WESSEX CAVE CLUB Journal No. 90, Vol. 7. June 1963 CLUB NEWS Club Ties The first four dozen ties, most of which had been ordered, have now all been accounted for and a further order for three dozen is being placed. Cash with orders to the Hon. Secretary or obtainable direct from the Hut Warden when stocks are renewed. Price 15/6 post paid. Cloth badges, obtainable as above, cost 5/-. These are now in short supply and a further order is being placed. Enquiries about Car Badges, price 32/6, to the Editor, Christopher Hawkes, 147 Evington Lane, Leicester. Exposure Suits It has just been confirmed by the Admiralty that the tender made in November of last year by the Wessex Committee on behalf of the Club for 105 inflatable Mark 2 Exposure Suits has been successful. It is intended when these neck entry type suits are actually available to resell them to members so as to recoup the outlay and meet incidental expenses involved. Further details will be announced as soon as possible. Club Records The only complete available set of Wessex publications (Vols 1-6) dating from the founding of the Club in 1934, is now housed at the Somerset County Library, Bridgwater. Vols. 2-6 (1951 onwards) are also kept in the Hillgrove Library. It is hoped shortly to be able to deposit a further set of publications at the Bristol Reference Library and the Secretary is keen to hear from anybody who is willing to part with any back numbers; in particular Nos. 26, 27, 28, 29, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 58 and 60 are required to make up the set. Requests from the South Wales Caving Club and the N.S.S. of America for back numbers to make up their sets have been received, so any unwanted issues will find a good home. G.B. Cave and Longwood/August Hole In view of recent occurrences it is not out of place to reprint the rules made by the U.B.S.S. pertaining to the caves for the information of members and affiliated clubs. It is desirable to give the Secretary as much notice as possible of your intended visit in order to avoid disappointment (see Rule 4). Rules for G.B. CAVE 1. ALL PERSONS VISITING THE CAVE DO SO ENTIRELY AT THEIR OWN RISK. 2. Applications for a visit are made through the Secretary or other authorised person of a permitted club to the U.B.S.S. 3. Permitted clubs may include guests in their party provided that the Club’s insurance policy covers such guests. -195- 4. Ordinarily not less than one week's notice is required and ordinarily not more than one party, in addition to U.B.S.S., will be given access to the cave on any one day. 5. The total number in any party should ordinarily not exceed twenty (20) persons. 6. Keys are sent by registered post to the Secretary or other authorised person of the visiting club a day or so before the visit and the keys are to be returned as soon as possible after the visit to E.K. Tratman, Penrose Cottage, Burrington, on behalf of the U.B.S.S. Return may be made by registered or recorded delivery post or direct. 7. The outer door must be locked behind the party on entry and the keys placed where they cannot be reached by unauthorised persons. 8. The Club's "name plate" should be put up on the "In" hook on the board inside the outer door. 9. The Club's "name plate" is taken off the "In" hook and placed on the "Out" hook on return of the party. 10. On return both doors must be locked after the party but if the board indicates that another party is still down the cave then only the outer door should be locked. The second party is then responsible for closing both doors. 11. At no time is the outer door to be left unlocked or open even when a party is divided into sections coming back separately. 12. Photography is permitted but no publication of any photographs may be made without the prior consent of the U.B.S.S. (Notes Ordinarily this permission is freely given for club journals provided that the customary acknowledgement is made). 13. All exploration and digging for extensions is reserved to the U.B.S.S. 14. All persons visiting the cave are expected to take all reasonable care to avoid damage to the formations of the cave and not to leave rubbish in the cave or around the entrance (e.g. chocolate paper, empty tins, bottles, old clothes, etc.). 15. From time to time it may be necessary to close parts of the cave. A notice is placed at such places and visitors are expected to observe these restrictions. 16. If a party makes use of barns belonging to the tenant of the land the proper arrangements to do so must be made with the tenant. 17. A charge of l/- per head is made for the use of tackle. Though every endeavour is made to maintain the tackle in good order the U.B.S.S. does not accept any liability for any mishap which may occur when the tackle is being used (Rule 1 applies). -196- It is not anticipated that the above rules will be changed when the sub-licence granted to the U.B.S.S. by the Bristol Waterworks Co. is signed by the Charterhouse Caving Committee, except that valid permits will have to be held by all members of the party. Further details regarding this aspect of caving in the area will be announced as soon as possible, but for the present the following temporary rules apply to Longwood/August Hole which is at present locked. Keys are obtainable from Mr. Young at Lower Farm who has the authority to turn people away if he is not satisfied that they are members of a permitted club or if the weather is unfavourable. The Cave must be locked from within whilst the party is underground. No more than two parties are allowed in the cave at any one time, hence it would be advisable to warn Mr, Young in advance of your intended visit. New Members We welcome the following new members and new Affiliated Club (addresses are included in the Membership List at the end of this Journal): Elected 6.4.63: Mrs. J. Baker (Joint), J.A. Coll, R.F. Haines-Nutt, E.G. Lloyd, P.N. MacSharry, G. Webb. Elected 19.5.63: T. Atkinson, G. Bolt, R. Bridle, S. Causer, Miss J.E.A. Court, Mrs. T.M. Goodge (Joint), A.C. Graham, B. Guttridge, A. Hurworth, Bristol Cathedral School Caving Club. Hut Bookings Bookings for Hillgrove and Eastwater have risen steadily over the past year. Eastwater is quite often full three weekends out of four, and the weekends when Hillgrove is less than half full are very rare. Recently there have been cases where people from long distances have written making bookings for quite large parties at very short notice. One or two letters have arrived so late that if the hut had been full the party could not have been advised in time. To avoid such last minute postponements and disappointments, organisers of parties are asked to book well in advance so that the booking officer can advise the leader if the hut is full and suggest alternative dates to the party concerned. This applies to leaders of parties only, fortunately the majority of party leaders who use Hillgrove already give good notice. Individual members can nearly always find space, and obviously the need for early bookings is not quite so necessary. CLUB MEETS Attention is drawn to the change of date for the Burrington Weekend from July as previously stated to August 17th/l8th. 14th July Fairy Cave Quarry - Balch Cave, Hilliers, etc. etc. Meet at the Quarry 11.0 a.m. Names to D.J. Berry, 1 York Place, Bristol 1. 20th/21st July Hillgrove Weekend - The Hut Warden requests the help of as many members as possible who can spare a few hours over the weekend to assist with the routine maintenance jobs inside and outside the Club Hut. A Fish & Chip Supper will be provided at a small charge on Saturday evening before the social activities get under way. -197- 3rd/4th/5th August Bank Holiday in Devon - Organiser R.J. Staynings, 8 Fanshawe Road, Hengrove, Bristol A. It is proposed to camp as in May last year just outside Buckfastleigh in a pleasant riverside site which should be well away from the Bank Holiday crowds. Visits to most of the caves in the area possible, depending upon demand. Names and suggestions to the organiser please. 17th/l8th August Burrington Weekend - Caving and walking, or merely lazing in the Burrington area, on Saturday afternoon, followed by an outdoor (weather permitting) picnic supper with liquid refreshments in the evening in the environs of the U.B.S.S. headquarters. Further details from Rodney Hobbis, Warren Lodge, Long Ashton, Bristol. 24th/25th August Agen Allwedd - A further visit to the Llangattock area, primarily for those who were disappointed by being turned down on the March visit owing to the limitations on the size of the party. Names at least one month in advance to D.J. Causer, 19 Kenmore Crescent, Filton Park, Bristol 7., for the purpose of obtaining the necessary Nature Conservancy permits. Details of accommodation and camping sites available from Dave Causer who will arrange both strenuous and easier trips.