A Yorkshire sunset, from a photo by Henry Morgan.
The exodus from Bristol before and during exam season is nearly over and some rest, relaxation and dubious music choices will be happening at the Hut on the weekend of 9th, 10th and 11th May. If you're not already on the list for this then contact Social Sec Billy Evans asap.
Members are also in the planning stages for summer trips, and if you're planning some caving adventures outside the UK, don't forget to read the feature below on the sources of grant funding that might be available to assist with your trip. The application deadline is the 18th May, so download the application form now! And a huge thank you to all our members past and present who have made this support possible.
In this issue, Hon President Elaine Oliver has set an extremely high bar for being Well 'Ard and draws parallels between running across the Sahara and caving expos. She's also demonstrated the most extreme example of the expression 'mission creep' we've ever seen. And the moral of that story is clear ... don't let Imogen convince you to go running with her, as you never know where you might end up! There's also the tale of a surprisingly faff-free trip to Yorkshire involving 19 members from all over the country and a vast amount of goulash.
We're open to write ups of all your caving trips and other adventures (and anything that involves photos of camels), so do set fingers to keyboards, or even pen to paper! We'd love to hear from you.
If you would like to check out previous issues, you can find them all here, including the scanned archive of all our paper issues.
Linda and Billy
Members are also in the planning stages for summer trips, and if you're planning some caving adventures outside the UK, don't forget to read the feature below on the sources of grant funding that might be available to assist with your trip. The application deadline is the 18th May, so download the application form now! And a huge thank you to all our members past and present who have made this support possible.
In this issue, Hon President Elaine Oliver has set an extremely high bar for being Well 'Ard and draws parallels between running across the Sahara and caving expos. She's also demonstrated the most extreme example of the expression 'mission creep' we've ever seen. And the moral of that story is clear ... don't let Imogen convince you to go running with her, as you never know where you might end up! There's also the tale of a surprisingly faff-free trip to Yorkshire involving 19 members from all over the country and a vast amount of goulash.
We're open to write ups of all your caving trips and other adventures (and anything that involves photos of camels), so do set fingers to keyboards, or even pen to paper! We'd love to hear from you.
If you would like to check out previous issues, you can find them all here, including the scanned archive of all our paper issues.
Linda and Billy
PS As ever, if the text is in blue and underlined, it's a clickable link, so go on, venture in, you know it makes sense. We had a record number of people click links in the last issue, with 71 people venturing out into the big wide world.
WARNING - THRUPE LANE SWALLET
At the top of Butts' Chamber there is a huge boulder weighing several tons just to the right of the climb up into Upper Butts' Chamber, it is sitting at the top of the steep boulder slope of Butts' Chamber and leaning against the roof.
This boulder has in the last couple of months moved approximately 40mm. The most likely cause is infill beneath it being washed out by the more severe flood events that Thrupe Lane Swallet experiences. If the process continues it may result in the whole boulder slope collapsing along with the boulder towards and blocking the connection to Bridge Rift. It is strongly advised to avoid the area until further assessment and if possible any remedial action has been taken. The wall Atlas diggers built to stabilise the perched boulders above the wall is not the cause of the huge boulder moving but has fortunately brought it to our attention.
The moving boulder is indicated by the yellow arrow.
Note that this will affect any Hobnail/Thrupe Lane Swallet trips and any planned visits to Marble Streamway via Butts' Chamber/Marble Chamber.
Dave King
At the top of Butts' Chamber there is a huge boulder weighing several tons just to the right of the climb up into Upper Butts' Chamber, it is sitting at the top of the steep boulder slope of Butts' Chamber and leaning against the roof.
This boulder has in the last couple of months moved approximately 40mm. The most likely cause is infill beneath it being washed out by the more severe flood events that Thrupe Lane Swallet experiences. If the process continues it may result in the whole boulder slope collapsing along with the boulder towards and blocking the connection to Bridge Rift. It is strongly advised to avoid the area until further assessment and if possible any remedial action has been taken. The wall Atlas diggers built to stabilise the perched boulders above the wall is not the cause of the huge boulder moving but has fortunately brought it to our attention.
The moving boulder is indicated by the yellow arrow.
Note that this will affect any Hobnail/Thrupe Lane Swallet trips and any planned visits to Marble Streamway via Butts' Chamber/Marble Chamber.
Dave King
GOING CAVING ABROAD?
Trat (left) and Lloyd (right). We would love some better photos of them if anyone can oblige.
With expedition season nearly here, there are a lot possibilities for trips this summer. There are two sources of potential funding linked to UBSS: the Tratman Fund and the Oliver Lloyd Memorial Fund. Applications from both funds for this round of travel funding are needed by the 18th May 2025.
Due to the massive generosity of UBSS members and friends past and present, the society is able to draw on two sources of funding to support its activities.
The Tratman Fund was set up in 1979 by the University on the advice of our then president, Professor Bob Savage, who worked with them to establish a fund from the very generous bequest left to them by Professor EK Tratman, known to most people simply as Trat. This is split into two parts. One part funds an occasional PhD scholarship and the other part assists members, especially student members, with overseas travel for caving activities that include speleology or cave archaeology amongst their aims.
In life, Trat was remarkably generous in helping students, especially those participating in Irish expeditions, who would find their travel, accommodation and even their Guinness being paid for out of his own pocket. His bequest to the university has enabled his generosity to live on.
Trat was often joined in Co Clare by our then treasurer, Oliver Lloyd, who also provided transport, drinks and a certain amount of terror on the roads, especially when he used to lift his leg up and down on the clutch after his hip operation! Oliver died in 1985, and shortly after his death Bob Savage suggested that a Trust was set up in Oliver's name to support Proceedings, which Oliver had edited and so the Oliver Lloyd Memorial Fund was born. When printing costs decreased, the remit of the Fund was widened to enable to effectively support any of UBSS's aims and activities. A few years later, Andrew Atkinson organised a UBSS fund-raising telethon and our centenary year in 2019 saw the start of our 100 Pledges effort which aims to gain 100 annual pledges to the Fund which provide a continuing source of income in addition to the investment income that the Fund gains.
To simplify applications, a form has now been produced for travel grant applicants to the Tratman Fund and the Lloyd Fund. Applications can be made to both funds on one form, enabling the trustees to draw any awards from the most appropriate fund. Applications for the 2025 round of travel funding are needed by 18th May 2025 to enable decisions to be made and commuicated by the end of May.
Successful applicants are expected to produce documentary output on return from their trip for one or more of the following: the UBSS website, Proceedings and this Newsletter. Enquires and applications should be made by downloading the application form from here and emailing it to this address. Please group applications together by destination as if several members are going on the same trip a group award will be made via a lead applicant.
Please understand that there's no guarantee that funding will be awarded and remember that decisions will be made solely based on the information received on these forms. As applicants are only likely to receive a contribution to the cost of any trip, so please explore other areas of funding as well e.g. the Ghar Parau Foundation.
If anyone has any queries, please contact the trustees or alternatively message Elaine or Linda on WhatsApp
Trat (left) and Lloyd (right). We would love some better photos of them if anyone can oblige.
With expedition season nearly here, there are a lot possibilities for trips this summer. There are two sources of potential funding linked to UBSS: the Tratman Fund and the Oliver Lloyd Memorial Fund. Applications from both funds for this round of travel funding are needed by the 18th May 2025.
Due to the massive generosity of UBSS members and friends past and present, the society is able to draw on two sources of funding to support its activities.
The Tratman Fund was set up in 1979 by the University on the advice of our then president, Professor Bob Savage, who worked with them to establish a fund from the very generous bequest left to them by Professor EK Tratman, known to most people simply as Trat. This is split into two parts. One part funds an occasional PhD scholarship and the other part assists members, especially student members, with overseas travel for caving activities that include speleology or cave archaeology amongst their aims.
In life, Trat was remarkably generous in helping students, especially those participating in Irish expeditions, who would find their travel, accommodation and even their Guinness being paid for out of his own pocket. His bequest to the university has enabled his generosity to live on.
Trat was often joined in Co Clare by our then treasurer, Oliver Lloyd, who also provided transport, drinks and a certain amount of terror on the roads, especially when he used to lift his leg up and down on the clutch after his hip operation! Oliver died in 1985, and shortly after his death Bob Savage suggested that a Trust was set up in Oliver's name to support Proceedings, which Oliver had edited and so the Oliver Lloyd Memorial Fund was born. When printing costs decreased, the remit of the Fund was widened to enable to effectively support any of UBSS's aims and activities. A few years later, Andrew Atkinson organised a UBSS fund-raising telethon and our centenary year in 2019 saw the start of our 100 Pledges effort which aims to gain 100 annual pledges to the Fund which provide a continuing source of income in addition to the investment income that the Fund gains.
To simplify applications, a form has now been produced for travel grant applicants to the Tratman Fund and the Lloyd Fund. Applications can be made to both funds on one form, enabling the trustees to draw any awards from the most appropriate fund. Applications for the 2025 round of travel funding are needed by 18th May 2025 to enable decisions to be made and commuicated by the end of May.
Successful applicants are expected to produce documentary output on return from their trip for one or more of the following: the UBSS website, Proceedings and this Newsletter. Enquires and applications should be made by downloading the application form from here and emailing it to this address. Please group applications together by destination as if several members are going on the same trip a group award will be made via a lead applicant.
Please understand that there's no guarantee that funding will be awarded and remember that decisions will be made solely based on the information received on these forms. As applicants are only likely to receive a contribution to the cost of any trip, so please explore other areas of funding as well e.g. the Ghar Parau Foundation.
If anyone has any queries, please contact the trustees or alternatively message Elaine or Linda on WhatsApp
GOING FISHING
Dig site, Bone Idle Chamber. Photo by Linda Wilson.
On 11th May the Fishmonger's Swallet Diggers will be in action again, meeting at the Manor House just off Twenty Acres Lane, near Thornbury (see map.)
If you're intending to come, please let Linda Wilson know. Transport can be provided from the tackle store, meeting at 9am, but you will need to be ready to leave by then with your kit already sorted, as we won't be able to wait for the Union to open. Please make sure you have bags for your kit, as everything will be very muddy on the way back.
The main aim of the day is another archaeological dig let by UBSS member Dr Adelle Bricking, but if we have more people than we need for that there'll be an opportunity to cave dig at the end of the cave (see Jess and Joshitha for details, or read the last newsletter). For the archaeological part of the dig we will need a willing hauling party of people stationed at strategic points in the entrance shaft to get buckets to the surface where they will then be decanted into water-filled buckets to soften the mud for sieving. The surface party will be busily softening mud, sieving and doing their best to distinguish bone and pottery from mud, sticks and stones. No prior experience needed as we will have archaeologists on hand to help. Finds of one sort or another are pretty much guaranteed as we rarely find just bare mud down there.
Dog teeth found on the 2023 excavation. The tooth on the left is very worn and might have come from an elderly animal. Photos by Linda Wilson.
There's no need to stay in the same position all day, as it'll be good to switch people around for more muddy fun.
If you're intending to go underground you'll need full caving kit, and even for surface work you'll need to be prepared to get wet and muddy, so bring clean clothes for the drive home, or it'll be a long walk!
Bring your own food and drink. We'll be there all day, and there is likely to be a trip to a local pub afterwards.
Please car share as much as possible as the Manor House (see map) is privately owned and whilst the owners are very accommodating to muddy cavers, this is their home and we need to park carefully so we don't obstruct access, and please be as quiet as you can, as they do have young children. Change as discreetly as possible, as well.
Linda Wilson
Dig site, Bone Idle Chamber. Photo by Linda Wilson.
On 11th May the Fishmonger's Swallet Diggers will be in action again, meeting at the Manor House just off Twenty Acres Lane, near Thornbury (see map.)
If you're intending to come, please let Linda Wilson know. Transport can be provided from the tackle store, meeting at 9am, but you will need to be ready to leave by then with your kit already sorted, as we won't be able to wait for the Union to open. Please make sure you have bags for your kit, as everything will be very muddy on the way back.
The main aim of the day is another archaeological dig let by UBSS member Dr Adelle Bricking, but if we have more people than we need for that there'll be an opportunity to cave dig at the end of the cave (see Jess and Joshitha for details, or read the last newsletter). For the archaeological part of the dig we will need a willing hauling party of people stationed at strategic points in the entrance shaft to get buckets to the surface where they will then be decanted into water-filled buckets to soften the mud for sieving. The surface party will be busily softening mud, sieving and doing their best to distinguish bone and pottery from mud, sticks and stones. No prior experience needed as we will have archaeologists on hand to help. Finds of one sort or another are pretty much guaranteed as we rarely find just bare mud down there.
Dog teeth found on the 2023 excavation. The tooth on the left is very worn and might have come from an elderly animal. Photos by Linda Wilson.
There's no need to stay in the same position all day, as it'll be good to switch people around for more muddy fun.
If you're intending to go underground you'll need full caving kit, and even for surface work you'll need to be prepared to get wet and muddy, so bring clean clothes for the drive home, or it'll be a long walk!
Bring your own food and drink. We'll be there all day, and there is likely to be a trip to a local pub afterwards.
Please car share as much as possible as the Manor House (see map) is privately owned and whilst the owners are very accommodating to muddy cavers, this is their home and we need to park carefully so we don't obstruct access, and please be as quiet as you can, as they do have young children. Change as discreetly as possible, as well.
Linda Wilson
PERSISTENCE PAYS
Andrew Atkinson putting in the first traverse across to the north rift. Photo by Ali Moody.
Every digger hopes for a quick pay off for their effort, but sometimes it's necessary to settle in for the long haul (often literally) and UBSS honorary member Ali Moody knows that better than most. Ali is probably best known for her work in Charterhouse Cave, but perhaps not so well known is the latest success at Longwood Valley Sink where Ali is lead digger, having clocked up a staggering 300 trips so far! Ali has given us some background and an overview of current work.
In 1974 the entrance to a small section of cave, named Longwood Valley Sink (LVS) dig was opened up and dug during the 1990’s by the ATLAS digging team, including Ali and Pete Moody. Over subsequent years, when the dig ceased, the original entrance was lost, buried under a metre of stream sediments. This resulted in flood water overflowing the higher sinks continuing down valley towards Black Rock quarry. During the winter of 2012/13, flood water reached Cheddar Gorge, resulting in the B3135 being closed for three months from the end of November 2012. In February 2013 a small team comprising cavers, Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT) and Natural England re-excavated the entrance pipe to the LVS dig and diverted the water underground, enabling the road to be repaired and reopened shortly after. Subsequent work on a new pipe in the entrance and the surrounding area was carried out by volunteers from the caving community brought together by CCC Ltd with assistance from SWT and their volunteers. The work was funded by Sedgemoor District Council, the Highways Dept, Cheddar Caves and Gorge and CCC Ltd. Following this, digging resumed in the cave by the LVS Digging Team, under the auspices of CCC Ltd.
As above, Andrew Atkinson putting in the first traverse across to the north rift. Photo by Ali Moody.
After a very intensive digging effort in October 2023 in an area known as Tickle Choke, significant progress was made when the team, some of whom were the original diggers from 1974, broke into a sizeable chamber where a steep boulder slope led down to the head of a large 25m deep rift. This first pitch, Century, is aligned north-south and at the base of this the team has descended an 11m pitch in an east-west fault rift. From here the main down cave continuation is a small water worn rift passage heading west. During 2024 this passage was enlarged to where it broke out as a small slot 14m up the side of a massive shaft, estimated to be 40m high, now named Cyclops. Exploration of the cave continues and all discoveries are being assessed, recorded, surveyed and photographed with conservation measures taken as and where required.
Andrew Atkinson putting in the first traverse across to the north rift. Photo by Ali Moody.
Every digger hopes for a quick pay off for their effort, but sometimes it's necessary to settle in for the long haul (often literally) and UBSS honorary member Ali Moody knows that better than most. Ali is probably best known for her work in Charterhouse Cave, but perhaps not so well known is the latest success at Longwood Valley Sink where Ali is lead digger, having clocked up a staggering 300 trips so far! Ali has given us some background and an overview of current work.
In 1974 the entrance to a small section of cave, named Longwood Valley Sink (LVS) dig was opened up and dug during the 1990’s by the ATLAS digging team, including Ali and Pete Moody. Over subsequent years, when the dig ceased, the original entrance was lost, buried under a metre of stream sediments. This resulted in flood water overflowing the higher sinks continuing down valley towards Black Rock quarry. During the winter of 2012/13, flood water reached Cheddar Gorge, resulting in the B3135 being closed for three months from the end of November 2012. In February 2013 a small team comprising cavers, Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT) and Natural England re-excavated the entrance pipe to the LVS dig and diverted the water underground, enabling the road to be repaired and reopened shortly after. Subsequent work on a new pipe in the entrance and the surrounding area was carried out by volunteers from the caving community brought together by CCC Ltd with assistance from SWT and their volunteers. The work was funded by Sedgemoor District Council, the Highways Dept, Cheddar Caves and Gorge and CCC Ltd. Following this, digging resumed in the cave by the LVS Digging Team, under the auspices of CCC Ltd.
As above, Andrew Atkinson putting in the first traverse across to the north rift. Photo by Ali Moody.
After a very intensive digging effort in October 2023 in an area known as Tickle Choke, significant progress was made when the team, some of whom were the original diggers from 1974, broke into a sizeable chamber where a steep boulder slope led down to the head of a large 25m deep rift. This first pitch, Century, is aligned north-south and at the base of this the team has descended an 11m pitch in an east-west fault rift. From here the main down cave continuation is a small water worn rift passage heading west. During 2024 this passage was enlarged to where it broke out as a small slot 14m up the side of a massive shaft, estimated to be 40m high, now named Cyclops. Exploration of the cave continues and all discoveries are being assessed, recorded, surveyed and photographed with conservation measures taken as and where required.
Work restarted in March and it was thought best to investigate out across Cyclops to see if any passages existed at higher level on the far side before tacking possible digs at the bottom. In March, Andrew Atkinson traversed out along the left (south wall) of Cyclops from the entry point reaching a steep unstable rubble slope that led up to a calcite balcony and encouraged us to follow.
Andrew surveying in Cyclops. Photo by Ali Moody.
From the Calcite Balcony, an open rift (north rift) could also be seen across the far side of Cyclops in the north wall. The west passage lowered to an extremely tight bedding squeeze which only Ali and Andrew were able to pass and some 16m further the floor dropped out as a large rift pitch with water entering partway. This squeeze has been partly enlarged but is still tight and requires the removal of all SRT kit.
On the next trip on 12th April, Andrew put in a traverse to the north rift which proved to be another aven and deep shaft. Andrew has now re-bolted this traverse at a lower level to try to make it a bit easier and Cyclops and the west passage have been surveyed with also a splay down the west passage shaft and the north rift shaft. The north rift shaft will be descended in the near future. From the Calcite Balcony the roof of Cyclops is another 28m higher and there appear to be other passages entering in the shaft above. A splay down the pitch at the end of the west passage was 32m at a 70 degree angle and this rift continues off into the distance with a notable echo. This passage also has a good draught. A splay down the north rift pitch gave a reading of 25m.
LVS is starting to feel more like Yorkshire than Mendip. The team have nicknamed the Cyclops area Ali's playground but it feels more like Ali's nightmare!
Ali Moody
DIGGING MAIN SINK - LONGWOOD VALLEY
The late Tony Boycott hauling buckets at Top Sink in 2019. Photo by Linda Wilson.
Water flowing down Longwood Valley on Mendip in flood conditions has in the past caused damage as far downstream as Cheddar Gorge, and on one occasion ripped up the road edge so severely that the road was closed for four months.
The most important flood defence in the Longwood Valley is Main Sink in the stream bed just south of the Longwood entrance blockhouse. To help ensure the water continues to disappear underground here even in the wettest of conditions, the Charterhouse Caving Company Ltd (CCC Ltd) periodically arranges to clear the accumulation of rocks, silt and wood debris that accumulates in the bottom of the sink. This problem has been particularly acute since ash die-back has afflicted the valley.
This year the sink clearance will be taking place on 9th May 2025. Anyone who is available to join the surface digging team will be very welcome. I can offer transport to three people, leaving the tackle store at 9am and returning probably by mid-afternoon. If you're free, all you'll need is old clothes and a helmet (and I can probably supply the latter if needed), insect repellent (if you're susceptible to bites) and something to eat and drink. Please contact Linda Wilson if you'd like to come along.
Linda Wilson
CCC Ltd Conservation Officer
(jointly with Andrew Atkinson)
The most important flood defence in the Longwood Valley is Main Sink in the stream bed just south of the Longwood entrance blockhouse. To help ensure the water continues to disappear underground here even in the wettest of conditions, the Charterhouse Caving Company Ltd (CCC Ltd) periodically arranges to clear the accumulation of rocks, silt and wood debris that accumulates in the bottom of the sink. This problem has been particularly acute since ash die-back has afflicted the valley.
This year the sink clearance will be taking place on 9th May 2025. Anyone who is available to join the surface digging team will be very welcome. I can offer transport to three people, leaving the tackle store at 9am and returning probably by mid-afternoon. If you're free, all you'll need is old clothes and a helmet (and I can probably supply the latter if needed), insect repellent (if you're susceptible to bites) and something to eat and drink. Please contact Linda Wilson if you'd like to come along.
Linda Wilson
CCC Ltd Conservation Officer
(jointly with Andrew Atkinson)
SHORT, ROUND AND SURPRINGLY DRY
Clive (left), Stuart (right). Image courtesy of Stuart, whose camera was on an unusual setting.
If you’re interested in doing a Short Round Trip in Swildon’s Hole in the near future, you might find it unusually dry as Stuart Alldred reports.
After a fun few weeks of losing my job, many many interviews, negotiating salaries and finally accepting an offer, it was time to go caving again. Since I had a few days until the next chapter in my career starts, I thought I’d give Clive a call to see if he was free for a trip. Clive suggested we attempt the Swildons short round, as it had been remarkably dry for several weeks. I had heard that mud sump hadn’t opened as usual the past few years, but was willing to go and see what it was like.
Despite the glorious weather being possibly suited to more above ground activities, we headed out to Priddy (via the Belfry to grab a ladder). While getting changed in the barn, I discovered that my neofleece had shrunk through lack of use this year. (It was definitely not due to all the stress eating to cope with my company rapidly running out of money).
We quickly made our way towards the ladder, stopping via the bath to fill my neocorset with water. The stream was very low, with a nice trickle of a waterfall passing to the side of the climb down. Upon reaching mud sump we discovered that it was low enough to go though on our stomachs, no bailing required at all. In fact, all the ducks could be passed without floating on your back trying to keep your nose out of the water - which was a first for me.
We made quick progress around the passages, briefly getting my bum stuck in birthday squeeze, before heading through Sump 1 and back out into the sunshine in a little over 2 hours. Sadly we had gone caving too early to call into Hunters' on the way home, as we were out of the cave well before they opened. However I would be home in time for dinner for a change.
Whilst dropping Clive back off home, we discovered that we had forgotten to return the ladder to the BEC. So now I’ll have to find an excuse to head back out to Mendip in the near future…oh dear ;-)
Clive (left), Stuart (right). Image courtesy of Stuart, whose camera was on an unusual setting.
If you’re interested in doing a Short Round Trip in Swildon’s Hole in the near future, you might find it unusually dry as Stuart Alldred reports.
After a fun few weeks of losing my job, many many interviews, negotiating salaries and finally accepting an offer, it was time to go caving again. Since I had a few days until the next chapter in my career starts, I thought I’d give Clive a call to see if he was free for a trip. Clive suggested we attempt the Swildons short round, as it had been remarkably dry for several weeks. I had heard that mud sump hadn’t opened as usual the past few years, but was willing to go and see what it was like.
Despite the glorious weather being possibly suited to more above ground activities, we headed out to Priddy (via the Belfry to grab a ladder). While getting changed in the barn, I discovered that my neofleece had shrunk through lack of use this year. (It was definitely not due to all the stress eating to cope with my company rapidly running out of money).
We quickly made our way towards the ladder, stopping via the bath to fill my neocorset with water. The stream was very low, with a nice trickle of a waterfall passing to the side of the climb down. Upon reaching mud sump we discovered that it was low enough to go though on our stomachs, no bailing required at all. In fact, all the ducks could be passed without floating on your back trying to keep your nose out of the water - which was a first for me.
We made quick progress around the passages, briefly getting my bum stuck in birthday squeeze, before heading through Sump 1 and back out into the sunshine in a little over 2 hours. Sadly we had gone caving too early to call into Hunters' on the way home, as we were out of the cave well before they opened. However I would be home in time for dinner for a change.
Whilst dropping Clive back off home, we discovered that we had forgotten to return the ladder to the BEC. So now I’ll have to find an excuse to head back out to Mendip in the near future…oh dear ;-)
Stuart Alldred
MISSING!
Can you help solve the Mystery of the Missing page? Graham Mullan was surprised to find a small gap in one issue of our online Newsletter archive newsletter archive and is appealing for help from all members to check your copies, if you still have them, as he explains ...
I was talking recently to Julian Walford, who is shortly going to Co. Clare, about the Poulnagollum-Poulelva through trip. He recalled taking E.K. Tratman, our then President, on this trip at Easter 1974. I wasn’t there and could only recall the occasion when Trat’s broke the age record for the Doolin-St Catherine’s trip back in Easter 1973. I wasn’t there for that, either, but had read about it.
Julian eventually traced a record of the Easter 1974 trip in the Summer 1974 Newsletter but it’s incomplete as there seems to be a page missing. I checked my paper copy, from which the scan came and, yes, the report for March 28th starts halfway through at the top of a page. Is this how the Newsletter went out, or does anyone else have a more complete copy somewhere which I can scan for the archive? If you can, please check and let me know, then I can fix this omission and be a Happy Completeist.
Can you help solve the Mystery of the Missing page? Graham Mullan was surprised to find a small gap in one issue of our online Newsletter archive newsletter archive and is appealing for help from all members to check your copies, if you still have them, as he explains ...
I was talking recently to Julian Walford, who is shortly going to Co. Clare, about the Poulnagollum-Poulelva through trip. He recalled taking E.K. Tratman, our then President, on this trip at Easter 1974. I wasn’t there and could only recall the occasion when Trat’s broke the age record for the Doolin-St Catherine’s trip back in Easter 1973. I wasn’t there for that, either, but had read about it.
Julian eventually traced a record of the Easter 1974 trip in the Summer 1974 Newsletter but it’s incomplete as there seems to be a page missing. I checked my paper copy, from which the scan came and, yes, the report for March 28th starts halfway through at the top of a page. Is this how the Newsletter went out, or does anyone else have a more complete copy somewhere which I can scan for the archive? If you can, please check and let me know, then I can fix this omission and be a Happy Completeist.
Graham Mullan
WEASELS ASSEMBLE!
Pen-y-Gent on a weekend of blue skies and warm sunshine; utterly unlike a usual weekend in Yorkshire. Photo by Graham Mullan.
On the first weekend of April a UBSS group informally known as the Weasels (for reasons now forgotten) met up at the YSG in sunny Yorkshire for an incredibly organised weekend of excellent caving. Kat Osei-Mensah has preserved this for posterity with the following write up.
A weekend of surprising logistical brilliance began with the early arrival of ‘Uncle Paul’ Savage and Dan Hill, who went for a Friday cave while the rest of us converged on the YSG from Bristol, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the Highlands of Scotland.
Dan Hill in Sunset Hole. Photos by Paul Savage.
Having no other form of entertainment, we amused ourselves tracking people's progress on various apps and even starting a league table of arrivals. It was almost exciting at times with a spirited commentary from Linda!
At this point, things got quite exciting for a moment when Jacob's position froze in the middle of a river. Note the lack of any bridge. Screenshot by Graham Mullan.
Haydon continued the organisational theme by not just organising a menu for the weekend and a firkin of Butcombe, but also a Sainsbury's delivery direct to the hut, and a little notebook for the pint tally. The delivery arrived as expected early in the morning, but Haydon's theory that Linda and Graham might be the first up up to recieve the goodies proved wrong as they had a lazy lie-in with the dogs in their campervan parket next to the cottage.
The call out board for Saturday.
Saturday morning saw a bunch of really-not-that-hungover cavers packing ropes, sorting rigging gear, and polishing our SRT skills on the YSG’s incredible indoor practice area before going underground.
Imogen refreshing her skills. Warning: don't try this at home. Photo by Linda Wilson.
Then we all pootled off across the sunny Yorkshire hills for a delightful day of caving. Caves were caved, call outs were cancelled on time, and people got back early enough to make a massive goulash, chopping what appeared to be the equivalent by weight of an entire cow, plus a veggie alternative. Crumble was consumed, copious beer was drunk, and Imogen insisted we all played games. All very civilised - we even had a cheeseboard.
Caves being caved. South East Pot from Wade's. Photo by Paul Savage.
Cavers ready to cave. Left to right: Jacob Podesta, Ash Gregg, Haydon Saunders, Zac Woodford, Merryn Matthews, Elliott McCall, Henry Morgan, Si Hadfield.
Yes, we ate a lot of goulash! And yes, it really did need that much paprika!!
Conscious of the long drive home, we blitzed the hut tidy on Sunday morning and then headed out for either more caving or a swim in Catsgill Force followed by beer garden pints and chips. Again, very civilised and all positively adult. Not like us at all!
Megan (left) and Linda (right) enjoying the water. Photo by Kat Osei-Mensah.
When I joined UBSS it was under the centennial banner of ‘100 years of faff’ but this weekend of seasoned UBSS-sters felt like a well oiled caving machine. No one got lost, everyone got fed very well, we caught up with weasels from all over the country. We all had a lovely time.
The roll-call of weasels present (and mostly correct) was as follows: Hayden Saunders, Henry Morgan, Elliott McCall, Dan Hill; Jacob Podesta, Zac Woodford, Imogen Clement, Sam Bowers, Kat Osei-Mensah, Jakob Annerdal, Paul Savage, Merryn Matthews, Ash Gregg, Si Hadfield, Gabriel Littler, Jake Reich, Megan Malpas, Linda Wilson, Graham Mullan.
Trips: White Scar (show cave); Sunset Hole main streamway; Lost John's to Boxhead exchange via Tate Gallery; Lost John's Monastery Route; Wade's to Bar Pot exchange via Main Chamber; Yordas; Swinsto.
Pen-y-Gent on a weekend of blue skies and warm sunshine; utterly unlike a usual weekend in Yorkshire. Photo by Graham Mullan.
On the first weekend of April a UBSS group informally known as the Weasels (for reasons now forgotten) met up at the YSG in sunny Yorkshire for an incredibly organised weekend of excellent caving. Kat Osei-Mensah has preserved this for posterity with the following write up.
A weekend of surprising logistical brilliance began with the early arrival of ‘Uncle Paul’ Savage and Dan Hill, who went for a Friday cave while the rest of us converged on the YSG from Bristol, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the Highlands of Scotland.
Dan Hill in Sunset Hole. Photos by Paul Savage.
Having no other form of entertainment, we amused ourselves tracking people's progress on various apps and even starting a league table of arrivals. It was almost exciting at times with a spirited commentary from Linda!
At this point, things got quite exciting for a moment when Jacob's position froze in the middle of a river. Note the lack of any bridge. Screenshot by Graham Mullan.
Haydon continued the organisational theme by not just organising a menu for the weekend and a firkin of Butcombe, but also a Sainsbury's delivery direct to the hut, and a little notebook for the pint tally. The delivery arrived as expected early in the morning, but Haydon's theory that Linda and Graham might be the first up up to recieve the goodies proved wrong as they had a lazy lie-in with the dogs in their campervan parket next to the cottage.
The call out board for Saturday.
Saturday morning saw a bunch of really-not-that-hungover cavers packing ropes, sorting rigging gear, and polishing our SRT skills on the YSG’s incredible indoor practice area before going underground.
Imogen refreshing her skills. Warning: don't try this at home. Photo by Linda Wilson.
Then we all pootled off across the sunny Yorkshire hills for a delightful day of caving. Caves were caved, call outs were cancelled on time, and people got back early enough to make a massive goulash, chopping what appeared to be the equivalent by weight of an entire cow, plus a veggie alternative. Crumble was consumed, copious beer was drunk, and Imogen insisted we all played games. All very civilised - we even had a cheeseboard.
Caves being caved. South East Pot from Wade's. Photo by Paul Savage.
Cavers ready to cave. Left to right: Jacob Podesta, Ash Gregg, Haydon Saunders, Zac Woodford, Merryn Matthews, Elliott McCall, Henry Morgan, Si Hadfield.
Yes, we ate a lot of goulash! And yes, it really did need that much paprika!!
Conscious of the long drive home, we blitzed the hut tidy on Sunday morning and then headed out for either more caving or a swim in Catsgill Force followed by beer garden pints and chips. Again, very civilised and all positively adult. Not like us at all!
Megan (left) and Linda (right) enjoying the water. Photo by Kat Osei-Mensah.
When I joined UBSS it was under the centennial banner of ‘100 years of faff’ but this weekend of seasoned UBSS-sters felt like a well oiled caving machine. No one got lost, everyone got fed very well, we caught up with weasels from all over the country. We all had a lovely time.
The roll-call of weasels present (and mostly correct) was as follows: Hayden Saunders, Henry Morgan, Elliott McCall, Dan Hill; Jacob Podesta, Zac Woodford, Imogen Clement, Sam Bowers, Kat Osei-Mensah, Jakob Annerdal, Paul Savage, Merryn Matthews, Ash Gregg, Si Hadfield, Gabriel Littler, Jake Reich, Megan Malpas, Linda Wilson, Graham Mullan.
Trips: White Scar (show cave); Sunset Hole main streamway; Lost John's to Boxhead exchange via Tate Gallery; Lost John's Monastery Route; Wade's to Bar Pot exchange via Main Chamber; Yordas; Swinsto.
Kat Osei-Mensah
AN AVON GORGE CAVE IN THE 19TH CENTURY
A paper in last year’s Proceedings outlined the successful identification of the cave in a painting by JMW Turner in the Avon Gorge. On a recent visit to the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Graham came across another cave in a historic painting on display, so we're going all arty again!
An 1824 painting by Francis Danby (1793 - 1861) also shows a cave entrance in the Gorge. Danby was the central figure in a group of artists who have come to be known as the Bristol School.
The cave in this painting is much easier to identify. Danby painted the view from the bottom of Nightingale Valley looking across the River Avon (which is just visible through the trees) at what our climbing friends would call Suspension Bridge Buttress but which was then known as St. Vincent’s Rock. The circular building in the top left is the Observatory, built in 1766 but derelict at the time this was painted. The cave entrance is below and to the right of the Observatory and is where a balcony is now situated. The cave is now often called Observatory Cave, but the tunnel connecting it to that building was not dug until 1837 and at this time the cave went by several names: Ghyston’s Cave, Giant’s Cave or St. Vincent’s Cave.
Information given with the painting.
Although there are now numerous small caves known throughout the Gorge, this cave and the two mentioned in the 2024 paper were the only known sites on the north side of the Gorge. However, Burwalls Cave, on the south side, was also accessible as a grafitto made by the poet Robert Southey has been recorded there. I’ve never found it, but if anyone does then Linda would be very keen to see this (and might even offer a prize to whoever can find and photograph this!).
A paper in last year’s Proceedings outlined the successful identification of the cave in a painting by JMW Turner in the Avon Gorge. On a recent visit to the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Graham came across another cave in a historic painting on display, so we're going all arty again!
An 1824 painting by Francis Danby (1793 - 1861) also shows a cave entrance in the Gorge. Danby was the central figure in a group of artists who have come to be known as the Bristol School.
The cave in this painting is much easier to identify. Danby painted the view from the bottom of Nightingale Valley looking across the River Avon (which is just visible through the trees) at what our climbing friends would call Suspension Bridge Buttress but which was then known as St. Vincent’s Rock. The circular building in the top left is the Observatory, built in 1766 but derelict at the time this was painted. The cave entrance is below and to the right of the Observatory and is where a balcony is now situated. The cave is now often called Observatory Cave, but the tunnel connecting it to that building was not dug until 1837 and at this time the cave went by several names: Ghyston’s Cave, Giant’s Cave or St. Vincent’s Cave.
Information given with the painting.
Although there are now numerous small caves known throughout the Gorge, this cave and the two mentioned in the 2024 paper were the only known sites on the north side of the Gorge. However, Burwalls Cave, on the south side, was also accessible as a grafitto made by the poet Robert Southey has been recorded there. I’ve never found it, but if anyone does then Linda would be very keen to see this (and might even offer a prize to whoever can find and photograph this!).
Graham Mullan
CCC LTD NEWS
Andrew Atkinson by the entrance of Longwood Swallet. Photo by Linda Wilson.
The AGM of the Charterhouse Caving Company Ltd (CCC Ltd was held by Zoom on 9th April 2024. Graham Mullan represented UBSS, who are one of the 11 clubs that make up this limited company. The company controls access to the caves under the two nature reserves known as Gruffy Field and Longwood Valley/Velvet Bottom.
The conservation plans for the two reserves underlying land owned by Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT) ate due for renewal this year as 2025 marks ten years from when the plans were last signed by CCC Ltd, SWT and Natural England (NE). Linda Wilson, CCC Ltd's Conservation Officer has worked on the renewal with Chris Eyles from SWT and the revised plans were approved at the recent AGM. They now need to be submitted to and ratified by NE. There are no major changes to the plans as the conservation regime for the caves is considered to be achieving the aim of protecting both the scientific and aethetic value of the caves as far as possible whilst still allowing relatively unfettered caver access.
The new plans incorporate the lowering of the age limit for visiting cavers to 12 and the various precautions needed due to the advance of ash die-back in Longwood Valley and the closure of the permissive path in the valley to all except cavers. Please remember that helmets must be worn at all times while you are in the Longwood Valley reserve and please be aware of the fact that ash die-back poses a very real threat to visitors so don't enter the reserve in high winds as this dramatically increases the danger from falling trees and branches. As part of the ongoing risk assessment for continued access, if you visit either Longwood Swallet or Rhino Rift, please report the date of the trip and the number in the party to Linda Wilson as Conservation Officer as all clubs need to keep records of visits and pass these to CCC Ltd on an annual basis. There is now a considerable amount of fallen wood, turning the valley into an obstacle course even vefore the caves are reached.
The current officers are:- Chair, Dave King; Directors, Dave King, Pete Hann, Alan Grey, Graham Price, Gabriel Littler; Secretary, Gabriel Littler, Conservation Officers, Linda Wilson and Andrew Atkinson.
In addition to the approval of the conservation plans, CCC Ltd also approved new procedures for digging applications and for the conservation wardens. Copies are available on request and will be up on the CCC Ltd website in due course.
The UBSS conservation wardens for Charterhouse Cave are Clive Owen and Andrew Atkinson. Please contact them if you would like a trip into one of the finest caves on Mendip. Party size is limited to three plus warden. The cave is strenuous and, like all CCC Ltd caves is not available to cavers who have not yet done four caves as they are not suitable for novices. Under the provisions of the new conservation plans, clubs can request a third warden if they are able to demonstrate a need for this.
Andrew Atkinson by the entrance of Longwood Swallet. Photo by Linda Wilson.
The AGM of the Charterhouse Caving Company Ltd (CCC Ltd was held by Zoom on 9th April 2024. Graham Mullan represented UBSS, who are one of the 11 clubs that make up this limited company. The company controls access to the caves under the two nature reserves known as Gruffy Field and Longwood Valley/Velvet Bottom.
The conservation plans for the two reserves underlying land owned by Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT) ate due for renewal this year as 2025 marks ten years from when the plans were last signed by CCC Ltd, SWT and Natural England (NE). Linda Wilson, CCC Ltd's Conservation Officer has worked on the renewal with Chris Eyles from SWT and the revised plans were approved at the recent AGM. They now need to be submitted to and ratified by NE. There are no major changes to the plans as the conservation regime for the caves is considered to be achieving the aim of protecting both the scientific and aethetic value of the caves as far as possible whilst still allowing relatively unfettered caver access.
The new plans incorporate the lowering of the age limit for visiting cavers to 12 and the various precautions needed due to the advance of ash die-back in Longwood Valley and the closure of the permissive path in the valley to all except cavers. Please remember that helmets must be worn at all times while you are in the Longwood Valley reserve and please be aware of the fact that ash die-back poses a very real threat to visitors so don't enter the reserve in high winds as this dramatically increases the danger from falling trees and branches. As part of the ongoing risk assessment for continued access, if you visit either Longwood Swallet or Rhino Rift, please report the date of the trip and the number in the party to Linda Wilson as Conservation Officer as all clubs need to keep records of visits and pass these to CCC Ltd on an annual basis. There is now a considerable amount of fallen wood, turning the valley into an obstacle course even vefore the caves are reached.
The current officers are:- Chair, Dave King; Directors, Dave King, Pete Hann, Alan Grey, Graham Price, Gabriel Littler; Secretary, Gabriel Littler, Conservation Officers, Linda Wilson and Andrew Atkinson.
In addition to the approval of the conservation plans, CCC Ltd also approved new procedures for digging applications and for the conservation wardens. Copies are available on request and will be up on the CCC Ltd website in due course.
The UBSS conservation wardens for Charterhouse Cave are Clive Owen and Andrew Atkinson. Please contact them if you would like a trip into one of the finest caves on Mendip. Party size is limited to three plus warden. The cave is strenuous and, like all CCC Ltd caves is not available to cavers who have not yet done four caves as they are not suitable for novices. Under the provisions of the new conservation plans, clubs can request a third warden if they are able to demonstrate a need for this.
Linda Wilson
LOOK AFTER YOUR FEET!
Our Hon. President Elaine Oliver recently glimpsed a cave at a distance while running across the Sahara, as you do, and offers some advice that's equally applicable to caving expeditions as it is to an ultra-marathon in the desert.
Our Hon. President Elaine Oliver recently glimpsed a cave at a distance while running across the Sahara, as you do, and offers some advice that's equally applicable to caving expeditions as it is to an ultra-marathon in the desert.
The Marathon des Sables is a self-supported seven-day, 250km foot race (155 miles in old money) across the Sahara. In almost 40 years since it was first held, roughly half as many people have finished it as ran the London Marathon this weekend. It had been in the back of my mind for years. And this month, I became one of those people.
How did I get there?
It started, as many ideas within UBSS do, over a pint of Guinness on Whiteladies Road. Imogen was busy convincing me I’d be fit enough to run from Bath to Bristol with her the coming weekend (around 2.5x the distance I was regularly running at the time). During that run, we remarked how I’d only need to cover the same distance nine more times and that would be the Marathon des Sables.
This is what happens when you take a wrong turn on the way from Bristol to Bath.
And so, with only one previous marathon under my belt (Médoc, which includes 23 wine tasting stops en route!), I took that tentative first step into the world of ultramarathons.
Fear is a strong word, but despite training since October I felt intimidated in a way caving expeditions have never made me feel. The sheer number of unknowns were what made it feel so daunting (Will my shoes rub? How will I cope with the heat? Should I have gone for those funny toe sock things? Have I packed enough food? Have I packed too much food?) – plus the fact I was going to be doing this completely by myself, without a safety net of seasoned exped-goers behind me.
All I knew was that despite what might go wrong, finishing would be non-negotiable.
This is what happens when you rely on Google Maps. Definitely not Bath or Bristol. Maybe it's the Cotswolds?
A week after entering the Moroccan desert, I crossed the finish line having had one of the best weeks in the great outdoors of my life. My bivi-mates became my family; my kit, training and nutrition all worked as well as I could have hoped, even if I can’t face looking at Oatso for some time yet. I got only two tiny blisters, and I actually began to feel stronger as the days went by and my body adapted to the environment and the work I was asking of it.
My strategy for the race was to finish each day feeling strong enough to complete the next, and this approach had several angles. Firstly, food. Despite having the second-lightest pack weight in my bivi, I had far and away the most calories with an average of around 3,700 per day – when I coordinated the food for the Totes Gebirge expo I learned a lot about calorie density! (Coconut chips and macadamia nuts, since you didn’t ask.) I knew I’d still be running a deficit (and I did end up around half a stone lighter by the end), but my tent-mates constantly exclaiming ‘are you eating AGAIN??’ meant I knew I was doing it right. I saw people later in the race suffer badly because they’d ditched food early on thinking it was extra weight they wouldn’t need.
Hmm, we're not in Kansas any more, Toto.
Next up: on expo, there’s no point in racing to camp one day only for the Plateau Monster to bite you so you can only limp through the next. Likewise, there’s no point in blitzing through a wadi full of thorn bushes to save ten minutes if you wake up the next day with your legs in tatters. The smart decision is to slow down and look where you’re putting your feet. When I joined the Mulu expedition a few years ago, I learned to protect my feet at all costs: my ‘luxury’ underground camp item was a bag of foot powder which I dipped my toes in every time we got back to our sleeping spot. This routine meant I was just about the only one that didn’t end up with some sort of awful foot-rot! For the MdS, I dedicated valuable backpack-grams to a couple of fresh pairs of socks, which were honestly the most lovely thing to slip into come the Long Day, at a time when many other peoples’ socks could stand up by themselves.
Sticking to a routine was another core tenet of my race strategy. Just like in Mulu, as soon as I got back at the end of the day, the shoes and socks came off, then I made sure to eat some carbs, drink some water, stretch out and elevate my legs for a bit, before beginning my prep for the next day. I kept myself as clean as I could with biodegradable body wipes (allocation of 2 per day!) to keep prickly heat at bay. New batteries in the head torch if the stage was going to continue into the night (any self-respecting caver would know that! But I saw more than one person scrabbling in their backpack for batteries as darkness fell in the desert). At every single checkpoint, I had a little mantra I’d mentally check off: water, electrolyte, eat, suncream, toilet – so when I was exhausted, it was all programmed in there for me to run through, just like when I meet a rebelay in a cave: ‘Short where you’re going, long where you’ve been’, anyone??
I knew I'd find a cave somewhere if I looked hard enough!
Finally, I knew if I was going to make it around in decent nick, I needed to be selective about where I used my energy. Although it’s called a marathon, this is definitely not a 250-km run – even the winners walk sections. There’s almost no time benefit to be gained trying to run heavy sand – you won’t actually be much quicker than walking. So I saved my legs for the better terrain, or when I could see a photographer up ahead! I was the tortoise with consistent pacing and minimal breaks, and I found myself overtaking hares who’d flown past me earlier in the day – in some cases literally asleep at the side of the route. Double marathon day (the Long Day) was when I really drew on my experience of lengthy caving trips, and words passed on by those more experienced than me: “When you feel completely fucked and it’ll be hours 'til you can get out, you need to remember that you’re probably actually still at about 60%”. The body truly is stronger than the mind would have you believe, so I gritted my teeth, pretended I was at the bottom of Tunnocks, and just kept going. The double marathon day was my best placing of the whole event.
So to sum up, if I could offer ten words of advice to anyone considering a caving expedition or an ultramarathon alike: Pace yourself, plenty of snacks, and look after your feet.
Elaine Oliver
DWERJA BAY, GOZO
By Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=119041882.
Our Man in Malta, Hans Friederich, tells the story of Dwejra Bay in Gozo.
Malta has few significant caves, with only a handful of short passages that are mostly of archaeological interest. However, the countryside features several fascinating karst formations, shaped by the island’s limestone geology.
Dwerja Bay is an impressive flooded karst depression on the island of Gozo. The theory is that it was formed after dissolution of underground evaporites during the Miocene. While no known caves connect to this depression, it is part of a series of similar formations, as shown on the above map by Soldati (2013). This one, Dwejra Bay, stands out as the most prominent.
Photo by Hans Freiderich.
The solitary rock guarding its entrance is Fungus Rock. The Knights Hospitaller discovered a rare plant, commonly called the Maltese fungus, growing on its flat summit. Despite its name, this plant is not a fungus but a parasitic flowering species. At the time, it was believed to have medicinal properties, and the Knights valued it so highly that they gifted it to noblemen and distinguished visitors.
In 1746, Grand Master Pinto declared the rock off-limits, posting a permanent guard in the nearby tower and even smoothing its sides to prevent unauthorized access. The tower has recently been restored as a historic monument.
The Azure Window before its collapse. Berit Watkin from Redhill/Surrey, UK, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
Another once-famous landmark of Dwejra Bay was the Azure Window, a 28-meter-tall natural arch that stood north of the bay. A major tourist attraction, it appeared in numerous international films and media productions. However, it collapsed into the sea during a storm on 8th March 2017, leaving its remains scattered underwater. This photo is from Wikimedia in 2009.
References:
SOLDATI M., TONELLI C. & GALVE J.P., Geomorphological evolution of palaeosinkhole features in the Maltese archipelago (Mediterranean Sea). (IT ISSN 0391-9838, 2013).
https://eurogeologists.eu/gatt-evaporite-dissolution-sinkholes-in-the-dwejra-depression-malta/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azure_Window
By Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=119041882.
Our Man in Malta, Hans Friederich, tells the story of Dwejra Bay in Gozo.
Malta has few significant caves, with only a handful of short passages that are mostly of archaeological interest. However, the countryside features several fascinating karst formations, shaped by the island’s limestone geology.
Dwerja Bay is an impressive flooded karst depression on the island of Gozo. The theory is that it was formed after dissolution of underground evaporites during the Miocene. While no known caves connect to this depression, it is part of a series of similar formations, as shown on the above map by Soldati (2013). This one, Dwejra Bay, stands out as the most prominent.
Photo by Hans Freiderich.
The solitary rock guarding its entrance is Fungus Rock. The Knights Hospitaller discovered a rare plant, commonly called the Maltese fungus, growing on its flat summit. Despite its name, this plant is not a fungus but a parasitic flowering species. At the time, it was believed to have medicinal properties, and the Knights valued it so highly that they gifted it to noblemen and distinguished visitors.
In 1746, Grand Master Pinto declared the rock off-limits, posting a permanent guard in the nearby tower and even smoothing its sides to prevent unauthorized access. The tower has recently been restored as a historic monument.
The Azure Window before its collapse. Berit Watkin from Redhill/Surrey, UK, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
Another once-famous landmark of Dwejra Bay was the Azure Window, a 28-meter-tall natural arch that stood north of the bay. A major tourist attraction, it appeared in numerous international films and media productions. However, it collapsed into the sea during a storm on 8th March 2017, leaving its remains scattered underwater. This photo is from Wikimedia in 2009.
Hans Friederich
References:
SOLDATI M., TONELLI C. & GALVE J.P., Geomorphological evolution of palaeosinkhole features in the Maltese archipelago (Mediterranean Sea). (IT ISSN 0391-9838, 2013).
https://eurogeologists.eu/gatt-evaporite-dissolution-sinkholes-in-the-dwejra-depression-malta/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azure_Window
BEANS, BLACK TIE AND ORGANS
Our occasional guest author, Jenny Neale (aka Isaac's mum) returns with some thoughts about singing, misplaced beans and her offspring's organ.
I believe at a recent UBSS dinner, singing took place. And I’ve been advised that although the chorus was ‘hearty’ that some of the verses were less well known. Now, as black-tie annual dinners go, perhaps folk song, especially of the caving variety, is best left for the caving hut or less formal places? But perhaps youth of today are not always aware of the ‘appropriate practises and expectations’ around dining …. further proof being the half-eaten plate of baked beans, with knife and fork left neatly at angles across the top, that was found recently in the back of a caver’s car …. sometime after it had been left.
But this article is about singing, not William’s misplaced plate of beans. What I will say though is if you are going grace a formal gala with song, make sure you know the words and are confident in execution. As the oldest university caving club, have some standards – if not in dining protocol - in your song!
And I’ve an offer to help you. The opportunity to acquire a musical instrument, fit for your UBSS caving hut, to sit alongside the music speakers in the woods. Yours free! I might even arrange delivery.
It, the organ, needs a little tinkering; possibly by an electronics student, the volume is a little too quiet. But what’s a volume issue to UBSS, the club with a wild spirit of adventure and Russell group students? I think your caving hut set up says it all.
Embrace continuing to reawaken that feeling of bygone years. I note you, it seemed, started a new trend in visits and write ups about Sump 9 – very impressive squeeze, Mr Rose. Although perhaps embracing an organ, rather than almost having your ribs broken is a lot safer and possibly more fun. Let’s see you start the trend of organs being homed at caving huts. Like your recent trip, you won’t be the first (there is one in a Scottish caving hut) but sometimes it’s not about being the first.
So what say you?
Imagine, your next annual dinner, well-practised, belting out and banging with pride Hard Caver to the merry and wall shaking tune of Wild Rover. Just select the venue with care, once their walls start shaking and the common parlance of folk gets grubby, they may not welcome your return.
So, free to the UBSS hut one almost working classic (with foot pedals and dual keyboards) electric organ that my caver child has been storing in the garage since their 2024 Easter trip to a Scottish cave hut which had an organ.
I should add they didn’t steal the organ from the Scottish hut, they saved another from the tip – although the owners did suggest it would make a decent drinks cabinet. Bonus! But if you do decide it’s as a drinks cabinet you want it (or endeavour to mend its organ features fail) I’ve anice interesting, almost full bottle of Welsh garlic vodka, ideal for the 3am shelf.
Our occasional guest author, Jenny Neale (aka Isaac's mum) returns with some thoughts about singing, misplaced beans and her offspring's organ.
I believe at a recent UBSS dinner, singing took place. And I’ve been advised that although the chorus was ‘hearty’ that some of the verses were less well known. Now, as black-tie annual dinners go, perhaps folk song, especially of the caving variety, is best left for the caving hut or less formal places? But perhaps youth of today are not always aware of the ‘appropriate practises and expectations’ around dining …. further proof being the half-eaten plate of baked beans, with knife and fork left neatly at angles across the top, that was found recently in the back of a caver’s car …. sometime after it had been left.
But this article is about singing, not William’s misplaced plate of beans. What I will say though is if you are going grace a formal gala with song, make sure you know the words and are confident in execution. As the oldest university caving club, have some standards – if not in dining protocol - in your song!
And I’ve an offer to help you. The opportunity to acquire a musical instrument, fit for your UBSS caving hut, to sit alongside the music speakers in the woods. Yours free! I might even arrange delivery.
It, the organ, needs a little tinkering; possibly by an electronics student, the volume is a little too quiet. But what’s a volume issue to UBSS, the club with a wild spirit of adventure and Russell group students? I think your caving hut set up says it all.
Embrace continuing to reawaken that feeling of bygone years. I note you, it seemed, started a new trend in visits and write ups about Sump 9 – very impressive squeeze, Mr Rose. Although perhaps embracing an organ, rather than almost having your ribs broken is a lot safer and possibly more fun. Let’s see you start the trend of organs being homed at caving huts. Like your recent trip, you won’t be the first (there is one in a Scottish caving hut) but sometimes it’s not about being the first.
So what say you?
Imagine, your next annual dinner, well-practised, belting out and banging with pride Hard Caver to the merry and wall shaking tune of Wild Rover. Just select the venue with care, once their walls start shaking and the common parlance of folk gets grubby, they may not welcome your return.
So, free to the UBSS hut one almost working classic (with foot pedals and dual keyboards) electric organ that my caver child has been storing in the garage since their 2024 Easter trip to a Scottish cave hut which had an organ.
I should add they didn’t steal the organ from the Scottish hut, they saved another from the tip – although the owners did suggest it would make a decent drinks cabinet. Bonus! But if you do decide it’s as a drinks cabinet you want it (or endeavour to mend its organ features fail) I’ve a
Jenny Neale
SAY HELLO TO WATSON WEASEL!
Yes, yes, we know, Bing AI can't f**king spell, but we liked this weasel, so sue us. Our excuse will be that it takes at least a day to put the newsletter together, so on this occasion we didn't have time to faff with applying paint.net to improve the spelling. Do drop us a line if you've got this far, it warms the cockles of our exhausted little editorial hearts to get your comments. We might even distribute a random prize to the first student to emerge from the fog of exams and make it this far! So go on, give it a try ...
- You are very adorable, Mr Prickles! Fab newsletter, with terrific trip write-ups. Pen Park Hole and Fishmongers are both fascinating. (And you're welcome, Moon, for the "changing room". Both of you were very respectful, and will be welcome back!) [Jan Walker]
- Heavens to Betsy, there's some serious mud there! Spiffing reports and pix. And Mr Prickles sounds a thoroughly sound chap. FT Bear thinks a trip to Goatchurch would be in order. [Sharon Wheeler and the intrepid FT Bear]
- So lovely to see families taking their kids underground. Reminded me of when I was little. How long until they're running UBSS and we can have a rest? [Jess Brock]
- Good read as always! [Dan Runcan]
- Excellent. I loved seeing all those happy smiling kids. Start them young… [Dick Willis]
- Very nice to see the new Committee, and good luck to them! [Hans Friederich]
- Mouldridge mine, not Marshfeld. No idea why my phone autocorrects that. Oops. [Stuart Alldred]
Excellent newsletter as usual! Of all the clubs I am and have been a member of, the current UBSS newsletter sets a really high bar! Sorry I missed the AGM and dinner (although not too sorry as I was on holiday) – and I’ll see some of you in the Dales! [Paul Savage]
- Love Uliana's reasons to go caving! I will use that as scientific evidence for why caving is brilliant procrastination 😉 [Merryn Matthews]
- Thank you for all your hard work! Very much appreciated and it emphasises just what a great organisation the UBSS is. [Tim Hill]
- It made me happy seeing Jess's apocalyptically muddy kit laid out in our garden after her and Joshitha's dig at Fishmonger's, and it made me happy again to read about it in the newsletter! [Mia Jacobs]
Hello, Watson Weasel, delighted to make your acquaintance!
THE END
Yes, yes, we know, Bing AI can't f**king spell, but we liked this weasel, so sue us. Our excuse will be that it takes at least a day to put the newsletter together, so on this occasion we didn't have time to faff with applying paint.net to improve the spelling. Do drop us a line if you've got this far, it warms the cockles of our exhausted little editorial hearts to get your comments. We might even distribute a random prize to the first student to emerge from the fog of exams and make it this far! So go on, give it a try ...
- You are very adorable, Mr Prickles! Fab newsletter, with terrific trip write-ups. Pen Park Hole and Fishmongers are both fascinating. (And you're welcome, Moon, for the "changing room". Both of you were very respectful, and will be welcome back!) [Jan Walker]
- Heavens to Betsy, there's some serious mud there! Spiffing reports and pix. And Mr Prickles sounds a thoroughly sound chap. FT Bear thinks a trip to Goatchurch would be in order. [Sharon Wheeler and the intrepid FT Bear]
- So lovely to see families taking their kids underground. Reminded me of when I was little. How long until they're running UBSS and we can have a rest? [Jess Brock]
- Good read as always! [Dan Runcan]
- Excellent. I loved seeing all those happy smiling kids. Start them young… [Dick Willis]
- Very nice to see the new Committee, and good luck to them! [Hans Friederich]
- Mouldridge mine, not Marshfeld. No idea why my phone autocorrects that. Oops. [Stuart Alldred]
Excellent newsletter as usual! Of all the clubs I am and have been a member of, the current UBSS newsletter sets a really high bar! Sorry I missed the AGM and dinner (although not too sorry as I was on holiday) – and I’ll see some of you in the Dales! [Paul Savage]
- Love Uliana's reasons to go caving! I will use that as scientific evidence for why caving is brilliant procrastination 😉 [Merryn Matthews]
- Thank you for all your hard work! Very much appreciated and it emphasises just what a great organisation the UBSS is. [Tim Hill]
- It made me happy seeing Jess's apocalyptically muddy kit laid out in our garden after her and Joshitha's dig at Fishmonger's, and it made me happy again to read about it in the newsletter! [Mia Jacobs]
Hello, Watson Weasel, delighted to make your acquaintance!
THE END