BCRA NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2024

Dave Shearsmith

New member
BCRA NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2024

Our Social media news outlets...
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/groups/britishcaver
• BCRA News forum: http://bcra.org.uk/forum
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/bcra_speleology
• UK Caving http://ukcaving.com/board/?board=86.0

In this newsletter

  • Next online seminar via zoom
  • Other planned seminars
  • Library Update Myers Collection
  • Bereavement of David Gill and Dr John Wilcock
  • Next Council Meeting
  • Supporting BCRA
The next online seminar is on:

Mon 05-Feb-2024, 19:30 to 21:00 via Zoom.

Tracking alpine cave glaciations: cryogenic cave carbonates from the Eastern and Southern Alps
, with: Gabriella Koltai, Innsbruck Quaternary Research Group.

For further information , including details of how to log on, see bcra.org.uk/seminars. Last-minute changes to the programme will be posted to our Facebook page

Other planned Seminars currently are:

Mon 11-Mar, 19:30 to 21:00:via Zoom

The evolution of the poljes and sinkholes in the Sivas gypsum karst, Turkey
, with Ergin Goekkaya, Nigde Oemer Halisdemir University, Turkey. For further information , including details of how to log on, see bcra.org.uk/seminars. Last-minute changes to the programme will be posted to our Facebook page.

Mon 08-Apr, 19:30 to 21:00 via Zoom

The Archaeology of Caves in the Burren, Co. Clare, Ireland
, with Marion Dowd, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo, Ireland. For further information, including details of how to log on, see bcra.org.uk/seminars. Last-minute changes to the programme will be posted to our Facebook page.

Library Update the Jack Myers Archive (which has been scanned by the team of volunteers working at BGS Edinburgh) has now gone live online. The copyright is with the Myers family, the material itself will be housed in the new NPC Library and, thanks to the good offices of John Cordingley, it was agreed that the digitised version of the material should be hosted as part of the BCRA Online Archive. Many thanks to John Gardner who looks after the BCRA Online Archive and has made this available -. https://archives.bcra.org.uk/myers.html.

Bereavement of David Gill 1941-2024 It was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Dave Gill. Dave was a prolific cave explorer who had led expeditions to Papua New Guinea, China and other far-flung destinations. His life changed when he joined the Mulu Caves ’88 expedition. He went on to take part in one more Mulu expedition before becoming Development Officer for the Gunung Mulu National Park in 1992.

See https://mulucaves.org.uk/news/david-william-gill-1941-2024 for more details

Bereavement of Dr John Wilcock John Wilcock who was very much loved and respected, and he passed away on 12th December 2023 at the age of 86 .John Wilcock had been caving since the early 1950s, originally with the scouts and subsequently with the WRPC, the OUCC, and other clubs. He was on the CRG Council and the BCRA Council for over 30 years, including a spell as Chairman and Secretary.

The next council meeting will be held on the 31st of January at 8pm

Supporting BCRA. We are looking for someone to support IT for the BCRA and in particular our website but also other aspects of IT as one of our IT volunteers is looking to step down from the role. For more details initially contact the secretary of the BCRA.

The next newsletter will be at the end of February
 

Pitlamp

Well-known member
Thanks Dave - aw, I didn't know John Wilcock had died before Christmas. He and I were at either end of the wide spectrum of opinion as to the value of divining for caves. We had many discussions and would never agree but never exchanged any harsh words or fell out over it; he was too much of a gentleman. He was a big supporter of BCRA and a genuinely nice bloke. We've gone through a bad patch over recent weeks, with several well known and much valued caving friends having passed away.
 

mrodoc

Well-known member
I recall accompanying John on a divining mission over the Templeton area on Mendip. Not sure what his conclusions were!
 
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