EREWE CLIMBING AND
PoTHOLING ELuUB

NEWSLSITER = JULY 1983. No.1,

No doubt everybody will know, Crewe climbing and Potholing club
is 26 years old this month, and for this reason we have included in
this issue, what we might term a 'blast from the past} an historical
entry dated 2lst. July 1973 taken from the old club log. The log
entry features Pipikin Pot, which is also mentioned elsewhere in this
Newsletter.

I have been slightly dissappointed with the lack of material
submitted for this issue, but I hope that once you have read it and
hopefully enjoyed it, and you consider it worthwhile producing a

warterly Newsletter, you will be kind enough to get out your PENIS
Ctypist error-should be PEN'S) and let me have something to print.

We have been able to reproduce this Newsletter at no financial
cost and so this issue is given free, but in future it may be
necessary for 4 cover charge to be made, as the services we have
"borrowed" may not be available for further issues. I welcome any
comments on this, and anything else you think may be helpful, will be
appreciated.

Read on ~ I hope you enjoy it.

c. Jones.
a lot 8 resigned as club chairman,
Alan joined 973 and became chairman 13 months
later in January 1975,(how's that for a meteoric rise to fame).

F with Alan Since his election I can
‘-out reservation that we have never had a mor
Not only did Alan spend

categorically
conscientious and dedicated club chairm
many hours working behind the scenes doing those unpopular jobs like
'do's) and beginners trips(he is reputed to hold the
was expert at getting the best out
of you will recall those happy(?
youngsters dow some grottyhole, or
(against your better judgment’ und
intuition) in the x thanks to Alan's persuasive manner

Perhaps ot wes during hected meetings thet he really excelled,
possessing the ability to allow both sides an opportunity to speck’ an
yet remaining truly neutral.

Although giving up the post of chairman, Alan intends to maintai
his contect with the club, cnd just to meke sure he doesn't change hi
mind it was unanimously decided to mzke him an honourary life member,

Ralph Johnson,

OTTSR-HOLZ 18th. SiPTeNBsR 1983.

This trip is now fully booked, and the members going are:-
Cliff Jones, ielvyn Bratt, Zig Wezasek, Mick Parnell, Kevin Mountford
and Phil Marsden, sxact details details will be arranged nearer the
time.

AMATIC RESCUB, page 2.

This was yet another of our ‘Berger’ training meets with John G.
for us to solve, with

having devised yet another logisticel nightmare
('N' being large number).

'N’ people going down 'N' hole at various times.

Pauly Brian, Phil, Kev, end I were to enter Pipikin and it was
almost LO years exactly since my last vist when the trip was followed
by a rescue down LOST JOHN'S due to flooding, trapping 2 party on

Battle Axe pitch.
This time we didn't even get underground, before the rescue
‘As we approached the hole cries for help were heard coming
from Pipikin itself, Paul was despatched to assess the situation.
‘After a few minutes 2 call came up fora rope and some means of
manufacturing @ rescue harness,-in error I sent down my tackle bag.
The victim was unceremoniously bundled up and hauled to the surface,
where he was extracted from his bonds by Phil( after posing for
photographs.) After an expert examination we diagnosed a broken leg,
despite the lack of complaints on the journey to the surface. Unable
to render any further assistance we continued on our trip-but thats
another story.
P.s. The only thanks we got was a tackle bag full of sheep urine.

began.

THIS SENTINEL CUTTING OF JULY 1974
MAY BE OF SOMES INTEREST. NOTICE
HE AGES OF THOSE MENTIONED. HOW
OLD IS TONY REYNOLDS?

fit
i
i

A_NsW LIGHTING SYSTEM. page 3

The Jones Lighting system started life quite coincidentaly one

: day while I was trying to think of a way I could get myself a con—
ventiomal-type Carbide Lamp, ‘These lamps have sprung up like mush-
rooms in the Caving Club and I was begining to feel left out. Ideas
for raising the money to buy one amounted to 2. Plan A. Pawning the
new stero unit, Plan B, Putting the Wife on the streets. Plan A
got me nowhere as there are no pawn shops(Porn-Yes; Pawn-No). in
Stoke-on-Trent. Plan B. got me a thick lip.

It was obvious that I couldn't buy a Carbide Lighting system
with the funds in my pocket, go as someone once said ''Neccesity is
The Mother of Invention'' end es a good, portable, reliable, easly
rechargable lighting system is necessary for the G.B. trip I thought
I'd invent one.

The Candle in a Jam Jar idea was quickly dismissed, es the jam
jar was still full(The cut priced, special offer, family sized jar
of coconut and Passionfruit flavour was proving not very popular in
the dones Household).

My thoughts than turned to Methane gas lighting, but again
quickly dismissed, due mainly to the discomfort caused by the plastic
pipe, and the fact that BASS SPECIAL PALE ALE might not be readily
available in South East France,

Hydro-Electric power was tested, but abandoned. The waterwheel was
difficult to mount, and the supply of water spasmodic but at last
I was getting closer.

Two hours in the garage and I finally came up trumps (no, not
Methane gas again). The basic principle waa for 2 slightly magnetized
metel plates, one mounted on the inside of each knee, conected to a
small belt mounted accumulator.(I can't disclose too many details at
this stage as the patent is presently pending). When walking these
two metal plates brush together and pass an electric current via the .
accumulator, to the headset, and the whole apparatus is earthed
through the wearer's body.

Initial tets proved the theory and a dull glow at first brighted
to an acceptable beam of light.

Success |! I mentally pictured the cash rolling in once the
device was marketed, and the envious looks I would get from cavers
with inferior lighting systems.

My joy was cut short abruptly, due to the earthing system, the
apparatus hed to be mounted on the skin, so to speak, and wouldn't
work if the operator was wearing trousers!

I decided that this was a minor setback, and set to work, cutting,
snipping and gluing. until I was ready once more, resplendant in
matching wet suit jacket and SKIR®'. I was more than satisfied,
especially with the hem of the skirt a modest 3'' below the knee, the
generating plates could not be seen,

It was a little later that evening when the doubts began to filt-
er through, Would my mates go caving with me dressed so strangely %
Do Buteh cavers weer skirts ? No, my nerve was weak I had to come up
with something more accepteble. ‘In desperation I took to the bottle
(or rather the hand-pump) and consoled myself , I had just downed my
eight pint of Tarten when the idea struck ''EUREKA'' I shouted
''PARTEN BITTER'' I dashed home as fast as hands and knees could go.

Ferretting round in the garage, I soon found what I was after
severel half finished tins of paint of assorted colours, Before long
I sat back and admired my neoprene KILT . (of somewhat dubious Tartan).

te
Who could deny my Scottish heritage (I was born in Stirling) and as
long as 7. Reynolds didn't follow me in any tight crawls or up a
ladder, I was home and dry.

The next step was to test my invention in conditions, I was
likely to meet underground, so donning my apparatus I entered the
darkened bathroom. I filled the bath with cold water and added a
few ice-cubes for good measure. Stepping in at firstiwas uncomfort-
able, until the water entered my tartan wet socks and warmed up i
had painted the socks to match the kilt).

Rubbing my knees together brought the faint initial glow to the head
piece, but before the beam had penetrated the darknessthe icy water
reached the parts, icy water normally would,if one is wearing a kilt
in the true Scotish tradition 'with' nowt underneath. I lept out of
the bath, howling in agony, Clutching what was left of the ‘wedding
tackle’ and only after several hour of ministering with warm towels
could I persuade anything to show again. I went to bed a disconsulate
man,

Not feeling much like sleep I reached for something to read.
Laying aside ‘Arm chair Gardening'and 'The Water Deviners Weekly’ I
picked up an old copy of Playboy and thumbed through the adverts.

‘EUREKA' (again) The gods had smile@ on me again, for there right
between ‘Naughty Nora' and 'Buxam Betty’ (inflatable Chess tutors) was
just what I needed,

T'ts normal(?) use was difficult to understand (at first) but
suffices to say it looked like a cylindrical sponge, about 8'' long
with a hole running through the middle, and was battery powered.
£11.95p. was cheap at the price especially as it could be ‘returned
if not fully satisfied' ( I've since learned that this means, it can
be reterned if its not fully satisfied.)

I was to allow 28 days for delivery, but the plain brow package’
dropped through the letter box three weeks later, I sharted to work
straight away, and threaded a lenght of heating element around and
alone the 'sponge' and conected it to my knee powered accumulator. ( Thi
heating element came from an old electric blanket).

The warmeth given off by the little gismo was more than was
neccesary and enough to bring a rosy glow to my cheeks.

I should add at this point thaf I did not alter the original
compongts of the ‘sponge’ and wehn batteries are inserted it throbs,
vibrateé, and jiggles about just as it is meant to. @he main advant—
age of this duel role may not be fully realized at first s@ I should
explain. Imagine if you can, falling off = ladder and breaking your
lez, obviously you're in trouble, as your light will go out as well.
Not 70 Panic! insert the batteries, turn it on, and by the time the
Rescue team arrives you'll be smiling from Ear to Bar.’ What ORGAN-
isation!

N.B. you will have noticed the lack if technical data when describing
the above lighting system, and you will appreciate the reason being,
that to divulge all now might prejudice the pending patent,

Negotiations are about to start with Phil Brown who I hope will
Stock Neoprene Kilts et Caving Supplies in assorted tartans, but
Aplications for the actual lighting system should be made direct to me,

For those people who hve recently bought Contiental Carbide
lamps, but who would prefer the JONES PATENT LIGHTING SYSTEM ( and
‘ho cha blame them), there is a special introductory offer whereby I “
will accept a confinental style lamp in part exchange. Z

Cc, Jones.
"BLAST FROM THE PAST" page 5

2ist. July 1973- PIPIKIN POT.

Rus, Byron and Jeff assembled at my place at 0700 and set off
for Yorks. in 2 cars, collecting John P. at Congleton station on the
way. We arrived at Bernies at about 9.15 for tea eto.

Arriving at Leck fell we changed and set off for Pip accross a wet
moor, A fantastic amount. of gripping haa been done here recently.

The trip into Pip was no less stremous than last time, but we
did manage a few photographs ‘en route'. The water was fairly high
at Ratbag inlet. we headed downstream then part way throught the
boulders to the hole leading to the HALL OF? THE TEN . After some
discussion, photographs and food we Set off sown the 1500' of
passage to GOUR HALL, The passage is described as ‘generally large
and well decorated. As it was neither we decided we had gone wrong
so we decided to retrace our steps. In fact we were right.. (according
to 'survey!). On arrival at HALL OF THE TEN we decided to evacuate as
we all felt shattered.

On arrival in the stream passage we found i% ‘Booming’ snd
frothing. We ran like to the junction with TBAG inlet to
find a fairly large stréam entering, where originally there was only a
trickle. I had visions of the entrance bedding plane filling up, as
I had noticed ite roof fairly well littered with flood debris on our

way in.

None of us had much trouble on the 6' climb, but the 15’ was
taking one hell of a lot of water,- it looked impossible. Rus was
repulsed, but Bryan just managed it with difficulty. The ladder was
moved toa small flake on the R.H. wall making the pitch easy for the
rest of us. Again little trouble was had with the awkward 18" rift
although I had at least one unsuccessful attempt. A short ladder
hung on the steple helps a bit.

Bven John P. managed the entrance squeezes so we surfaced about
6.30pm. heading for the 3 HORSSSHOZS about 7-15. At about 7.30 a
bloke dashed in saying "Rescue at Lost dohn's

After some doubts and consultation, Rus, John and Bryan were
despatched to the Cave leaving Jeff and I to contact homes, Pausing
only to down another half and for Jeff to collect from the one-armed
bandit, we set off in pursuit.

We were soon involved in dam building, hose laying and pump
carring. A party of 5 (2 buggered + 3 companions) were stuck on
Battle axe. A party of about 16 head gone down and we were asked to
stand-by. At about 10-30 we downed spades and hoses and changed.

Bryan was to have gone dom with a party of 2 earring a rope
but some-how got left behind.

We hung around in wet suits for about an hout, comsumed 'N' cups
of tea (revolting) and soap(tomato I think) then found out that we
weren't needed, At around midnight we set off for home, The only
incident was when Rus fell asleep(.) missed 2 motorway turn offs and
wes last seen heading for Birmingham.

An eventfuk day.

R. Tohnson.
Cliff Jones
Melvyn Bratt

ALAN

Redacted

Redacted

WALKER GOT NARKTSD LAST

WeeK,

oy