mrodoc
Well-known member
I have just heard Phil Collett has died. I didn't know him that well but a strange coincidence surrounded my first encounters with him. Back in 1970 in the absence of a caving club at my medical college I hitched up with UCLSS for my first proper Yorkshire trip. We were all bundled in a Bedford van that set off from London but stopped briefly shortly after. A number of diving bottles clattered into the van followed by the diver - who was Phil Collett. He was diving in the Lost John's System and we didn't really see him again that weekend. I was at home on an Easter break three weeks later and got an opportunity to go up to Yorkshire with my caving friends Pete and Nick (who posts as The Old Ruminator). They decided to visit Lost John's! We didn't bottom the cave but I seem to recall looking down a pitch to see a diver who had just passed the sump below - and yes, it was Phil Collett. The next time I did anything with Phil was over 50 years later on a trip to Iceland visiting lava tubes.
