Jim Newton Sad news. We lost a great friend and caver last Friday. Message from his daughter Hazel. Many thanks for all the lovely visits and messages of support for Jim and I over the last few months. Recently, Jim moved into Laurel Bank Care Home, Lancaster, for round-the-clock care. It was...

Was in IngleSport and Bernies last weekend and the latest Red Rose Journal covering the last 7 years mainly of Dales exploration was on the shelves. Ray Duffy has produced another great publication for the club comprising over 240 pages of interesting articles. Well done Ray - really excellent read.

"Cave of Forgotten Dreams" (2010) For those interested, this film is being shown tonight on "Film4" at five minutes past midnight  (1 hour 50 minutes) - worth recording if you are asleep then! "Since the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc cave in the French Ardeche was found in 1994 access has been restricted...

On visiting Victoria Cave last weekend I was shocked to see that the Yorkshire Dales National Park in conjunction with several other ?bodies? have installed just inside the  cave three large metal beams each over 3 metres long presumably to keep visitors to a newly created  narrow path, the...

On a visit to Notts II today we found several places of deliberate muddying of formations. Why do cavers grab hold of formations with their muddy paws when there is a perfectly obvious taped route round them. I makes my blood boil! We got most of it off with water but it needs some delicate...

In Ingleton yesterday and saw that both Bernies and Inglesport now have in stock the newly published Red Rose C.P.C. Ease Gill Caverns Survey - Sheet 4 which completes the series. It covers Far Series right up to Top Sink and with all the minor entrances in the gill, and it comes with their...

The CRO today concluded a successful rescue in Quaking Pot which, according to their web site, was the first "Cave Related" incident in the dales since March 24th. Are cavers now much safer? or are there now less caving trips happening?

The recently published BCRA Caves & Karst Science (Vol. 38 N0.1) describes Ogof Draenan as the longest cave in Britain.  Is this a true statement? The Three Counties System must surely be a serious contender.

Great article in Descent Magazine. Congratulations to all concerned. Look forward to reading the next episode  :clap2:

Jim Eyre Cartoons Raise ?1534 for CRO A great night was had last Saturday at the New Inn Clapham, where many cavers and friends gathered to celebrate Jim?s life. The inn was packed for the auction and Dave Ryall did a fantastic job in auctioning a large selection of Jim?s cartoons. Thank you...

For those who wish to pay their last respects: The funeral for Jim Eyre will be at 2pm on Friday 26th. September at Lancaster & Morecambe Crematorium. There will be a gathering of friends afterwards in the Boot & Shoe Hotel, Lancaster. Crematorium: Powder House Lane, Lancaster LA2 6AD Travel...

More very sad news was received this evening from Bert Bradshaw - President of the Northern Pennine Club. Jim Eyre died this afternoon in Blackpool Hospital. Jim will be remembered fondly not only for his excellent books and cartoons but for his great humour. A member of he NPC, Jim was also a...

Reading the newsdesk item in Descent mag. about club huts and the No Smoking ban set me thinking. Is a cave now classed as an "enclosed public place" thus making it illegal to smoke underground? Will cavers caught smoking underground be liable to a £50 fine? Will cave owners be liable to a...

On a  recent visit to the caving shops in Ingleton I see that the Red Rose have now published another section of their new survey of Easegill Caverns. Sheet 3 covers County Pot area and the detail is fantastic. I heard on the grapevine that they intend to issue the intricate Trident series as a...