http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en-gb xmlgenerate.php http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/mostrecent.php A list of the latest recordings added to the BCA audio archives Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:34:35 +0000 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:34:35 +0000 Copyright: (C) 2011 British Cave Research Association http://caving-library.org.uk/graphics/favicon.png 100 113 http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/mostrecent.php http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=178 http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=178 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000 Dr. John Wilcock has been caving since the early 1950s, originally with the scouts and subsequently with the WRPC, the OUCC, and other clubs. He was on the CRG/BCRA Council for over 30 years, including a spell as Chairman. Since 1985 he has been interested in the applicability of dowsing to cave hunting, and has regularly published the results of his experiments. In this interview recorded at Hidden Earth, he recounts how he became interested in dowsing, gives his views as a physicist of how dowsing may work, and recalls some of the experimental successes he has claimed over the years. http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=177 http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=177 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100 Rob Parker (1962-1997) recalls the epic diving exploration trip in Daren Cilau on Saturday 23rd November 1985, during which he explored approaching one mile of new passage beyond St. David's Sump with Ian Rolland - leaving other leads to be followed up later. Rob describes the experience of caving in Daren Cilau at a time when there was just a single quarry entrance to the cave. The portering of diving equipment to such a remote site as St David's Sump presented a logistical nightmare and resulted with an economy of technique which cut against the grain of the established diving rules - yet through skill, confidence and camaraderie everyone managed to keep themselves on the right side of survival. Rob also recounts how the Seventh Hour Sump, at the end of their new extensions, came to be named. This recording was produced by Clive Gardener as part of 'Searching for the Secret River' - a film and associated book project, 'Exploring The Caves of Llangattock Mountain'. http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=176 http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=176 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100 Steve started caving in 1959 and was the main assistant to Bill Gascoine during the course of his experiments, placing dye and tracer nets. He played a major part during the first speleological excavations in the Carno Adit from 1982. Later, as a leading member of the Gwent Cave Rescue Team, he assembled in 1985 the component parts for a major underground rescue dump/emergency supply of food, first aid and camping/cooking equipment, which was established in White Passage, Daren Cilau, prior to the existence of any underground camps in the cave. In his interview, recorded at his home in Ebbw Vale, Steve describes the motivations which have driven him to spending his caving career helping to unravel the mysteries of Llangattock Mountain, and the quest for the '200 mile-long' cave system. This recording was produced by Clive Gardener as part of 'Searching for the Secret River' - a film and associated book project, 'Exploring The Caves of Llangattock Mountain'. http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=175 http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=175 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100 Ian Rolland (1964-1994) made several notable cave discoveries beneath Llangattock Mountain, including the discovery by diving in 1987 of dry passage beyond the extreme limit of Sump 4, in Agen Allwedd, where Roger Solari lost his life in 1974. In this interview Ian recalls the gripping conclusion to the epic discovery of the Seventh Hour Sump in Daren Cilau and how he put together the follow-up trip for Saturday 8th February 1986. The second trip saw further discoveries and the extensions surveyed and photographed. For Ian, Rob Parker and Julian Walker the follow-up trip lasted 24 hours, whereas for Colin Boothroyd an additional 6 hours was spent camping underground! This recording was produced by Clive Gardener as part of 'Searching for the Secret River'- a film and associated book project, 'Exploring The Caves of Llangattock Mountain'. http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=174 http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=174 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100 The foremost expert on hydrological studies in South Wales, Bill Gascoine has, during the latter part of the 20th century, made key contributions to our understanding of the hydrology across the limestones of South Wales. In particular he has solved a number of the hydrological mysteries of Llangattock Mountain, especially by determining a previously elusive subterranean route - linking Llangattwg Swallet to Pwll y Cwm - traced over a 48-hour period during November-December 1979. It was the groundwork laid by Bill's experiments that inspired the extension of Daren Cilau through to the first underground sighting of water from Llangattwg Swallet in 1985. In his interview, Bill tells us how from his upbringing in Staffordshire his interest in hydrology was stimulated at a young age. Later, an approach for assistance by the Welsh Water Authority as a result of the draught in 1976 enabled Bill to undertake a major dye-testing campaign, spanning the longest distances hitherto achieved. This recording was produced by Clive Gardener as part of 'Searching for the Secret River' - a film and associated book project, 'Exploring The Caves of Llangattock Mountain'. http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=173 http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=173 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100 John Parker describes the vagaries of digging the Second Boulder Choke in Ogof Craig a Ffynnon. The choke was initially discovered on Friday 19th November 1976 but it wasn't until the application of some dogged persistence by John and his digging team that a final breakthrough was achieved on Sunday 10th July 1977. John describes how on this day he, Jeff Hill and Ann Franklin enjoyed the pay-off with a breathtaking exploration of some magnificent passages, crowned by the Hall of the Mountain Kings. Even so, the cave was not to relent particularly easily for what they discovered at the end of it all was yet another boulder choke! This recording was produced by Clive Gardener as part of 'Searching for the Secret River' - a film and associated book project, 'Exploring The Caves of Llangattock Mountain'. http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=172 http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=172 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100 The 5.2 km-long Grand Circle route in Agen Allwedd, which follows the Main Stream Passage, almost to the original Terminal Sump, and then returns via the lengthy and arduous Southern Stream Passage to Main Passage, has become one of South Wales' classic caving trips. It was on 13th April 1971 when Clive Westlake in Biza Passage achieved a CB radio communication with Steve Smith at the base of the 4th Boulder Choke. In this recording Clive Westlake recounts how, working with Paul Deakin and Dave Gill, the promise of making a physical connection was ultimately turned into a practical reality on Saturday 20th May 1972. As a result of 6 trips worth of excavations and the expenditure of 435 man hours by 28 cavers, some 12 ft of cave passage was finally successfully located and negotiated. This recording was produced by Clive Gardener as part of 'Searching for the Secret River' - a film and associated book project, 'Exploring The Caves of Llangattock Mountain'. http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=171 http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=171 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100 During Hereford Caving Club's 50th anniversary celebration trip, to commemorate the discovery of Main Passage in Agen Allwedd on Sunday 13th October 1957, Paul Hartwright pauses for an interview by the confluence of Main Stream Passage and Meander Passage. He first reached Turkey Pool on 18th May 1958, following an initial exploration there on 5th April by two British Nylon Spinners Speleological Section members. He describes the early crossings of Turkey Pool, with a graphic reminiscence of Inett Homes floating across the pool on an inner tube, stark naked apart from his boots, lamp and helmet! During the further exploration of Turkey Streamway, Paul and other H.C.C. explorers were the first to push Draught Passage. Paul recalls why this tunnel was renamed as 'Hawkins' Horror', along with the resulting discovery of Sand Caverns Passage and the Summertime Series. This recording was produced by Clive Gardener as part of 'Searching for the Secret River' - a film and associated book project, 'Exploring The Caves of Llangattock Mountain'. http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=170 http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=170 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100 Mel Davies (1928-1997), one of the most influential cavers on the South Wales caving scene during the 20th century and a key founder member of the renowned British Nylon Spinners Speleology Section, describes how specially manufactured digging equipment was an important asset in the work and successes achieved by the club. After examining the new Cambridge University Caving Club discovery of Erse Passage on 9th July 1960, Mel and his B.N.S.S.S. team went on to commence a dig in Upper Trident Passage, Agen Allwedd, using a unique digging tool which he describes. Some 115 ft of progress was made, but it eventually became necessary to move on to other leads showing greater promise. This recording was produced by Clive Gardener as part of 'Searching for the Secret River' - a film and associated book project, 'Exploring The Caves of Llangattock Mountain'. http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=169 http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=169 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100 In this remarkable recording Brian stands by the entrance to Ogof Gam and describes how Agen Allwedd was named. He also recalls how on Christmas Eve 1949 he, a couple of lads, and Cecil Cullingford's trusty crowbar unlocked the original entrance to the cave. On the second trip Harold Hicken was able to pass Sally's Alley, but he initially thought the passage ahead closed down and so the trip ended with a little disappointment. It was the third trip when David Seagrave and Harold reached large open passage and Brian describes the follow-up trip of 2nd January 1950 when they first explored Agen Allwedd as far as the First Boulder Choke. This recording was produced by Clive Gardener as part of 'Searching for the Secret River' - a film and associated book project, 'Exploring The Caves of Llangattock Mountain'.