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Lead Vein in Speedwell

R

Ralph

New member
If anyone happens to know "Luke" who went into Speedwell sometime April - May 2010 maybe you could point out to him that scrawling ones name "Luke 2010" on the cave walls is not  acceptable in this day and age.
This recent  graffiti is close to the miners inscription AND the recently damaged lead vein, maybe the two are linked?
Sadly little can be done to remove said signature without causing further damage to this sensitive area.
Maybe Luke can find something to occupy his leisure time other than caving. This can't have been a solo trip so maybe one of his companions can pass on this message if Luke doesn't visit this forum.
 
P

Peter Burgess

New member
"And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty."
 
SamT

SamT

Moderator
If he entered/exited via peak - would his name/group not be on the indemnity chits ??
 
Rob

Rob

Well-known member
Not wanting to degnerate this thread too quickly, but.....

Surely this shouldn't happen in a cave system that has four entrances, all of them gated.

Obviously the gates aren't as useful as we'd like to think, and that either we need more stringent control over allowing people through them or that we just need more gates. Yes, i think a gate on every passage junction will help. It'll then only be us good friendly cavers that will be able to make it to the end. None of those young keen newbies that we can't trust yet.
 
R

Ralph

New member
Let's try and avoid this thread becoming a slanging match/comedy show . The point is that WE are all responsible for looking after these systems for future generations of cavers. I hate to admit it but many decades ago it was "acceptable" to sign ones name on cave walls with a carbide lamp, we now know better (at least most of us do).

This particular spot is of historic importance, it has already been "defaced" on a number of occasions and it would be nice if it didn't get any worse.  I don't want to start a witch hunt but most "newbies" getting to this point of the cave will more likely than not have been accompanied by a more seasoned companion who hopefully knows better.
Let's hope this is the last time anyone adds to the inscriptions here (or anywhere else) and Luke now knows how unacceptable this practice is.
I hope Luke and his companion(s) had an enjoyable trip and will continue to cave, it's given me many years of enjoyment and I hope they and others get as much out of it as I have.
Best wishes. Ralph J
 
Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
I agree with Ralph; he's right to try and raise awareness of the need to cave responsibly. We don't need a witch hunt; just vigilance if caving with less experienced friends.
 
M

mudmonkey

New member
Let's assume mystery Luke was ignorant and not malicious. I wonder if some sort of notice at the Miner's Toast, explaining what the inscription is and the story of some of the later graffiti, would help. If you don't know it, it could just look like a random set of scrawls; actually quite a lot of the 20th century stuff is a fascinating history of exploration in the cave.

Not sure whether I like the idea of a notice (Marble Arch style?) - but it may help?

Thoughts?
 
graham

graham

New member
mudmonkey said:
Not sure whether I like the idea of a notice (Marble Arch style?) - but it may help?

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

What harm can it do? Serious question. A laminated notice that is not physically fixed to anything, but simply made available does no damage and may prevent more.

There are very few examples of historic (or older) graffiti in UK caves and so giving additional thought to those that do exist in order to aid their conservation is a good idea.
 
Turner

Turner

New member
Some of the old stuff in thurst house is impressive.

I dont have a problem with what "luke" did, because if the miners hadn't done the same, there'd be nothing to look at.......

Obviously thats assuming its not in 6 inch high letters, bashed in with a lump of rock..................

Luke + candy 4 eva and the sorts lol
 
T

T pot 2

Active member
Not sure whether I like the idea of a notice (Marble Arch style?) - but it may help?

Thoughts?

OOOOOer ! idiot boards throughout cave systems ! accompany these with guide post and we could do away with the COTPD  :LOL:  :LOL:  :LOL:

Back to being serious though, I do agree with Ralph that education is the way forward but if the miscreants are not in a club how do you educate independant cavers.

Maybe the old adage take only photographs and leave only footprints should be the message.

T pot
 
menacer

menacer

Active member
I for one am looking forward to my next caving trip where the male cavers should  strip down to their undies and continue half naked.Bring it on  (y)
 
graham

graham

New member
menacer said:
I for one am looking forward to my next caving trip where the male cavers should  strip down to their undies and continue half naked.Bring it on  (y)
Click to expand...
I will if you will. ;)
 
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