Tony Oldham

[mrodoc]

Just to inform you all that Tony Oldham who was a regular on the forum passed away on 15th March. This is a genuine post - he did prematurely announce his demise a few years ago posting as Mendipgirl. He was well known in caving circles in the west country and many years ago published intermittently The Mendip Caver. I am sure others will wish to add to this brief announcement.

 

[mikem]

Last time he ran to 4 pages:

M

Thread 'Tony Oldham RIP'

Dec 14, 2018

A regret to announce that Tony passed away after a short illness.  A life long caver Tony first started caving with the Scouts in the late 1950s.  His most famous discovery was with John Dolman in the Sura Mare Cave in Rumania:

http://travelguideromania.com/sura-mare-cave-sureanului-montains-hunedoara-county/

The author of 17 caving books he also published a couple of caving journals:  The Mendip Caver and  edited the later editions of The British Caver.

A full obituary is being prepared

• Mendipgirl
• Replies: 65
• Forum: Obituaries - cavers remembered

 

[mikem]

For those of you not sure of his identity - rhychydwr1 is still 15th most prolific:

https://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?members/&key=most_messages

 

[Ian Adams]

He was a "character" in many ways.

Rest in Peace, Tony x

 

[ptpeaty]

Just to inform you all that Tony Oldham who was a regular on the forum passed away on 15th March. This is a genuine post - he did prematurely announce his demise a few years ago posting as Mendipgirl. He was well known in caving circles in the west country and many years ago published intermittently The Mendip Caver. I am sure others will wish to add to this brief announcement.

Sorry to hear this news. Tony produced several books on the various caving regions of Wales. Likeable guy who was around since the Sixties. Sleep well Tony.

 

[Sid]

A photo from 1969

Tony Oldham RIP | MCRA Photo Gallery

Tony Oldham RIP - 2 Tony Oldham at the entrance.jpg

www.mcra.org.uk

 

[PeteHall]

I only met Tony on a few occasions, but he's not the kind of chap to forget!

Over here on the forum, he's probably best remembered for his classic "there is a book" answers to many questions over the years.

Definitely a bit of a wind-up merchant, but for me at least, this always came across as his mischievous sense of humour, rather than any kind of malice. His own (false) obituary being a great example of one of his wind-ups!

Rest in peace Tony

 

[Sid]

Another great photo of Tony bat ringing.

Tony Oldham Bat Ringing in Reads Cavern | MCRA Photo Gallery

Tony Oldham Bat Ringing in Reads Cavern - Bat Ringing Reads Cavern.jpg

www.mcra.org.uk

 

[ChrisJC]

Oh, that's a pity. I did wonder however as we'd not heard from him for a while.

Definitely a joker!

Chris.

 

[ZombieCake]

Very sad, I did buy a few books from him, and I think there were also a few publications on Devon caves.

 

[Graigwen]

He was good company on his mobility scooter up and down the cycleroute between Blaenavon and Abersychan a few years ago.
.

 

[mrodoc]

Very sad, I did buy a few books from him, and I think there were also a few publications on Devon caves.

Tony's name was mud in Devon after the original Devon caves guide was published. The DSS was dead against guides as most of the caves were on private land and access issues were involved. There was also concern they could be used as 'vandals handbooks'. Tony wasn't adverse to making things up either but he had a very thick skin. After I wrote a scathing review of his A5 sized Concise Caves of Devon which contained a number of fabrications he published an errata leaflet acknowledging my help!

 

[Goon]

Sad news when anyone departs. Tony was very active within publication trading circles, and generous too - after he published several guides to Scottish regions, he donated (not sold) a lot of expensive OS maps and photocopied extracts to the GSG. His book sales were usually quite expensive though! In mid-1960s with Julian Fortnum, I remember he was one of the first to attempt SRT down Swildon's Hole, using prussik knots. When he took over 'The British Caver' from Gerard Platten, the content became more biased to eastern European material - hardly 'British'! Still, a significant player in his day.

 

[Lankyman]

I thought I recognised his name. Presumably this is one of his books published in 1972? I can't recall now where I got it as a child but it may have been at one of the show caves described.

 

[mikem]

It is indeed one and the same

 

[Lankyman]

I thought I recognised his name. Presumably this is one of his books published in 1972? I can't recall now where I got it as a child but it may have been at one of the show caves described.

If anyone knows which show cave is the one on the cover please let me know! I definitely don't recall seeing anything quite like it in Britain at least.

 

[Pitlamp]

It looks like an artist's impression of Wookey, where you surface after diving through from the Resurgence. Is that "Chamber 1"? (Maybe the artist hadn't actually been there.)

I never actually met Tony or Anne to know about it. But he was very helpful to me on various occasions when I was trying to source books and journals over the years. It's sad that he's left us.

 

[PeteHall]

It looks like an artist's impression of Wookey, where you surface after diving through from the Resurgence. Is that "Chamber 1"? (Maybe the artist hadn't actually been there.)

I'd agree with that. I think they call it "The Witches Kitchen", but "Chamer 1" to a caver/diver.

 

[royfellows]

I have only just heard via the WMS newsletter, I havent been on here for a while.
I once described Tony as "like Marmite" and he thought it incredibly funny. He was a real character, not enough of them in the world.

 

[Jenny P]

If anyone knows which show cave is the one on the cover please let me know! I definitely don't recall seeing anything quite like it in Britain at least.

I think it's meant to be Peak Cavern - that's the only show cave in Britain I can think of where there would be a wide space alongside a railng - large enough for people to wander round. There is also the high arched roof drawn - thinking of the enormous entrance.