Sad new that Dickie (Steve Dickinson) died on 6th Feb 2025 in Brisbane aged 70 from Cancer. Long standing member of the Eldon PC with a great track record of worldwide expeditions and regular posts on here. Great friend, great caver, and great memories! Catch up with you later Dickie.
Steve (Dickie) Dickinson 1954 - 2025
- Thread starter John M
- Start date
Sad news. Eldon member whom i met when i left home in the 70s to live in the Eldon Hostel, Buxton.
Caved with with him extensively over many years until he relocated to the Australia's.
See you at the final sump Dickie.
Oh no. Had the most fantastic time with Dickie in Papua New Guinea. We got on like a house on fire during that six month long expedition. After that he moved to Australia and i never saw him again with the only contact through this caving forum. I'm reflecting now on how you can have a close bond with someone for an intense short period and then never see them again. That's caving for you. RIP old pal. Say hello to Dave while you are up/down there.
Sad news indeed. I knew Dickie from caving with him in the early '70s. He was a prince of cavers. Solid & dependable, you always wanted Dickie on your team. He was irrepressably cheerful. I remember him singing whilst on his way down the 450ft entrance pitch in the Spruga Della Preta. No doubt about it, it was a hard cave but Dickie lightened the mood.
Perhaps other people weren't aware of this but in his early years Dickie was a punk. He could be found on a Saturday night making his way from Buxton to Stockport, in some vehicle of questionable roadworthiness, to the Electric Circus to see Slaughter and the Dogs!! A favourite of Dickies.
Dickie was my great comrade and friend.
See you at the last pitch Dickie.
Perhaps other people weren't aware of this but in his early years Dickie was a punk. He could be found on a Saturday night making his way from Buxton to Stockport, in some vehicle of questionable roadworthiness, to the Electric Circus to see Slaughter and the Dogs!! A favourite of Dickies.
Dickie was my great comrade and friend.
See you at the last pitch Dickie.
mulucaver
Member
I knew Dickie from when he was a fresh- faced youth. During his time in Buxton I taught him to dive. After the Untamed River Expedition to New Britain he moved to Papua New Guinea. I visited him when he lived in Port Moresby, PNG and again in Brisbane after he became a father. Great caver and good company. Another Eldon member gone I’m afraid.
For those who may wish to attend the funeral . Its on Thursday 20th at 11:00 Queensland time at
https://vimeo.com/event/4912198/bab91ed207
https://vimeo.com/event/4912198/bab91ed207
Dickie and I shared so many things in life. We grew up in Holmfirth, Yorkshire, and did school, scouts, and kids stuff together.
He was a good friend: loyal, trusted and fun.
We started caving together with the Eldon Pothole Club in 1971 and first trips were Hillocks and Water Icicle. With the EPC in the 70s and 80s Dickie ticked off most of the UK hard caving trips (many times over), and many European classics. World wide expeditions followed and his interest in caving never waned.
I remember him carrying huge bags of equipment for Paul Deakin’s photography trip down the Gouffre Berger on on a 5 day underground epic - always with a joke or a smile on his face, ready to pose for a snap for the umpteenth time. I also recall his negotiation tactics on an expedition in Sumatra. We had chartered a motorised dugout canoe to take us up river in a remote jungle area to explore the karst region. A week later when we returned back to base, the agreed price started to double then triple, discussions were going nowhere until Dickie suggested that starter crank for the engine which he was swinging over his head might like to go for a swim. - it ended amicably with all parties happy. A very practical and adaptable guy our Dickie.
He was healthily competitive: A trip down “Giants Hole” was a race against the clock, and the Yorkshire classics trips were rated on how soon we hit the Craven Heifer pub after we had bottomed the cave.
I reckon his competitive spirit, and can do attitude, allowed him take the brave decision to return to the UK last year to with old mates and revisit old haunts. I am grateful that he did, and am proud and privileged to have known him.
A great guy who despite his love for his family and life in Brisbane, never forgot his roots and his mates back in the UK.
So long and thanks for all the memories. RIP Dickie.
John (mouse) Middlemist
He was a good friend: loyal, trusted and fun.
We started caving together with the Eldon Pothole Club in 1971 and first trips were Hillocks and Water Icicle. With the EPC in the 70s and 80s Dickie ticked off most of the UK hard caving trips (many times over), and many European classics. World wide expeditions followed and his interest in caving never waned.
I remember him carrying huge bags of equipment for Paul Deakin’s photography trip down the Gouffre Berger on on a 5 day underground epic - always with a joke or a smile on his face, ready to pose for a snap for the umpteenth time. I also recall his negotiation tactics on an expedition in Sumatra. We had chartered a motorised dugout canoe to take us up river in a remote jungle area to explore the karst region. A week later when we returned back to base, the agreed price started to double then triple, discussions were going nowhere until Dickie suggested that starter crank for the engine which he was swinging over his head might like to go for a swim. - it ended amicably with all parties happy. A very practical and adaptable guy our Dickie.
He was healthily competitive: A trip down “Giants Hole” was a race against the clock, and the Yorkshire classics trips were rated on how soon we hit the Craven Heifer pub after we had bottomed the cave.
I reckon his competitive spirit, and can do attitude, allowed him take the brave decision to return to the UK last year to with old mates and revisit old haunts. I am grateful that he did, and am proud and privileged to have known him.
A great guy who despite his love for his family and life in Brisbane, never forgot his roots and his mates back in the UK.
So long and thanks for all the memories. RIP Dickie.
John (mouse) Middlemist
