Caving Festival 22nd to 24th Sept 2023

M

me

Active member
Bendrigg poster.jpg


This popped up on my fb page, but I can't find it on the BCA web page or the BendriggTrust web page.
 
JoshW

JoshW

Well-known member
Hey!

This is my baby! The bendrigg website is a work in progress, and I’ve been waiting for the second half of the event to be rolled out before adding to the BCA website, which is a training event aimed at cavers.

Ace that you’ve seen it, and thanks for sharing!
 
JoshW

JoshW

Well-known member
It would be great to get as many people to join the festival as possible to demonstrate just how accessible our sport can be!

Keep your eyes peeled for part 2 of this event, which hopefully will have lots of interest on this forum (and in the wider caving community).

If you know of anyone with a disability, who has maybe had a chance at a taster session of caving before and wants further opportunities please do share the above poster with them.

Finally, I'm looking to organise a speaker to show a short presentation of what they've been able to achieve in caving, despite having a disability, please do point them in my direction or vice versa!
 
Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
Josh - would the story of the late Peter "Chester" Shaw of Clapham be of any interest? He lost his leg as a youngster but became a lifelong caver, being involved in several discoveries and many cave rescues (as a rescuer). He also walked all the "Nuttalls" - hills in England over 2000 ft. His greatest achievement (in my view) was that he just got on with things to the extent that no-one ever thought of him as disabled; he was just an active club member / one of the gang.

If this story is of interest for your event, or indeed for other circumstances, PM me (or preferably email me). I'm unlikely to be able to offer a presentation at that stage of the year (for reasons which I suspect you'll realise!) but I can certainly supply information.
 
JoshW

JoshW

Well-known member
Love hearing stories like these. I feel like these are the kinds of role models that are severely lacking in the outdoors. It's something most National bodies are aware of, but are actually quite pants at doing anything about. Luckily BCA has recognised there is work to be done in this sector and has generously provided sponsorship for this event (See BCA isn't all apathy - I promise!)
 
Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
Have yiou considered developing a wall of honour at Bendrigg Lodge, depicting pictures and stories of people who have gone a long way in outdoor activities, despite being dealt a bad hand in life. It would be inspirational to those who come on residential visits.
 
cap n chris

cap n chris

Well-known member
Recall at the 50th Anniversary event in Millau, S. France, the Speleo Secours Francais laid on a "reverse rescue" wherein 3 (IIRC) disabled people who had willingly entered a raffle to win one of 3 places on a trip deep into a cave on rope were all escorted by a large rescue team, with in-cave restroom breaks in ad hoc hospitality tents, down to an impressive gallery/chamber, before being escorted back out again. Cave rescue hosted the event as a useful training exercise while making 3 disabled people's dreams of venturing into a cave become real. Well done to all involved, was our opinion on seeing the whole shebang. Very impressive.
 
cap n chris

cap n chris

Well-known member
NO WAAAAY!!! - it was 2013! - a DECADE ago. aaaagh. Video of the visit, link, below; if memory serves we got Noel to sit in one of the wheelchairs while it wasn't being used, to get a cheeky cameo/snapshot.

 
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JoshW

JoshW

Well-known member
Pitlamp said:
Have yiou considered developing a wall of honour at Bendrigg Lodge, depicting pictures and stories of people who have gone a long way in outdoor activities, despite being dealt a bad hand in life. It would be inspirational to those who come on residential visits.
Click to expand...
We’re actually due to be doing some redecorating soon, I really like the idea of this, maybe with a little bit of information next to some pictures of great adventurers who happen to have disabilities.

Thanks Pitlamp!
 
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JoshW

JoshW

Well-known member
The caver training element is now live and open for bookings. 2 days of disability themed cave training for just 100 quid. Suitable for those from a professional or recreational background!
 

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M

me

Active member
Please can you put a direct link to it here as I am not sure I have the correct page on your web site. I want to pass it on to friends. :)
 
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