Jim Eyre

[oldboy]

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 founder member of the Red Rose (1946) and was its first President, a post he held for many years.

We will all miss him greatly.





Mel.

 

[Mr Fell]

Rest in Peace Jim. He was an exceptional caver and adventure gave him a real buzz. Also he could drink me under the table anytime. A sad loss.

 

[ditzy 24//7]

just been reading his books andwish i had met him
bet he and jrat have started another exsplore already

 

[mrodoc]

Jim is another true original and the funniest cave exploration writer I have ever read. His tale of sumping in Stoke Lane Slocker in the 60's is a classic. I am really sorry to hear this.

 

[anfieldman]

This too is very sad. Another caving great who I never had the pleasure to meet. His books really made me laugh.
My condolances to his family and friends.

 

[shotlighter]

Only met him once when he proceeded to take the p out of me in in nicest possible way. I think I've all of his books, none of which has only been once read. A fine example of a generation of real heros that is sadly passing. I'll have one for him now!

 

[Wolfart]

Wow another great icon gone, Its going to be a somber time at hidden earth this year. Three stalwarts of caving gone,Wig, J'rat And Eyre's. :bow:
Perhaps Tony was missing a drinking partner?
Condolences to Jim's family.
Footnote.....Lets keep up the humor they would not want us to be sad

 

[SamT]

Sad news. The caving world loses another 'hero'

Just reading "The cave explorers", even though most of it is the same as The Game Goes On, its as entertaining as the first time around.

RIP Eyres

 

[paul]

Yes very sad news. All the great characters in caving will soon be gone.

 

[andrew y]

Sad news  rest in peace Jim. Loved his comical caving drawings.      Andrew

 

[newcastlecaver]

very sad news, Jim did me a cartoon less than a year ago from a photo- it was easily as good as any in the books - a fine artist and an excellent author- his books will leave inspiration for us all. 'It's only a game' left me in awe of a life well spent....

RIP

graham

 

[Mr Fell]

Jim did many hillarious cartoons and the like. He did a couple for us and we had been thinking that although the conference is just next week, there might still be enough time to organise and put on some sort of a show of his cartoon work, to celebrate his life.

We are thinking this could be either as part of the ISSA stand or maybe attached to the art competion somehow. As `Mrs Fell' is organising the art competion etc, then we are in a position to look at doing this.

So if you have one of Jim's cartoons and are coming to Hidden Earth next week, and would like to participate, then send us a PM so we can gauge overall if this is going to be a possibility or not.

Any comments/ offers of help are welcome.

 

[Les W]

There are a large number of Jim's cartoons at the New Inn in Clapham

 

[Mr Fell]

Is there somebody local who could ask to borrow them for display and could collect and return? There are some local cavers in Clapham.

 

[ron eyre]

Jim Eyre
Thankyou all for your kind tributes about my brother Jim.
I hope to meet some of you at the funeral on Friday.
I will be arranging something in the future when Jims ashes are scattered above Easegill
and this will involve Jims potholing memorabilia, prbably at the New Inn
  Thankyou all again
          Ron Eyre.

 

[rocky]

Such sad news

When I got into caving "The Cave Explorers" was the first book I ever read about it.

I'm in Maeshafn quite a lot , mostly walking the dog in the woods , but every time i'm there I think about that chapter in the book.
Makes me laugh and also makes me wonder about all the lost shafts in the area

A sad loss


Rocky

 

[Skyrmy]

Met Jim once through a friend - a real gentleman. 

RIP Jim - the world will be a sadder place without you 

 

[Mr Fell]

A couple of Jim's cartoons (framed) were inadvertently left at the conference on Sunday. If anybody knows what became of these can you please pm me as the owner would like to recover them. 

 

[nickwilliams]

Andy and Lillian Eavis have the framed cartoons. I am sure they are safe.

Nick.

 

[philw]

OK, I'm way out of touch, but I was shocked to hear of this on the radio today. In a way I was kind of pleased that I finally know someone whose obit Radio 4 condescended to run, but I'm sorry Jim's gone.

I guess you can't complain much about 82, although I thought he was much younger. I'm sure it's all been said. I caved with him a fair bit in the late 70s/ early 80s. He was a local celebrity following the Sid Perou films, although he reckoned he'd only got the part because George Cornes spoke too posh (which he did). What with the history and everything he was a bit of a god, but he didn't behave that way. He was one of those people who just made you laugh all the time; he never stopped. And of course he was a bloody solid caver.

The comment here from someone who met him once and found that the piss was being taken is spot on. I don't think he took any prisoners, but he wasn't in the least bit mean about it, he was just having a laugh. And he was very entertaining.

The only shots I have of him are nasty old film, and the only one on line is this, taken at the entrance to the Foxholes dig (strangely close to the New Inn) in the early 1980s.