Nick sent a photo of members of the ‘West midlands Cave Exploration Group’ taken next to the ‘Old Darren School Hut’ in 1968 when a proposed 24hr trip into Aggy’.
If I remember we only achieved 18 hours before we were knackered.
From left to right….
Jack Fell, Simon Southwick, Myself, Stephen Southwick, Peter Burns behind Steve, Tony?, John Fell and Dave Gough.
[Rob, webmaster adds…] Until now I had no records going that far back. I think I probably joined in 1973 so this is before my time but I do remember John fell, Pete burns & Dave gough. Long trips into aggy were demanding, lights were a problem with miners electric only giving 10-12 hours if you were lucky but I see some had carbide. I recall an especially difficult round trip along southern stream passage where Dave Rennison (aka God) had a fall in the streamway. Half way round and far from any chance of help, he continued with a painful and visibly swollen leg but luckily not broken. Then Pete Burns, the only one not using a wetsuit and the only one familiar with the route became confused, we were in deep water at a junction and Pete was unsure which was the way on. We diagnosed hypothermia, fed him some chocolate, and tried to help him keep moving and avoid deep water so he’d warm up a bit.
Nick is still involved with the caving community in The Shropshire Caving and Mining club
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