I was phoned this morning by one of Mel?s friends to tell me the sad news of her death, as reported in the main "Caving Chat" forum.
Mel has been part of the Derbyshire caving scene for many years and at one time was DCA Secretary for a few years, in (I think) the 1980s. She was also the driving force behind the Darfar Potholing Club, which concentrated its efforts in the Manifold Valley, and influenced its members in taking on cave conservation work throughout that area.
Mel was fanatical about cave conservation and took over as DCA?s Conservation Officer in June 2013. Prior to that, for many years she had been closely involved in cave conservation for DCA, assisting David Webb when he was DCA Conservation Officer, and she had set up the DCA SSSI Monitoring website for us. Her main area of practical work was in the Manifold Valley, where she worked closely with the National Trust in making safe various digs, swallets and resurgences in or near the river bed. Here she worked incredibly hard on installing bolted down grids to safeguard the public and ensure that the cave systems were not blocked by rubbish or rocks while still maintaining access for cavers (as always, the "Derbyshire Key" was approved the method of entry). She also worked closely with Natural England and was convenor of DCA?s Underground Conservation Forum, pulling together cavers and various organisations with conservation interests such as the Environment Agency, National Trust, Natural England, etc.
In addition she was DCA?s Webmaster and completely revamped our website a few years ago as well as keeping it up to date with minutes, news and access information. As many of you will know, she was also a regular correspondent on UKcaving and, through this, was well known to many cavers around the country who have a particular interest in cave conservation.
Mel will be very much missed by those who knew her and she will be a hard act to follow as DCA Conservation Officer.
Jenny Potts,
DCA Hon. Secretary
Mel has been part of the Derbyshire caving scene for many years and at one time was DCA Secretary for a few years, in (I think) the 1980s. She was also the driving force behind the Darfar Potholing Club, which concentrated its efforts in the Manifold Valley, and influenced its members in taking on cave conservation work throughout that area.
Mel was fanatical about cave conservation and took over as DCA?s Conservation Officer in June 2013. Prior to that, for many years she had been closely involved in cave conservation for DCA, assisting David Webb when he was DCA Conservation Officer, and she had set up the DCA SSSI Monitoring website for us. Her main area of practical work was in the Manifold Valley, where she worked closely with the National Trust in making safe various digs, swallets and resurgences in or near the river bed. Here she worked incredibly hard on installing bolted down grids to safeguard the public and ensure that the cave systems were not blocked by rubbish or rocks while still maintaining access for cavers (as always, the "Derbyshire Key" was approved the method of entry). She also worked closely with Natural England and was convenor of DCA?s Underground Conservation Forum, pulling together cavers and various organisations with conservation interests such as the Environment Agency, National Trust, Natural England, etc.
In addition she was DCA?s Webmaster and completely revamped our website a few years ago as well as keeping it up to date with minutes, news and access information. As many of you will know, she was also a regular correspondent on UKcaving and, through this, was well known to many cavers around the country who have a particular interest in cave conservation.
Mel will be very much missed by those who knew her and she will be a hard act to follow as DCA Conservation Officer.
Jenny Potts,
DCA Hon. Secretary
