The Black Rose Pothole Club

 
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The Oldies Page

For absent friends

who pushed the darkness just a little too far.

 

 

    

                                                             

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Site Admin jed.dodd@blueyonder.co.uk

 

The Topics Page

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Anyone who actually wants to go caving should contact

Adam Cooper                                                       Duncan Jones

adam@deepdownunder.co.uk                            Black Rose Caving Club          

http://www.deepdownunder.co.uk/                              http://www.brcc.org.uk         

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Cave Rescue Conference in Bulgaria.

---------------------------------------------

Richie sent these pics from Florida

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Hi Ged,
Just want to tell you that Big Jack sends me some of your
Thursday Club videos. He knows I am an old cave crawler from years ago.
Thanks for taking the trouble to do the videos.

I love seeing the English countryside and wish I could be there to trek with you!
John Moe,  Indiana USA

---------------------------------------------

 

Scattering Frank Squirrel's Ashes

 at Scar End, Ingleton

Sunday 13th February 2011

Frank and Tommy are now together back on Scar End.

Photos by Ged Dodd

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWOG3NNwaxk

 

photos by Big Jack

------------------------------------------

I regret to say that Frank Squirrel, one of our founder members,

passed away peacefully in his sleep on the 25th January 2011

Tribute http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfj5l0yyoxA

 

 

Spike, the dog, is looking for a loving home because he doesn't want to go back to the RSPCA kennels. The funeral is on Monday 7th February at Lancaster Crem., on Powderhouse Lane. Put LA2 6AD in your Sat Nav. Reception after at the Rugby Club.

 

Update ... Tina has taken in Spike .... he now has a new loving home

he's been great, taking a little bit of getting used to, and the hair balls, and mucky feet, but he is quite happy i think.
  He does NOT like being brushed, i even gave him me £35 quid horse hair brush lol, but he growls at that, and yesterday when i went to pick Logan up from school he was in back of car and i said give us a kiss spike n he dead eyed me n growled, it panicked me a bit, but i just said stop that boyo, but in general i fink he's just getting used to us as we are him.
He loves football I'm going to try video it as i was really impressed, he gets the ball and proper growls at it (busting em) then lets go and stands to side looks at you to let you take the ball to kick it...
he has not had one wee or poo accident and not chewed anything, only tried once with Logan's bob the builder man, but we said no spike n he let go.
He lets Logan walk with the lead, and waits to cross road brill, but with me he gets a bit excited and tries to pull me so the old heel spike has worked.
He did like to wee on my new garden, but we have ad words about that lol.
He sleeps under stair case on a blanket till i get him a basket, he goes in fine, when i go up to bed he gets out n lays behind door for a bit then goes gets in his bed after 10 or 20 mins.
I took him to vets Monday and he weighed 30.7 kilos, they said he's a fatty, he will soon loose some of that with exercise, and i want to get him groomed when i can afford it, as he's a hell of a lot of hair i bet that doesn't help the scales and i daren't do it with growls lol.
but all is well, here's some pics for you to send to the Lads etc.

 

Next Dinner on

5th February 2011

7pm'ish at the Marton Arms as tribute to Frank Squirrel

Hi Jed
 
Dunno if you remember me but i came with frank squirrel with my mum to one of the meetings a couple of years back  . Thought i let yoi know frank passed away on Tuesday 24th January he was found dead in bed . His son Andrew told me and my mum to let everyone we could think of know . I am sorry to be one to break the news and if you want il let you know when the funeral is .. Spike is currently stopping at frank son's house at moment .
 
Kirsty Holmes

---------------------------------------------

Haere Mai, Ged,

I was in a state of disbelief yesterday on the news of Frank's death. I was only talking on the phone to him on Monday night ( your time ).
Today I am overcome with grief. It's taken 36 hours to sink in. I've known Frank all my life and, despite now living on the other side of the world, we never lost touch with each other. When I came over in 03, I stayed with him for a week before the 03 dinner. We did many of the things we used to do as kids. We climbed Wharton Crag and ( drove ) up Arnside Knott. We went on the Windermere cruise and for a walk down the lane by the canal in Lancaster. I'm glad I came whilst we were both in reasonable health. Much better to remember him that way.
I'll miss him, Haere Ra, Bob Laycock

---

Haere Mai, Ged, Thanks, mate. I had seen the tribute. It seems everyone wants to make sure I didn't miss out ! Hope there'll be a good turnout to see him off. Would have liked to have been there but am probably better off with my memories of our time together in 03.I'll be there in spirit. Bob

 

-----------------------

    27-10-10,  Hi Fans,       Glad yer might get yer boots going Ged. Cumpsty is getting some wet-suits for my next trip up ha ha.     I cannot make the next 'meet' on Nov 20th as I am doing a 'Gig' in Stratford-on-Avon, which is a shame, 'cos I like meeting everyone.    I should be able to make the Christmas 'do' at Marton in Dec...hopefully, Cheers from Johnnie Seaton.

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Snakes in my woodpile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga-hqPTk5no

 

 

  I have a new guest at my farmhouse. A 1.5 metre long snake has taken up residence in my wood shed living in the log pile. On a hot day it basks on top of the pile under the hot concrete roof. We respect one another's space, and although I have strolled through the courtyard in the dark in bare feet for the last three years I have now installed a spot light to ensure I don't go treading on my new friends in the dark. Oh, the good old days when  ignorance was bliss. A bucket full of discarded skins, getting ever larger, shows that it is actively eating its way through any unwanted rodents.

   (Note:- I think this is an Aesculapian Snake (Elaphe longissima or Zamenis longissimus). See notes on the video page.  It is said that the staff of Aesculapius, the God of Medicine and Healing, had the snake Elaphe longissima coiled around it, and my farm is surrounded by the ancient sites of mythological Thracian Greek Gods and Goddesses.)

 

         

 

  A visit to the archaeological ruins of Pliska, some 2 miles from my farm revealed that recent digging activity had unearthed a skeleton and when wandering around the spoil heaps I found an ancient canine tooth, the fang of a wolf, or a wolf hound, circa 7th/8th cent AD.  The pagan inhabitants of Pliska were into hunting. Click on  Pliska Ruins

    Archaeologist Nikolay Overcharov discovered an ancient cooking stove carved into the solid rock of the old Thracian city of Perperikon. I wonder if anything similar is waiting to be found in the UK?

          ---------------------

There is a beautiful cave, Zandana, quite large, some 10 miles from my farm. I have updated the site with photos ..

click here Zandana Cave

Bulgarian Mountain Rescue

 Retrieve a Young Man from Pepelyankata Cave
October 3, 2010, Sunday


Image from Pepelyankata Cave nearby Pernik. Photo by Svetlin Marionv at caves.4at.info

A 23-year own man was rescued by the Mountain Rescue Service in a very difficult operation after falling badly in Pepelyankata cave near the Bulgarian city of Pernik. The operation continued for five hours over Saturday late afternoon and night and was extremely complicated by the terrain of the cave. Speleologists and a doctor joined the mountain rescuers to help them in the unfamiliar environment. The young man had apparently suffered back injuries and taking him out had to be organized extremely carefully. He had been exploring the cave with a couple of friends. They all had experience and adequate equipment, so his fall is more probably accidental. After being removed from the cave, the young man was swiftly transported to Pernik hospital.

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The Reunion Dinner on Tuesday the 24th August 2010

at the Mason's Arms in Ingleton was a squeaking success

 thanks to the showmanship of Johnnie Seaton with Sooty

---------

Later on - several of the oldies went down Gaping Gill

  photos Mary Myers

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A Circumzenithal Arc (An upside down rainbow)

 

My exited granddaughter came hurtling through the door, yelling, "Mommy,

mommy, there's an upside down rainbow." ... and lo and behold, much to

everyone's surprise, there it was. A very rare phenomena which most people,

including me, have never seen, but it just shows what a magical world it is

for the very young, where anything is possible. (Keighley 31st August 2010)

 

-----------------------

Ged took a stroll on Storrs Common - Saturday 4th September 2010 - and found the entrance to the Upper Dig  Cave above Beazley Quarry Caves had collapsed with a huge slab completely sealing up the entrance hole. Yet another cave on Storrs lost without trace.

The old entrance ... the roof slab beginning to move and oops ... yet another cave vanishes without trace.

----------------------

 

No reunions in July - August because of Holidays

so here are some photos from my July trip to Bulgaria.

 (It would be nice to have photos of other people's holidays.)

  After several days of work, work, work and more work,  the team decided to take the boss on a holiday in the Balkan Mountains for a few days. It was brilliant. Cool fresh air and an off-track trek in an All-terrain Soviet Army truck to the top of the local mountains in the Balkans National Park. At 5,000 feet this place has a mountain lodge-cum-pub for walkers and climbers, just like Big Jack wanted on the top of Ingleborough. I am black and blue after the roughest ride of my life.

  Later we were honoured to get a visit to the President's Hunting Lodge, a guided tour and lunch in his secure fenced off area surrounded by magnificent views of the national park, arranged for us by local friends.

The trek to Hut Mazalat - elevation 4,997 feet - Balkan Mountains National Park

 

The President's Hunting Lodge in the Balkans National Park - hunting for wild boar and deer.

 

 With thanks to Angel, Desi, Giorgio, Jivko, Maya, Mimi, Plamen, Safi and Vladimir.

  The is the Balkan Guest House where we

stayed in July in Valevtsi Village at the foot

of the impressive Balkan Mountains.

 

I was very impressed with it.

 

Guess who is now a partner in a new project for

building a  hotel near to this one but on the river?

 

Another Peace Haven for walkers and trekkers.

 

and so back to my farm at Varbyane and the miles of sunflower fields

Farmhouse update

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Prior to the April dinner Pete Cumpsty and Johnnie Seaton had a ramble up on Lead Mines Moss while Ged was on Storrs Common trying to recruit new diggers at Long Gour Cave.

Duncan (BRCC) on Long Gour Cave Canyon Traverse,

 in a gour pool and the tiny entrance in fog.

 

 

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The bikes are on display in Varna Sea Gardens Park.

 

please wait while loading

please wait 30 seconds while loading and if you are not on Broadband it may take longer.

 

This is a multiple image projector. If it does not work on your system, click on the thumbnails listed below.

 

My granddaughter had a great time staying at my farm in Varbyane.

 

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Ged's farmhouse in Bulgaria is finished

.

You are welcome to join us next summer

There is 3/4 of an acre of orchard for tents.

Motor bike collection in Varna City Park

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The Money Dragon Tree

 

Here's an interesting little known creature at large in Ingleton.

 

   Walkers on the Waterfalls Walk have encountered a strange creature in Swilla Glen which persuades them to part with their money until it now looks like a scaly dragon with a myriad of shiny metal scales.

   Thousands upon thousands of copper coins have been hammered into a dead tree by tourists, until now, there is little room for any more.

   I don't remember this tree being there in the "olden days" and inspection of the coins reveals the oldest found is 1970, which in itself does not mean this practice was started in 1970, after all you may have a 1970's penny in your pocket that hasn't been there since 1970.

 

 click on a thumbnail

 

What other dragons are lurking in the undergrowth, I wonder?

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Hi Ged. Hope this mail finds you well. Was up in Ingleton the other Saturday trying to locate a cave called ‘ Dead Rabbit Cave ‘ my memory of the Cave that it was up the old quarry road and path to the waterfalls We had the guy from the quarry setting the explosives to enlarge the Passage . cant remember what or how far we pushed the cave forward Any way if you know of the cave please let me know Regards   Colin Enright 07-10-08

 

      Hi Colin the history of Dead Rabbit can be found in an extract from my book "Fifty Years on Storrs Common"  ... LOL  ... (click here)

  -----------------------------------------

20th October 2009

The Black Rose "young'uns" are back digging

in Lower Arch Cave on Storrs Common.

Hi Ged, this is Alex from the current Black Rose Caving Club. I just thought I would let you know, as I know this was your old dig before we took it over. After a six-year pause we have started digging it again! Well I have and am trying to get the others to join me. Removed about 5ft of sand so it’s 5 ft longer then the last log entry in 2003. Dunc should be updating the website as we progress (hopefully we will) so you can find out from him. I just thought I would drop you a line and let you know, as you may be interested in the news. P.S. The club is doing well now we have over 20 members, wow, he he. http://www.brcc.org.uk     Kind regards,  Alex Richie.

Next digging date is Sunday 8th of November 2009 - all welcome

(It would be nice to have a Master Cave "break-thru" after 50 years digging.)

--------------------------------------------

 

 

 

The Funeral of Isabel Lewis was held on Monday

27th July 2009 at Saint Mary's Church, Ingleton.

The church was full to overflowing in fond memory of this

  charming lady. The wake at Juno was standing room only.

 

When we close our eyes, we can see her clearly,

The memory of her smile, the twinkle in her eye.

Makes us want to say, how very much we miss her,

So let her stay a while, these memories can not die.

by Ged Dodd from his ICU 2 Album 2007, Class Music Studios.

 

------------

 

Memorial Concert for Connie Creighton

Saturday, 28th March '09

2.30 pm  at Southport Arts Centre

   Artists there included Bobby Kaye (Comedian), Charles Mitchell (Organist) who worked with Connie for 25 years, Spencer K Gibbons (Country and Western/Rock) who was Connie and Johnnie's Cruise Ship Director for 5 years, Beryl Chapman (Singer) who is Duggie Chapman's wife (The Producer), a film of Connie presenting the best of Southport for the Tourism Board, Teddy Alexander who worked with Connie in the old days and came out of retirement for her, Peter Lindup a musical speciality act, Mathew Corbett remembers with pleasure his years of working with Connie on the Sooty Show and Asa Murphy, a new swinging singing star from Liverpool. A good show.

    Jonnie Seaton was indisposed and couldn't attend so a video was taken of the entire show, which over ran by half an hour, just for him.

 The proceeds for the attendance/ raffle raised £2,500 and this went to the Queenscourt Hospice where Tommy Bowers spent his final days.

    Photos were forbidden in the theatre but here's a few I took earlier.

 

 

     Attending were Big Jack, Brian & Isabel, Ged & Sandra, Jim Boursey, Mike & Mary, Pete & Barbara, Scorcher & Dianne, Skipsey & Val, Tiger & Liz.

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------------

 

28th Feb - Maureen scattering Tommy's ashes above Scar End.

 

  Then we went on to a reunion at Isobel and Brian Lewis's place with an excellent buffet. You're resting in a magic place, old friend, with fond memories. Click on thumbnail.

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HAVE YOU ANY PICTURES OF THE FEBRUARY SNOW ?

PLEASE SEND IN

1) Ged builds granddaughter a snow house 07-02-09

2, 3, 4, 5) Ingleborough and Ribblehead Station by Big Jack 06-03-09

6) Proper snow back in 1962 at Scar End Hostel

1  2  3 4 5

6

 

I have been reliably informed that Brian Lewis has been seen

whistling up a sheep on his front lawn today .... hmmmm ?

 

 

   http://12121.hostinguk.com/tangiers.htm

New site about Ged's exploits in Caves of Hercules in Morocco 1989

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New Web site on Egypt for you armchair adventurers  here.

14-01-09    Ged & Sandra back from their Egyptian Trip - see new web site here.

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28-10-08

Daily Mail reports gigantic crystal finds

in a cave 1000ft below Mexican Desert.

Click on thumbnails -This is not a hoax.

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23-10-08

Duncan of the Black Rose Caving Club

Black Rose Caving Club

 has been busy uploading a catalogue

with thousands of cave photos on

http://flickr.com/photos/brcc/

with a few of our oldies on Storrs Common

  

This fabulous site is well worth a few hours browsing

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BULGARIA  UPDATE 20-09-08 by Ged

   Well, after 5 months of glorious sunshine, I arrived in Bulgaria to a downpour of Biblical proportions. Thunder and lightning rule OK?

     As the Zandana Cave floods from the bottom up, I gave it miss.

On to plan B, which was a photo-shoot with TV Star Pepi Borisova, promoting Mall Varna, Bulgaria's biggest Super Store, shopping for shoes, (steady on Ged), and working on video projects in Varna City.

Photos by Ged - Courtesy of Peace Havens Limited - Bulgaria

   Later on, to promotion shoots at Pliska, the first capital of Bulgaria, and Madara with its gigantic vertical cliffs and "dry" rock caves.

 I actually climbed the 1000 foot to the hill top fortress of Madara.

 

 

    There is a little wayside cafe at Madara that reminded me of Bernie's Cafe, and we got the best cup of old-fashioned milk coffee in a long time, in a huge mug.   Meanwhile, enjoy, I did ...

 

Photos by Ged - Courtesy of Peace Havens Limited - Bulgaria

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   It is with sincere regret that I have to inform you that Big Jack's wife, Mary Procter, has died suddenly from a heart attack, on Wednesday.  The funeral will be at Charnock Richards Crematorium at 11.15am on Friday 5th September. All welcome.

     Flowers from family and friends, and collected donations will be used to buy dog and cat food which will be handed directly to the RSPCA.  Our sincere condolences to Big Jack and family and if you can't make it...

Big Jack's telephone is 01772 496 806 or you can email him on   g0fqn@blueyonder.co.uk  

         Our thoughts are with you big fella.

 

Jack would like to thank those who attended the funeral and sent cards of sympathy. Appreciated.

 

 

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The Wheatsheaf is under New Management

   You will be all pleased to know, since the demise of Cains Brewery; The Wheatsheaf has now changed hands and is once again a Free House boasting a superb range of Real Ales from our signature beer "Black Sheep" with regular appearances of superbly kept guests. The staff are more astute and attentive to customer needs just how it should be. Good home cooked food sourced from local suppliers. So let us take this opportunity to welcome back customers both old and new to the reputation this fine establishment in Ingleton once had. Look forward to seeing you there.

Regards Mark. (Bar Tender)  email

 marklaceyuk@hotmail.com

 

----------------------------

 

REQUEST FOR INFO   14-03-08


Eddie Hunt - 01/12/02

Hi there, My name is Cathy Tazzyman and I live in Ingleton, I am one of the many nieces of William "Eddie Hunt" who was a member of the old Black Rose team. I never ever saw any pictures of my Uncle Eddie when he used to cave and I wondered if anyone had any old photographs for me to look at. My uncle Eddie was a good man and he had a big heart, and it seems only yesterday that we used to chat, even though its now been nearly 5 yrs since he passed away. Kind regards Cathy Tazzyman

My e mail address is tazcath@btopenworld.com

Cathy - All I can suggest is to contact the Cave Rescue Organisation - Ged

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Message from Richie in Canada    ....   Hi Ged     02-03-08
My new email is rkirby@silomail.com  or kirby.rick@gmail.com
Hope you have an enjoyable evening at the reunion, sorry can't be there again this year
Still biking, picture taken in Virginia on the way to the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2007 September
Richie -- Wisdom: We are all born naked, wet, and hungry....Then things get worse.

 

And Sletcher cant be reached at the address you have on your website !!!

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Frank Squirrel was rushed into hospital.

He's out again now and would appreciate a call on

01524 417 735  to chew the fat and tell you the latest news.

Big Jack took these photos 22-02-08 - click on a thumbnail

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New photos from Big Jack 01-02-08

Ingleborough, White

Scar & Scar End 2007

Mary & Jack halfway

up the Eigar Mountain

Jack & Mary on top of

Yuungfraujoch, Swiss

Big Jack in 2008

Contest Mode

 

 


Ged -- Saw on the web-site that you're always on the look out for more photos. I took Dennis up to Ingleton for a day out last week, and a trip down memory lane, as he puts it. I know he gets up to the re-union every year, but that's in the evening, and he's off the following morning back home, so he really doesn't have chance to see too much of the place, or spend time browsing. He says the happiest days of his life were spent there. We bumped into "Tiger" in the Craven Heifer when we went in for some chow. He and his wife now run the Ingleton Tourist Information Office. Just for your records, he says that Mick Eland and Jane (not Joan -as I always thought), divorced, he went to Cumbria, she re-married but her husband died, and she now lives back in the Village. On the subject of Mick -- the photo you have posted on the site, of the group in the wash shed behind the Heifer, if that was really 1962 -- then the guy on the far right would be Mick Eland.  Regards Phil K.

 

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     If your computer will not load you can see the pictures by clicking on the number links.
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13
 

__________________________________________________      

 

REQUEST FOR INFO   09-01-08

I recognise David Heap from your photo. He was head of history at William Hulme's Grammar School, Manchester from approx 1968 - 1973 and introduced me to caving which I carried on through my university days. I was sorry to learn that he had died in 1995. Are you in contact with anyone who knew what happened to him after leaving WHGS?           Regards, Mark Clegg           email       Kk558@aol.com

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Post your card here - Have a Very Merry Christmas


Pete and Barbara

Cumpsty

 


Johnnie and Connie

Seaton

 


Ged and Sandra

 Dodd


Click below for an animated card from Phil Kendall
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1361509924241&source=jl999
A beautiful card and sentiment - thanks Phil.

Click here for a Merry Christmas

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Who's doing what these days?

GUARD EXTRAORDINAIRE

Rumour is that our Big Jack has a big boy's job as

a "responsible person" on the Worth Valley Rail

and is still "hamming" it up on the airwaves.

 

Click to view

--------------------------------

BULGARIA UPDATE - August

We go Sinbad's at Golden Sands, every night, for the variety show with

Bulgaria's most celebrated belly dancers, Tifani, Julia, Pepe and Mimi.

On to Mimi's birthday party where everybody, young & old, join

in the dancing. We get invited because Ged and Mimi are old

friends ?  and we thought our man in MI5 was Johnnie Seaton.

Click here to go to Mimi's Birthday Party

 
T
he exploits of Steve Manly in MI5.
Tel 01202 514 722  -  johnseaton@supanet.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bulgarian Cave Monastery

( Ged Dodd) 18th Feb 2007

The nearest I got to caving this year was visiting the Cave Church of Aladzha Monastery near Varna on the Black Sea Coast of Bulgaria.

click to view photo gallery

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Email from Dave Newsholme on 12-10-06

  davenews@blueyonder.co.uk

Hi Ged

To the best of my knowledge we have never met but round about 1959 onwards I was caving regularly in the Dales. I do remember sneaking on Leck fell one night and going down Easegill (County?) with a couple of lads one of whom was called Dave who only had 1 arm. I think the other one was called Pete, who told me about pushing Spectacle pot. I think we met in the Marton. Could this Dave be the one in some of your photos? I was also in a Rose pothole club but mine was WHITE. Another coincidence is that I first went caving in a small way, Dow, Sleets etc with a few mates when I was in the ROC. Living near Leeds though I was in the HQ at Headingley pushing markers round on the big map. I remember enjoying the exercises tracking the Canberras etc flying in from Germany. That didn't last long though when the caving bug took over. I started caving again in 1985 with my teenage sons. I found the SRT absolutely brilliant and the fact that the three of us could bottom some deep pots really quickly. Happy days.  Regards  Dave Newsholme

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Jonnie Seaton's new book is now available April 2006
 

Action packed political thriller of the exploits of Steve Manly in MI5.
Tel 01202 514 722  -  johnseaton@supanet.com

Or write to John Seaton, 139 Kinson Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH10 4DG

--------------------------------------------------------

Hi folks, I've been off-line for a long time ( months) and am just catching up, Connie is  fairy godmother in Cinderella, yet again!. Hope you are all well and hope to see you at the Wheatsheaf 25th March?  Cheers   Johnnie Seaton. 13-12-2005.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY

click on pic for a Merry Christmas message

 

=======================

Cairn Cavern

(New Discovery 21st April 2005)

          So, Pete Cumpsty collars Ged at the Dinner and tells him about this rock shelter he had stumbled on whilst out walking, near the Roman Road, and plans were made to have another look, complete with Ged's metal detector, on the first available sunny day, it being out in the wilds.

     It had rained the previous day, leaving an inch of water over much of the floor inside the shelter, about 10 feet square and 3 feet high, so we had a dabble outside and found a horseshoe, well, more a small pony shoe, and an Olde tent peg, and a ring pull off a sardine can. Wow.

      Pete had brought a powerful lamp which revealed an inner dry cavern, at least as large as the outer, which we didn't enter, because it meant getting muddy, and we weren't kitted up for caving. We will return.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Pete detecting outside, holding pony shoe and enjoying the view. (Photos by Ged)

 

5th May 2005

    Pete Cumpsty and Adam Cooper had a good day at the shelter. No obvious finds apart from a old fence post left inside the cave at the back, but they did find 3 or 4 round house remains, about 1/2 a mile away.

----------

====================

Anyone remember this oldie?

email 28-03-05 from TEnright3@aol.com

Hi. Have just been looking at a web site of the Black Rose Caving Club Oldies !
My name is Colin Enright originally from Liverpool. I seem to remember your name from the past. Do you remember me ? Other names of Scousers in Ingleton in the early 60s were Johnny Martin. Ken Bradley. Also we were good friends with Meesh who I think came from Barrow. Also I remember Mike Myers and Alan Edmundson and Kim Alderton.
If you are the one I remember, did you have an ear ring ? Also your friend had one. Very unusual for that time. You worked in the Barrow Ship Yard. And I remember seeing your photo in an advertisement for Vickers in a barrow handbook ? There was also a guy who knew you ,forget his name, he said he was from the Kendal Mint Cake Family, did not believe him !  He never did any caving.
We first met you when you had the coal or wash shed behind the Craven Heifer Pub ! We stayed there many times. Most memories have faded ! I have a photo of Meesh when he stayed at my house in Liverpool,.
It would be nice to hear from you if you remember me.

Regards Colin Enright

Hi Colin, please send photo of Meesh by snail mail or email, and get yourself to the reunion at the Wheatsheaf. Always room for another oldie. Regards Ged.

---------------------

William E.G. (Eddie) Hunt of Ingleton,

 passed away suddenly at the

Royal Lancaster Infirmary on

Tuesday 12th August 03 aged 69 years.
 

Eddie Hunt - Profile

from the Black Rose Story by Ged Dodd


Eddie Hunt - 01/12/02 - photo Ged Dodd

   When I finally tracked Eddie down after 40 years he maintained that he never was in the Black Rose as such, but he had always knocked around with Jed, Jim, John and Just, or the Four Jays as he used to call them. That was Ged (Jed) Dodd, Jim Varey, John Kirbitcon and Frank (Just Courting) Squirrel.

     As it happened, when we left the Scar End Hostel it was Big Eddie Hunt,  the blaster at the local quarry who immediately got us the key to this dry ex-quarry building up on Storrs Common which we could use as a hostel, and although we were no longer in the old club we still regarded ourselves as the true Black Rose and carried on regardless.

  When I say Big Eddie, I don't mean tall, I mean wide. He was built like a Sumo Wrestler, the proverbial brick outhouse. Whoa.

     Eddie was just larger than life. A true Yorkshire man, blunt spoken, generous to a fault, plus a built-in habit of giving his friends an affectionate bear-hug that could break ribs, a painful fact, to which his girl-friend would testify. He broke two of her ribs in an affectionate embrace, but by the same token I can not recall him ever doing anything out of anger, although he did have this wicked sense of humour.

     As Eddie tells it, "When I were at t'Quarry we had five pound sticks (dynamite) and you had to drop them down the hole, you see, and if the hole were too tiny the middle went and you were left with t'carton in your hand. So I thought, well, I'll stuff that full of paper, I'll go up to t'hut, and I'll get that lot up, somehow or other, so, put a dud fuse in and lit it, slung it in and there were all sorts coming out of t'hut then ... ha ha ha."

    Almost as funny as when he would stand on top of the quarry throwing live sticks of dynamite at me saying, "Catch 'em, you gret softy, they can't go off, there's no detonator in 'em ... ha ha ha".  Oh happy days, they don't make fear like that anymore.

   Eddie, being a local from Ingleton, was the door-man who stamped your hand with an indelible blue pass-out on the Saturday Night Dance at the Institute.

    He remembers this was done to stop the local girls from smuggling us potholers into the dance via the lady's toilets round the back of the Institute. Money was in short supply those days. A pint or the dance? No contest - make mine a pint. We lads had this curious priority code of Caving > Drinking > Girls ... but the girls had another code of Boys > Boys > Boys.

    He says, "That was a horrible job on t'door, 'cos they all come up Kay-lied, Pee-eyed an' all sorts. (The dance was on the first floor, up lots of steps.)  I use to stamp them anywhere they wanted stamping, an' I wasn't bothered, lifting skirts up, stamp their boobs, one bloke took his willie out an' I stamped that an' all.... ha ha ha."

     Eddie was later featured in Sid Perou's film A Wet Sunday at Sunset which promoted the Cave Rescue Organisation. He supported the CRO whole-heartedly for many, many years with his ready jovial attitude, and his ability to sober up rapidly on a Saturday night when Dodger Brown came a' knocking on his door. Most rescuers were shouted out on a Saturday night. One would think potholers could be more considerate and wait until Sunday afternoon when the effects of Hartley's Ulverston Best Bitter had worn off.

    Eddie's strength was legendary and if you got tired humping those heavy ladders then he would more than likely take them off you, put them under his arm... and then he'd grab you and put you under t'other one ... just because he could ....  ha ha ha.

     Oh happy days, they don't make them like him anymore.

     Privileged to know you Eddie - take care mate - Ged

-----------------------------

Pete Dale with imaginary
friends
on Ingleborough


Photo magic by Mrs Sarah Cooper.   xx

----------------------------------------

Children's Corner


My daddy Adam the potholer by Lucy Cooper aged 4

--------------------------------------------------------

The Meet at Bernie's - 12.00 Friday 27th Dec
A walk up the waterfalls to Scar End Farm
Dunc, Ged, Pete Cumpsty and new boy Clive went walkies down memory lane and met the present owners of the Old Hostel. Photo Duncan Jones. BRCC.


Alan Rucastle from No1, Ged Dodd of the old Black Rose, Wendy Algar and Feargus Barton from No2,  Pete Cumpsty of the old Black Rose. We would like to thank them for their hospitality and the whiskey - Cheers.

________
From: "wend algar"  : scar end  :  Date: 28 December 2002 10:09
Dear Ged, Thanks so much for the pictures, they're fascinating.... as were all your
stories! We really enjoyed meeting you all. Feel free to pop in anytime
you're passing and say hello. There'll always be a mug of tea (or a glass
of whiskey) and a welcome smile for you guys. Best Wishes,
Wendy & Fearg (& Tai the collie)

------------------------------------

The Meet at Bernie's - 12.00 Sunday 15th Dec
A Walk up Easegill
Dunc and Ged and Pete Cumpsty went walkies down memory lane and we had a great time. Suggestions for another ????

 
Photo Pete Cumpsty 1957    -     Photo Duncan Jones 15/12/2002

Abandon hope all ye who enter here. 1958

END

-------------------------

Anyone who actually wants to go caving should contact

 Duncan Jones

Black Rose Caving Club

http://www.brcc.org.uk

 
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