Geoff Yeadon RIP

[mikem]

It certainly was, but I have no idea about the history of their pottery:

The grave of cave diver Oliver Statham,... © Karl and Ali

When I started caving in the mid-1970s, Oliver Statham (known as 'Bear' in the caving world) was a major force in that highly risky branch, cave diving. Many of his and others' hair-raising exploits were superbly portrayed in a book 'The Darkness Beckons', written by a contemporary cave diver...

www.geograph.org.uk

 

[cfmwh]

As a kid, my old man and I used to call in at the pottery in Skipton ((on the old Grassington Road) and we would catch up on all the events at Keld Head and Boreham over endless mugs of Geoff's bloody strong coffee..

I was under the impression that it was Geoff's pottery and that Bear helped there and was creating some of his own stuff too.

From memory, Bear set up in Sedbergh later on

Both were really good potters and I still have some of Bear's work. Sadly, I never got any of Geoff's creations but there must be plenty of cavers out there who did.

 

[Badlad]

So, the obituary is correct. I'm glad we sorted that out

 

[Goon]

One of nature's gentlemen and a pioneer of the best kind, Geoff was active up to the last and will leave a massive void in the Northern Dales caving saga. So sorry to hear - the end of an era for sure.

 

[mikem]

Geoff Yeadon's appearance on Game for a Laugh came up when googling pottery:

The history of Bentham Pottery - Bentham Pottery

Before Bentham Pottery My mum, Kathy, worked in the tax office in Preston in the 1950s and 60’s. When she was on maternity leave with my brother in 1965, her mum (my Gran) said that she would look after the baby for one afternoon a week, so Kathy could go and further her education by […]

www.benthampottery.com

The same question was also asked 10 years ago, without apparent resolution:

S

Post in thread 'Keld Head'

Aug 27, 2015

"The Underground Eiger" was a Yorkshire TV production which went out on 21st February 1979.  The Yorkshire film Archive is putting the film onto the BFI Player sometime next year.  I have just watched the film for the first time, and have only now learnt of the suicide of Oliver Statham later that year.  It came as a big surprise because there was nothing in the film to indicate that Oliver (the Bear) was in anything other than a good frame of mind.  It must have been awful for his girl friend, Anne Poole, who also features heavily in the programme.  If anyone has any thoughts on what led...

• steve Morley

 

[alanw]

Tributes paid to world-famous cave diver who has died aged 75

ONE OF the UK’s leading cave divers, Geoff Yeadon, who lived in Kirkby Lonsdale for many years, has sadly died – his family has paid tribute.

www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk

 

[Badlad]

We saw Geoff off to the great cave in the sky yesterday, well underground Kirkby churchyard anyway. Attended by hundreds, it was packed out. A fine service it was too with amazing memories of their father shared by Izzy, Emily and Sarah. A heart felt eulogy given by friend of 45 years, Geoff Crossley, who is no longer spare Geoff, just plain Geoff.. and poetry delivered by long standing friend, Mick Nunwick who probably shared more beers with Geoff than anyone. Hence the peom below.

We'll down a pint tonight and remember Friday tales of King Pot inlet .

 

[twiglet]

Call me a sentimental airhead if you like, but maybe Geoff and Bear are now reunited, surfacing from the sump to explore "The Master Cave" again. You are a legend. R.I.P.