Bagshawe Cavern fatality in 1985

[pwhole]

Equally unfortunately I have no idea where the TSG logbook from 1985 might be. I have digitised copies of three of them from the past, but none sadly cover that date range. Scud did the scanning of these I think, so he may be able to furnish more info.

 

[mikem]

Unsurprisingly the Sheffield Star online archives only go back to 2001. Apparently the City Library has microfiche copies.

Britishnewspaperarchive doesn't seem to have anything that recent, but does have articles on Pooles Cavern from 1857 & Bagshawe in early 1900s.

Presumably the Grantham Journal would be a good place to look, but no idea where you'll find a copy (apart from local studies centre).

 

[Mark Wright]

I'm pretty sure the Sheffield Star article was pasted into the big leather bound Log Book. Most of the major TSG/CDG discoveries from the 80s are also recorded in it.

I've just checked my collection of newspaper cuttings in the bottom drawer but I don't have that one. I'll be seeing my mum at the end of the week and I'm pretty sure she has everything ever published in the Sheffield Star that had me or my friends featuring in it. She regularly pulls out a newspaper cutting she's just found inside a book. 

I would like to get hold of an electronic copy of that particular Log Book if possible??

Mark

 

[Richardcapstack]

I was a member of the lead team on this incident and helped put him in the cas-bag after Batch had recovered him from the sump, a very sobering experience that is never forgotten---

So was I. I had been on a trip in Peak Cavern and our group was asked to support. I remember that the only diver available had his arm in plaster, but bravery offered to have his cast removed to assist. In the event, I believe, another diver was found, who recovered the body for us to carry out. A sad day- nearly half a century ago…

 

[Hjm]

In February 1985, a 14-year-old lad called Mark Dowsett from Grantham drowned in Bagshawe Cavern whilst on a school outing. This incident has an entry in the list of caving fatalities published in Descent 198 (2007), and I have found one newspaper reference (Newcastle Journal, 18 February 1985), unfortunately without the name of the casualty.

Does anybody, especially those with a Peak inclination, have a better reference for this incident? It didn't get reported in Descent or Caves and Caving.

Thanks.

Mark was our neighbour and we grew up with his brothers and his parents are Auntie and uncle to us.

 

[mch]

You can find a contemporary report of the incident online in the DCA Newsletter no 58 April 1985 - https://thedca.org.uk/publications/the-derbyshire-caver/ . It's always worth having a look at this resource for info on any Peak District caving matter as all the editions from 1963 onwards are now online (I just have the first 7 issues from 1961-1962 to scan and then there will be a complete set!).

 

[Graigwen]

I am sorry, I thought I had already answered this last year.
I have a document assembling various newspaper reports etc. Many papers carried reports, often similar, although nothing from the Sheffield Star. Anyone p.m.ing me an email address can have a copy.

 

[langcliffe]

As the original poster, to put this one to bed, I eventually found what I was looking for in the 18th February 1985 edition of the Newcastle Journal.

 

[Graigwen]

As the original poster, to put this one to bed, I eventually found what I was looking for in the 18th February 1985 edition of the Newcastle Journal.

That is one in my document. The longest reports were in the Grantham Journal.
.

 

[mikem]

Hjm was obviously looking for info on the incident and reactivated the thread