The constitution of the BCRC forbids interference in individual cave rescue teams. From the BCRC website. Formed in 1967 to represent and support its members at National and International level, promote the exchange of information between member rescue organisations and provide a common voice...

The funeral of Pete Cardy, SWCC Hon Member, will be at 1pm on Tuesday 20th Feb at Llanelli Crematorium. SA14 8BX. Family flowers only. Donations in memory to South & Mid Wales CRT via smwcrt.org or the South and Mid Wales CRT Facebook page. Jopo

The funeral of Pete Cardy, SWCC Hon Member, will be at 1pm on Tuesday 20th Feb at Llanelli Crematorium. SA14 8BX. Family flowers only. Donations in memory to South & Mid Wales CRT via smwcrt.org or the South and Mid Wales CRT Facebook page. Jopo

I was always slightly envious when Pete told me about this. Jopo

Many cavers on this forum will have known Pete Cardy who died unexpectedly on Tuesday 16 Jan. Pete went on the 1976 Ecuador expedition to find the space ship hidden in a cave as postulated by Von Daniken in The Chariots of the Gods. Needless to say the army sponsored expedition found no...

Winnates Pass 1968. Finished climbing early (avoiding tourists) and waiting for cafe to open. Meet two lads from Leicester Caving Club (?) who were planning a trip into P8. Invited us along. Bin bags as rudimentary waterproofs. Came out 7 hours later and hooked.

Brain fart more like.

A thoroughly enjoyable trip down memory lane. A very well put together compellation.

I had my arm caught when reaching over the sink.

No I was not suggesting that the OFDlll traverse should have a line of resin anchors but a alternative of descending and prusikking. We did a rescue practice in this manner and it went very well. It was your statement I'd probably want to focus on safer routes for newer cavers first, but we...

"Resin anchors, on the other hand, are far more plausible. I've not been to OFD3 (at least partly due to the lack of a sensibly safe approach and there still being plenty of other OFD to do) and I'd probably want to focus on safer routes for newer cavers first, but we might get there one day"...

Search bilge pump on Amazon for example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ECO-WORTHY-Marine-Silent-Complete-submersible/dp/B01M66JIEW/ref=psdc_319530011_t1_B07DPGH7TK?th=1 with 31mm OD outlet 4m head or more expensive 12/24v dc borehole pumps with a larger head. Jopo

Hywel Jopling, who has produced all of the stretchers and spinal splints since 2016, has retained the patterns and a number of ldpe sheets to be able to produce eyeleted skins should cave rescue teams require replacement. As those teams who required the cave rescue version had them recently we...

Thanks Pete. Sorry we don't have any spares. You could try Abtech Safety Ltd with whom we had a informal arrangement to make the straps and bags. https://www.abtechsafety.com/contact Jopo

After some 35+ years we are ceasing the manufacture of the Slix stretchers. Post Covid orders have dipped and the cost of the straps and bags for the range has become far too expensive. I never registered the design or trademarked the React Slix range of stretchers relying instead upon...

When the s hit the fan in NZ recently landlines, internet connection and mobile phone/repeater masts went down and the only comms were satellite phones for some emergency services - unfortunately those with them could not talk to their troops who only had cell phones. BTW I (EE) had no alert or...

Arthur played a very important part in the Gwent Cave Rescue Team. As the WBCRT and Gwent drew closer after some big rescues he played a important role. A very forthright guy some found him hard to get on with. I always found him a laugh

That was Jerry all over. Always willing to help. In spite of knowing him since the early seventies I only caved with him in Otter and OFD on photographic trips. I remember spending a good while behind him at the last bend and squeeze coming out of Otter which he had entered head down with a...

I did not, and do not, make any judgement on digging and securing safe access. I like many others have benefitted from diggers opening passage that had been previously unknown but just thought that to title the thread 'Worst Conservation Photographs' and use that pic as a example was a little -...

So "discovery" tops all. I was just wondering why sitting on top of a already damaged stal may be seen as worse than completely altering caves in the spirt of exploration. I have done some cave alteration myself in trying to discover new stuff but I know what I did had far more impact on the...