Anyone know the origin of a well known cavers' saying?

David Rose · Aug 7, 2021

The saying 'caves are where you find them' is well-worn.

Does anyone know who said it first? Was it Tony Jarratt, or had it been around before he used it?

cap n chris · Aug 7, 2021

Fred Davies, perhaps, IIRC; FWIW the expression is in the same ballpark as IIWII and othersuch trite platitudes, IMO. HMACIFIASS.

Ed W · Aug 7, 2021

David, I have no source to cite, but sure I heard that it was coined by Fred Davies.

Ali M · Aug 7, 2021

"Caves is where you find 'em" - Fred Davies. Quoted at the bottom of page 82 - The Complete Caves of Mendip by Barrington and Stanton, 1970.
In Mendip - The Complete Caves and a view of the hills, p55, 1977 it states "Caves be where you find 'em" - also credited to Fred Davies.

mikem · Aug 7, 2021

Or where you make 'em

cap n chris · Aug 7, 2021

Willie Stanton's fabulous essay "Digging for Mendip Caves", has it quoted on the first page, second heading,... "Caves be where you find 'em", the famous axiom first stated in the sixties by Fred Davies to express his scorn for speleological pundits, has been proved true time and again"..

cf.:http://www.thelog.org.uk/more07.html

mrodoc · Aug 8, 2021

Ever since I started caving over half a century ago this adage has been attributed to the late Fred Davies.

David Rose · Aug 8, 2021

Thank you all!

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Anyone know the origin of a well known cavers' saying?

David Rose

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cap n chris

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Ed W

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Ali M

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mikem

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cap n chris

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mrodoc

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David Rose

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