Contributing to the Audio Archives


How you can help with the Audio Archive

Cavers in Britain have often been reticent to put pen to paper and as a result much of caving history has not been recorded. How many wonderful tales that you have recounted or heard over a few pints, have never made it into the press? These could be tales of exploration here or on expeditions abroad; accidents or incidents; or just great yarns from well known cavers. Capturing that history and the true flavour of today's caving scene or times gone by, is what this archive is all about.

It is so much easier to record a good tale than it is to write the story, so please don't hang back, tell us your stories or get out there and record a good session in the pub when you chew the fat together. We all have at least one fascinating and fun story in our pasts and now is the time to record it for posterity.

How to do it

Get down the pub with your small tape recorder. Stick the microphone up the nose of some old fart who is always full of bull shit. Ask a few questions on tales you know something about, and that should start the ball rolling. You may have to steer the sad old bugger with a few more questions to keep him on track and make sure he doesn't drift off, and that's it - job done!

Take out the tape and send it to John Gardner:
c/o BCRA
The Old Methodist Chapel
Great Hucklow
Buxton
SK17 8RG

The final format will be MP3, but we can cope with most formats - ¼ inch tape, cassette, video tape, .WAV file, etc. etc. So don't worry - just get recording any way you can. We'll sort it out, and will even edit out some of the "ums" and "ahs" to make them sound coherent!

If you already have some recordings

Please just send them along to John Gardner at the above address.

If you are really interested…

We are looking for enthusiasts in some of the larger clubs and in different parts of the country, who will walk the hills with their recorder and accost cavers to get their stories. We may even be able to lend you a recorder if you are keen, and can certainly give advice on the techniques for interviewing folk.

If you are interested, please email John via the BCA Librarian at: bcra-librarian@bcra.org.uk.

Dave Checkley