Tony Oldham RIP
- Thread starter Mendipgirl
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mrodoc
Well-known member
When I started caving I discovered there was a rag called the Mendip Caver. It was roughly printed and used to arrive as a rolled up, often damp and tattered, collection of pages. I still have the copies I kept as a schoolboy. The OR used to write regularly for him and he provided the only Mendip news I got (in fact probably one of the few times Tony got plagiarised was when as a callow 16 year old I wrote an article for the Speleologist on Mendip Discoveries in 1967 basically lifting all the material from the Mendip Caver). He seriously antagonised the DSS who never forgave him for the Caves of Devon although it remains the only guide to the region to this day. He sent me a copy of the Concise Caves of Devon to review and I tore it shreds - metaphorically. The next edition contained an erratum slip acknowledging my assistance! He started to appear at Mendip events in recent years sending in photos for the competition (including a memorable one of him on a mobility scooter) and I wondered what had happened this year as we didn't seem him at the awards or the digging awards. He will be missed as will: 'There is a book'.
I'm so sad to hear this news. Tony (and for those that don't know, he posted under rhychydwr1) was a prolific poster on the forum (3161). He kept the Moderation Team on their toes from time to time however was also a great contributor - helping with updating 'Calendar of events' for which I am grateful, keeping us informed about what was happening internationally, had a deep of knowledge on caving/mining books and of course posted the odd joke or two...
Rest in Peace, Tony and our sincere condolences to Tony's family & friends.
I will leave you with one of rhychydwr1's classic jokes:
If you are here for the yodelling lesson...
please form an orderly, orderly, orderly, orderly, orderly, orderly, queue!
Rest in Peace, Tony and our sincere condolences to Tony's family & friends.
I will leave you with one of rhychydwr1's classic jokes:
If you are here for the yodelling lesson...
please form an orderly, orderly, orderly, orderly, orderly, orderly, queue!
ZombieCake
Well-known member
That's a real shame. Must have been just year or so ago I gave him some material for one of his books. RIP.
The Old Ruminator
Well-known member
mrodoc said:
Yes I used to write up stuff for him in the 60's. My first decent discovery was at The East Series in Holwell Cave and appeared as a survey in Mendip Caver in Dec 1964. I seem also to remember my hopelessly inaccurate sketch survey of Shatter Cave which prompted our notorious dig in WL Cave that accidentally joined the two caves together. ( thoroughly scaring a group in Shatter at the time, Willie Stanton thought it all amusing ). I remember reading about the discovery of Swildon's Four " a high wide and hansom streamway ". Tony had a way with words though was sometimes quoted as " Much ADO about nothing ". He could be very naughty at times provoking confusion by saying there was a mechanical digger or something in Cheddar Gorge recently here on the forum . I last spoke to him at the Mendip digging awards last year. The ultimate character flaw is to be bland. Tony was never that.
This is sad indeed - I knew Tony for many many years and his services to caving, particularly his plethora of regional guides, will be a fitting epitaph. Many people will not know that under the guise of 'downsizing', he very generously donated heaps of material (valuable in retail terms) to various caving club libraries. The GSG for example, were given 47 OS Explorer 2 1/2 ins to the mile maps which, at ?8 or so each, was worth a tidy sum. He also gave us all his photo-copied notes compiled during the writing of 'Caves of Scotland', some three box loads.If he was sometimes controversial and/or sarcastic in print, this did not detract from his love of caves and caving literature. He will be missed.
Goon
moorebooks
Active member
Tony and I had our differences and he did upset a number of people along the way such as infringing copyright, in other ways he could be very generous . A character all said and done he will be missed by many , we often had words . I would't give him freebies as he was always out to make a quick buck.
I am sad to hear he has gone, in spite of the above he was a mine of information and was willing to share that knowledge , of course for a price but that was Tony
RIP
Mike
I am sad to hear he has gone, in spite of the above he was a mine of information and was willing to share that knowledge , of course for a price but that was Tony
RIP
Mike
crickleymal
New member
Gosh. Sorry to hear about that. We'd corresponded on a few occasions and I have one or two of his books.
The British Caving Library has benefitted greatly from Tony's generosity over the last 10 years. He would often turn up unannounced with a pile of extraordinary offerings of all sorts and from all countries. Hidden Earths were always an opportunity for him to donate a pile of publications for the Library - only to collect as much again from our "Lucky Dip" boxes to sell or give away to others. Only a couple of weeks ago I was making plans to meet him in S. Wales in March to collect another box of goodies.
Many years ago Tony also provided the BCRA Library with a box of caving slides from his exploits many countries. When BCL was asked if we had any photos of discoveries made by British cavers in Romania in the 1970s' - we checked in Tony's photo collection and there they were! From these we were able to provide the illustrations needed by the Romanian publishers of a book on the caves. The Library was acknowledged in the book - but really it should have been Tony.
I also was an avid reader of the "Mendip Caver" in the days when I was Librarian of Orpheus C.C. in the 1960's, '70's and 80's and we also have a complete set in the British Caving Library. It was a fascinating scandal sheet with all the news, including some that people didn't seem to want printed.
I'd heard tales of Tony's early caving on Mendip: catching a bus out from Bristol and then pushing his caving gear up the road in an old pram 'cos it was too heavy to carry. Wonder if anyone ever took a photo of this?
Definitely an "original" who will be much missed.
Many years ago Tony also provided the BCRA Library with a box of caving slides from his exploits many countries. When BCL was asked if we had any photos of discoveries made by British cavers in Romania in the 1970s' - we checked in Tony's photo collection and there they were! From these we were able to provide the illustrations needed by the Romanian publishers of a book on the caves. The Library was acknowledged in the book - but really it should have been Tony.
I also was an avid reader of the "Mendip Caver" in the days when I was Librarian of Orpheus C.C. in the 1960's, '70's and 80's and we also have a complete set in the British Caving Library. It was a fascinating scandal sheet with all the news, including some that people didn't seem to want printed.
I'd heard tales of Tony's early caving on Mendip: catching a bus out from Bristol and then pushing his caving gear up the road in an old pram 'cos it was too heavy to carry. Wonder if anyone ever took a photo of this?
Definitely an "original" who will be much missed.
The Old Ruminator
Well-known member
Rumour has it that the fellow is not actually dead.
Perhaps before anything else is written somebody should ascertain the facts.
So who is Mendipgirl anyway ? Perhaps he/she would like to introduce themselves.
Date Registered:
December 13, 2018, 10:38:12 am
Local Time:
December 18, 2018, 05:24:25 pm
Last Active:
December 14, 2018, 02:24:48 pm
Perhaps before anything else is written somebody should ascertain the facts.
So who is Mendipgirl anyway ? Perhaps he/she would like to introduce themselves.
Date Registered:
December 13, 2018, 10:38:12 am
Local Time:
December 18, 2018, 05:24:25 pm
Last Active:
December 14, 2018, 02:24:48 pm
Pat Cronin
New member
I have it on good authority that to my immense relief Tony is very much alive.
Given we have lost so many these last few years, this sad news was not questioned.
Mendipgirl; I very much look forward to shaking you warmly by the throat for bestowing upon me the news I had lost a respected pal.
Love, Light and Peace
Pat
Given we have lost so many these last few years, this sad news was not questioned.
Mendipgirl; I very much look forward to shaking you warmly by the throat for bestowing upon me the news I had lost a respected pal.
Love, Light and Peace
Pat
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