christine
Active member
Well, it was the talk we were all waiting for and Rick Stanton didn't disappoint.
https://flic.kr/p/2a6Nb8c
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
Standing room only in the main theatre and streamed live to an overflow room with 70+.
Les even waffled something about Health and Safety - really! :blink:
Rick gave his personal, honest, funny and raw account of events as they unfolded in Thailand.
At the end, Connor, Josh, Rick, John and Chris were invited to answer questions from the audience, before being presented with 'bottomless tankards' from their peers in the caving family.
Not sure I've ever heard Les Williams lost for words, nor so close to tears. It was moving and the long lasting standing ovation is something I'm sure none of us there will ever forget.
(Click to play the video)
Thailand Rescue Standing Ovation Hidden Earth 2018 by Christine Grosart, on Flickr
The rest of the weekend, back in the cheap seats, some of us were running the CDG stand which was busy - and our efforts were rewarded with winning the 'Best Club Stand' prize, something that only occurred to me once we had won it!
https://flic.kr/p/2bq6tD1
by
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
Thank you to UK Caving for a very cool selection of prizes including rope, petzl torch, Berger Book (courtesy of Mark Wright Training), Karabiners, some maps - and we gave Martin Grass a mug!
https://flic.kr/p/28JiTFE
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/2bupzqa
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
(Click to play cute video...)
https://flic.kr/p/2bq76my
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/2bupCs2
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
On the Sunday, 5 qualified CDG divers (it would have been 6 but Josh Bratchley had enjoyed his bottomless tankard too much...) took something like 16 try divers into the pool to experience UK sidemount gear.
The guys were extremely organised and professional and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
https://flic.kr/p/2buqgu8
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/2a6NkpD
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/2a6MDoM
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/MJArR6
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/MJAqiB
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/PmBWYj
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/2buqhPn
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
Greg Brock's 8 year old daughter took to it like a mermaid and we marvelled at her total fearlessness. Rick Stanton watched on pool side and it hit home how many light years away we were from what those guys had to do in Thailand
It was a fantastic Hidden Earth, especially as it was pulled together at such short notice - a real credit to the well oiled team.
Thank you to Michael Waterworth, Martin Grass, Peter Hall, Robbie Warke, Malcolm Stewart, Mark Burkey, Tony Seddon, Tim Webber, Paula Grgich-Warke for their help with kit, try dive sessions and setting up and taking down the stand.
The CDG can do team work when they put their minds to it!
https://flic.kr/p/2a6Nb8cChristine Grosart, on Flickr
Standing room only in the main theatre and streamed live to an overflow room with 70+.
Les even waffled something about Health and Safety - really! :blink:
Rick gave his personal, honest, funny and raw account of events as they unfolded in Thailand.
At the end, Connor, Josh, Rick, John and Chris were invited to answer questions from the audience, before being presented with 'bottomless tankards' from their peers in the caving family.
Not sure I've ever heard Les Williams lost for words, nor so close to tears. It was moving and the long lasting standing ovation is something I'm sure none of us there will ever forget.
(Click to play the video)
Thailand Rescue Standing Ovation Hidden Earth 2018 by Christine Grosart, on Flickr
The rest of the weekend, back in the cheap seats, some of us were running the CDG stand which was busy - and our efforts were rewarded with winning the 'Best Club Stand' prize, something that only occurred to me once we had won it!
https://flic.kr/p/2bq6tD1 by
Christine Grosart, on Flickr
Thank you to UK Caving for a very cool selection of prizes including rope, petzl torch, Berger Book (courtesy of Mark Wright Training), Karabiners, some maps - and we gave Martin Grass a mug!
https://flic.kr/p/28JiTFEChristine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/2bupzqaChristine Grosart, on Flickr
(Click to play cute video...)
https://flic.kr/p/2bq76myChristine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/2bupCs2Christine Grosart, on Flickr
On the Sunday, 5 qualified CDG divers (it would have been 6 but Josh Bratchley had enjoyed his bottomless tankard too much...
) took something like 16 try divers into the pool to experience UK sidemount gear.The guys were extremely organised and professional and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
https://flic.kr/p/2buqgu8 Christine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/2a6NkpDChristine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/2a6MDoMChristine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/MJArR6Christine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/MJAqiBChristine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/PmBWYjChristine Grosart, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/2buqhPnChristine Grosart, on Flickr
Greg Brock's 8 year old daughter took to it like a mermaid and we marvelled at her total fearlessness. Rick Stanton watched on pool side and it hit home how many light years away we were from what those guys had to do in Thailand
It was a fantastic Hidden Earth, especially as it was pulled together at such short notice - a real credit to the well oiled team.
Thank you to Michael Waterworth, Martin Grass, Peter Hall, Robbie Warke, Malcolm Stewart, Mark Burkey, Tony Seddon, Tim Webber, Paula Grgich-Warke for their help with kit, try dive sessions and setting up and taking down the stand.
The CDG can do team work when they put their minds to it!
