, Bramcote, Nottingham 251 Rowah Crescent, Langley, Middleton, Manchester Leeds University Union, Leeds 2 4 Kensington View, Upper East Hayes, Bath, Somerset 77 Kingshill Road, Knowle, Bristol 4 18 Clayton Street, Avonmouth, Bristol 18 Clayton Street, Avonmouth, Bristol 3 Ladbroke Crescent, Kensington, London SW10 53 St. Thomas Street, Wells, Somerset 10a Royal Park, Clifton, Bristol 8

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Page 18 Number 154 Christmas 1960 410 470 459 388 455 434 104 304

4 448 372 436 373 440 387 445 97

150 444 363 438 279 360 51

225 267 285 439 433 316 413 462 456 463 465 466

Mrs K. Gardner P.M. Giles K. Gladman J. Goodwin R.Grace D.A. Greenwood M. Hannam C.W. Harris D. Hassell R.C. Hawkins M.J. Healey J.W. Hill S.M. Hobbs M. Holland G. Honey J.A. Hook J. Ifold P. Ifold B.J. Isles M. Isles Miss P. Irwin J. Jenkins R.L. Jenkins A. Johnson M. Jones Mrs M. Jones U. Jones W.F. Jones J.F. Kembury R.S. King R. Kitchen Miss L. Knight T. Knight J.M. Lane M.J. Langford B. Lynn

10a Royal Park, Clifton, Bristol 8 P.O.’s Mess, R.N.A.S. Yeovilton, Yeovil, Somerset 95 Broad Walk, Kidbrooke, London SE3 11 Glanarm Walk, Brislington, Bristol 4 c/o Q.E.H., Clifton. Bristol 34 Oaklands Avenue, Northewrowe, Halifax, Yorkshire Myndeep, Westwood Drive, Pill, Somerset 14 Market Place, Wells, Somerset ‘Hill House’, Moorlynch, Bridgwater, Somerset 41 Shaws Way, Twerton, Bath 174 Wick Road, Brislington, Bristol 4 29 Highbury Road, Horfield, Bristol 135 Doncaster Road, Southmead, Bristol c/o C. & J. Clark, Street, Somerset c/o Mrs. Giddings, Boathouse, Hemingfordgrey, Huntingdon 34 Arbutus Drive, Sea Mills, Bristol Leigh House, Nempnett, Chew Stoke, Somerset. Sunnyside, Rectory Lane, Compton Martin, Somerset 40 Richmond Street, Totterdown, Bristol 33 Greenleaze, Knowle Park, Bristol 4 61 Staple Grove Road, Taunton, Somerset 49 Stoneleigh Road, Knowle, Bristol 4 5 North Street, Downend, Bristol Warren Cottage, Station Road, Flax Bourton, Somerset 389 Filton Avenue, Horfield, Bristol 7 389 Filton Avenue, Horfield, Bristol 7 5 Durham Street, Eslwich Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne. 1a East Avenue, Cheadle, Cheshire 2 Newent Avenue, Kingswood, Bristol 1 Lynmouth Road, Bristol 2 East Anglia Brigade Depot, Bury Street, St. Edmonds, Suffolk 15 St. Martins Road, Knowle, Bristol 4 61 Worton Way, Isleworth, Middlesex 41 Willow View, Bairstow Lane, Sowerby Bridge, Yorks 15 Lime Grove Gardens, Pultoney Road, Bath 8 Park Road, Lower Weston, Bath, Somerset

467 275 414 106 383 334 437 339 308 386 329 330 362 327 22

160 146 56

L. Margetts C.A. Marriott T. Marston E.J. Mason P.J. Miller D.W. Mitchell L. Mortimer G. Mossman K. Murray A. Nash T.W. Neil Mrs T.W. Neil P. Nicholson J. Pegram L. Peters N. Petty T. Pink G. Platten

44 Luckwell Road, Ashton, Bristol 3 718 Muller Road, Eastville, Bristol 5 54 Pear Street, Kingston, Halifax, Yorkshire 11 Kendon Drive Wellington Hill West, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol 130 Longmead Avenue, Bishopston, Bristol 7 2 Selwood Road, Frome, Somerset Burley, London Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire 5 Arlington Gardens, Arlington Villas, Clifton, Bristol 8 17 Harrington Gardens, South Kensington, London, S.W.7 62 Silverhill Road, Henbury, Bristol Orenda, Bradley Cross, Cheddar, Somerset Orenda, Bradley Cross, Cheddar, Somerset 52 Friggles Street, , Redden Down, Frome, Somerset 335 5th S.E., Shawninigan, Quebec, Canada 21 Melbury Road, Knowle, Bristol 4 12 Bankside Road, Brislington, Bristol 53 Burnthwaite Road, Fulham, London SW6 ‘Rutherfield’, Fernhill Lane, New Milton, Hants.

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Christmas 1960 Number 154 Page 19 337 458 461 291 241 343 443 258 157 240 359 237 78

425 414 276 38 1

365 381 60

B. Prewer L. Pritchard D. Quested D. Radmore A.L.C. Rice A. Rich R.J. Roberts C.H.G. Rees Miss J.P. Rollason A. Sandall Mrs. A. Sandall B.M. Scott R. Setterington J. Simonds C. Smith J. Stafford Mrs. I. Stanbury T.H. Stanbury R. Stenner Mrs. Stenner P.A.E. Stewart

14 Egerton Road, Bath, Somerset 91a Norfolk Road, Sheffield 2 Boundary Hall, Tadley, Basingstoke, Hants 2 Dunkeld Road, Filton, Bristol 13 Wades Road, Filton, Bristol Pox 126, Basham, Alberta, Canada 5 Bennett Street, Bath, Somerset 2 Burghill Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol 157 Pen Park Road, Redland, Bristol 6 35 Beauchamp Road, Bishopston, Bristol 7. 35 Beauchamp Road, Bishopston, Bristol 7. 22 Bishop Road, Bishopston, Bristol 4 Galmington Lane, Taunton, Somerset 31 Springfield Lane, Teddington, Middlesex 48 Windsor Road Leyton, London E10 24 Alma Road, Clifton, Bristol 8 74, Redcatch Road, Knowle, Bristol. 4. 6 Aubrey Road, Bristol 3 38 Paultow Road, Victoria Park, Bristol 3 38 Paultow Road, Victoria Park, Bristol 3 397 Walton Road, West Molesley, Surrey

409 78 80

382 79

441 442 175 420 418

G.E. Todd J. Tompsett Mrs. D. Tompsett S. Tuck R.M. Wallis G.O. Weston Mrs. G. Weston J. Waddon R. Winch E.A. Woodwell

86 Kingsholme Road, Kingswood, Bristol Mallins, Lodge Avenue, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex Mallins, Lodge Avenue, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex 38 Westbury Hill, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol Swildons, 343 Upton Lane, Widnes, Lancs 3 Barrett Road, Walthamstow, London E17 3 Barrett Road, Walthamstow, London E17 7 Haydon Road, Taunton, Somerset 1 Stanley Villa, Crewkerne, Chard, Somerset 50 Glanfield Road, Beckenham, Kent

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THE BELFRY BULLETIN. April 1960. No. 146. Secretary, R.J. Bagshaw, 699 Wells Road, Knowle, Bristol 4. Editor, S.J. Collins, 33 Richmond Terrace, Clifton, Bristol 8. Postal Dept. C.A. Marriott, 718 Muller Road, Eastville, Bristol