This article has been rewritten and expanded by the Jack Nadin. The first section 1950 to 1960 has been published in the BCC Review 2005. Future sections will be published in stages at a future date.
1950. November 1950 Burnley Caving Club is founded by Raymond Haffner, Raymond Morris, Jean Ingham, Marie Ingham, Gerald Kelly, Trevor Rambadt and Peter Carroll. The new headquarters is situated at 61 Oxford Road, Burnley.
First official club meet where members lodged at the Craven Heifer Stainforth and during the evening met up with a group from Keighley Central Youth Club who had experienced "caving" in Victoria and Attermire caves using various types of lighting and an assortment of helmets. The B.C.C. agreed to the C.Y.C. joining their meet on the Sunday that was Sell Gill Pot. After this meet several C.Y.C. members joined the BCC and attended most meets during 1951/1952 culminating in Peak Cavern, Derbyshire in December.
1951. First coach meet to Marble Steps Pot, Yorkshire. March 3rd, leaders Noel P. Coupe & Gerald Kelly. Forty members attend Alum Pot coach meet to make decent using newly constructed two hundred and fifty feet of rope ladders, leaders Raymond Morris and Trevor Rambadt.
Whitsuntide 1951 club descends Lost John's Pot, coach/motortruck meet. Rescue of John Frankland from Penyghent Pot. Members Gerald M. Kelly, Raymond Haffner, A. Schofield, Noel Coupe and E. Burns take part in rescue. First annual dinner takes place at Marton Arms, Ingleton.
1952. Both Trackside Pot and Canal Cavern discovered and explored. Oxford Pot coach meet with leader Noel P. Coupe and Disappointment Pot with leader A. Bailey. Easter Camp Ireby Fell and Gragareth, Oxford Pot (slaughterhouse entrance) Leader, D. Stott. Whit Camp Gaping Ghyll, leader is Noel P. Coupe. Swinsto Cave, leader is Roy Swindlehurst. Juniper Gulf, leader is Raymond Haffner and Bull Pot Kingsdale, leader is D. Horsfield. Second Annual Dinner held at Marton Arms, Ingleton.
1953. The club's first public exhibition and lantern lecture on caving with The Burnley Caving Club. Dowbergill Passage (Dow Cave) Club members discover and explore Dowbergill Passage to Syphon Chamber. The new extension is named "P.G Extension" and the first duck as "Jack's Duck." Stump Cross Caverns coach meet. The club's first electron ladder was tried out on the twenty-five foot climb out of the river.
J. Benjamin Esq. made honorary member. Meets, Dow Cave, Kettlewell. Digging in Sell Gill area takes place. Coach trip to Stump Cross Caverns and Alum Pot. Lectures take place on "Caving in Britain" by Albert Mitchell. "Alpine Valleys and Climbs" by Gladys Sellars of Lancashire Caving and Climbing Club. "Mountains and People of Kashmir and Tibet" by John Jackson.
Members attend the opening of Lancashire Caving and Climbing Clubs hut in the Lake District. The B.C.C.'s association with this club continues to the present day.
Whitsun Camp. Easegill Caverns, the leader is Trevor J. Rambadt. Club joins newly formed cave preservation society and carries out taping off formation in Easegill System. Coach meets were held to Gingling Hole, Calf Holes, Brow Gill, Birkwith, Batty Cave, Pikedaw, Calamine Caverns and Bull Pot. Third Annual Dinner at the Marton Arms, Ingleton. The club becomes an official member of Cave Research Group.
1954. Coach meets; County Pot, Dow Cave, Marble Steps Pot, Easter Camp Lost Johns, leaders are Rambadt and Johnson, Alum and Diccan Pots, Whitsun Camp, Kettlewell. Goyden Pot, Hardrawkin Pot, September Camp, Gaping Ghyll, Simpson's Pot and Calf Holes - Brow Gill Cave. Clubs first visit to Lisdoonvarna, County Clare. Pollna Michael is discovered and explored.
Accident at Bull Pot of the Witches in October Patricia Carroll falls forty feet on entrance pitch landing on rocky slope. Later members of the Cave Rescue Organisation bring Patricia to the surface. She suffers a broken wrist, back injuries and shock.
Annual Dinner held at the Crown Hotel, Horton - in - Ribblesdale. Exploration and survey Continues in P. G Extension, Dow Cave.
1955. Alan Bailey, Kenneth Williams and Peter Lambert are the leaders on the club's first decent of Nick Pot at Easter. In summer there is an expedition to the Tru Du Glas Dent Du Crolle, South of France near Grenoble.
1956. Club acquires premises at Selside. The bungalow will be used as a bunkhouse and tackle store.Coach meets, Alum Pot leader Roy Swindlehurst; Calf Holes/Browgill, leader Trevor Rambadt; Marble Steps, Peter Lambert. International Expedition reaches sump one in the Gouffre Berger; The first cave to be pushed over one thousand metres deep.
1957. Providence Pot/Dowbergill Passage cave rescue callout. Burnley team: - Ray Haffner, Alan Clegg, Clive Bradshaw, William Clunie, Roy Swindlehurst, Bob Evans, Ken Williams, Ron Crosby, Trevor Rambadt, John Hartley and M. Embley help in rescue of six Bradford students. Coach meet for Simpson Pot, leader is Alan Clegg. System is de-rigged following weekend.
Other coach meets: January Bull Pot Kingsdale, leader Jack Swift; February Bar Pot and Gaping Gill, leader Mike Howarth; March Notts Pot, leader Allan Bailey, April Dow Cave and Providence Pot; June Lancaster Hole, leader Allan Clegg. Bull Pot Witches coach meet; leader is Trevor J. Rambadt everyone on coach, including the driver, went underground. Easter camp Kingsdale Rowten and Jingling pots.
Three Peaks walk, twelve start and six finish commendable effort for cavers. New tackle includes electron ladders under construction. Hostel, renovation and repairs continue at the bungalow acquired last year. Winter programme of films and lectures on Wednesday at the clubroom. Seventh Annual Dinner at the Crown Hotel.
1958.Coach meet in Peak District. Giants Hole which proved to be as crowded as Grand Central Station. Speedwell Cavern by another party. Coach meet at Meregill Hole. The Mere thwarted this visit. Coach meet at Notts Pot. Spring charity football match between club members and Horton-in-Ribblesdale locals. Concert and supper at the Crown later. All proceeds for homes for blind babies. Easter meet Mossdale caverns, campsite set up at Conistone lots of snow and rain. Because of the weather only got to Mud Hall and returned to surface very wet and cold. September Holidays Penyghent Pot only got to top of next to last pitch, it took until mid November to get all the rope tackle out.
Treasurer requests donations to complete construction of electron ladder for the Penyghent Pot meet. Digging continues in two sites in Kettlewell area. May accident at Dolly Tubs pitch in Long Churn on way out after bottoming Alum. Dennis Clark was struggling up the pitch after hurting his leg earlier when the lifeline broke. He fell the full depth of the pitch sustaining serious injuries.
Second Irish meet to Lisdoonvarna, County Clare. Coach meet Bar Pot, Leader Roy Swindlehurst. Coach meet Lancaster hole, Leader Sid Johnson. Coach meet Juniper Gulf Leader Roy Swindlehurst, The system was rigged with rope ladders. The trip terminated at the one hundred and eighty-foot pitch. The following weekend a small party of four again reached the big pitch with the necessary ladders to complete the descent. Roy Swindlehurst descends the ladder, to discover they were still short of the bottom. The next visit a fortnight later finally bottoms the pot; seven persons reach the bottom. Coach meet Mossdale Caverns was changed to Dow cave owing to the inclement weather.
1959. March, Peak Cavern, Derbyshire. The Neil Moss Tragedy. Eleven members of the club, including Roy Swindlehurst who plays a major role. December, death of Eric Sugden Christmas Day, following accident in Bar Pot. The discovery and exploration of Bogwheel hole by (Tiger) B. Payne & Bob Evans. Easter meet Simpson's /Swinsto through trip. Meregill, leader Clive Bradshaw.
1960.1960. Easter camp Nidderdale. July Irish trip to Lisdoonvarna. Caving trip/family holiday, visited Pollnagollum system and Poll an Ionian. Raymond Haffner and Rita Crosby provided nightly entertainment as the table-dancing duo (after drinking vast amounts of the black stuff.) The end of Short Henslers in the Gaping Gill system was dug out to connect with the passages just beyond Bar Pot.
1961.1961. Easter camp at Dent. September camp at Brotherswaite, walking in Patterdale and Hellvelyn via Striding Edge.
1962. B.C.C. members take active role in the formation of C.N.C.C. (Council of Northern Caving Clubs.) The club takes on a more democratic course following the meeting held at Hall Inn, Burnley. The club up to this time had been run on council principles. Twelfth Annual Dinner held at the Marton Arms, Ingleton.
The death occurred of Eli Simpson founder member of the British Speleological Association. There are fatal falls at Alum Pot and in Hell Hole. Frank Salt led the first British expedition to the Gouffre Berger.
1963. Alan Clegg is member of the Ken Pearce Expedition; Pearce dives Sump One Gouffre Berger, only to be stopped by a second sump. Alan Clegg first passed the downstream sump of Ireby Fell cavern.
1964. The British Speleological expedition to the Gouffre Berger Roy Swindlehurst is one the official photographers. Alan Clegg drowned in Lancaster Hole Sump. Wednesday evening meets to local rock outcrops, stone mines are principle events. Car/coach meets for Easegill Caverns, leader is Ron Crosby, Goyden Pot, leader is Ron Crosby, Lost Johns Pot, leaders are Ron Crosby and Roy Swindlehurst, and A. B. Pot leader is Sid Johnston.
Easter Camp, Swaledale, Sir Frances Level Mine. Whitsuntide Camp, Coniston Wharfedale. September Camp, B.S.A. Conference, Settle. Winter Camp, Kettlewell. November Hole Selside, explored by Tony Blick and party.
1965. A broken column in the Colonnades in Lancaster is mended with Araldite.
Fourteenth Annual Dinner at Devonshire Hotel, Grassington. Guest of honour is Peter Carroll and Noel Coupe and chief guest is Gerald Kelly a founder member of the club in 1950. Thirsty first party, B. Payne and B. Ashworth thirsty men. Keith Denton's Twenty first party at Selside. November Hole, Alum Pot Area. Discovered and explored. Providence Pot is still blocked.
High Hull Pot digging out is planned. Midweek meets at different public houses in the area are popular. Caving trips and camps: - Meregill Hole, Sell Gill Hole, Simpsons Pot, Dent Camp, Mossdale Caverns, camp at Coniston. Easter camp Mukel Swaledale a very wet weekend Crackpot Cave and Saint Francis Level mine. The Bungalow, Selside in critical financial position.
1966. Easter, Ron Crosby planning Irish meet to County Clare. Approximately ten members camped in Lindoonvarna court room above the Greyhound bar and visited Pollnagollum cave etc. Lease on Selside Headquarters expires September 1st. Lancaster/Easegill club trip in which fourteen members descend. Terry Wilkinson slips and falls forty feet at Stake Pot, C.R.O, called out and quickly get him to the surface, Terry sustains multiple knee and hip injuries. August 29th, tackle shed at Selside was broken into and almost all tackle was stolen. In July a visit to Lost Johns Cave is made. A fair sized party reached the bottom in exceptionally wet conditions. Caving meets and mid - week meetings continue at various venues. Tackle making started to replace stolen ladders. Annual dinner held at Devonshire Hotel, Grassington.
1967. Mossdale Caverns caving accident, six fatalities due to flooding.
Rebuilding of our club, following the loss of Selside Hostel and club's tackle. A new Dale's headquarters is established at Gearstones Lodge, near Ribblehead. Norman Ingham farewell party leaves country to join John Whipp in New Zealand.
Jack Swift friend and club member died at the age of thirty. Pete Grays twenty first party at Gearstones went off very well with pie and pie supper, film and barrels of beer. The stolen tackle turns up.
Easter meet at Gearstones, Aygill caverns & Ireby Fell cavern were visited. The Farmers 'Hot Pot' supper was a grand affair. Seventeenth Annual dinner at Devonshire Hotel Grassington. Roy Swindlehurst is team member of Ken Pearce's Gouffre Berger expedition, which passes sump two but were stopped by a further pitch.
1968. Foot and mouth epidemic, all Dale's activities cancelled, Dales H.Q. closed. 'Tateys' Twenty-first Party at the Gearstones. The club gives up Dales H.Q., Gearstones Lodge.
1969. The club moves into a new and invigorating era reorganised and virtually re-born. Chairman Trevor Rambadt, Treasurer Sid Johnson, Secretary Ken William's, Tacklemaster Terry Wilkinson / Jim Penny, Librarian Dave Shepherd, Editor Mike Meredith. Club hold monthly meets: - December Disappointment pot, January Heron pot, February Stump cross caverns, March Marble Steps pot, April Magnetometer pot (coach meet), May Gaping Gill hole, June Rowten pot & Kingsdale master cave, August Gingling hole, September Little Hull pot, October Lancaster - Easegill (coach meet) November Lost Johns hole, December Lancaster - Pool sink.
1970. Clubman of the year Sidney Johnston. Malcolm Baker dies in the Barcelona air disaster 3rd July, a keen and active caver whose sense of humour was second to none. Norman Thornber editor of Pennine Underground dies.
Trips done Ribblehead coach meet. Bar Pot - Disappointment Pot coach meet. Lancaster Hole / Easegill. Swinsto Hole - Valley entrance, 5th April, ran into trouble there was a heavy storm during the afternoon. Bob Greenwood and Stan Wilman trapped by floodwater in the master cave.
Easter camp at Horton in Ribblesdale, Car Pot and Long Kin East were done. Bull Pot. Grange Rigg Pot. Goyden Pot coach meet sees Ken William, Joe Garnett and Sid Johnson underground. Washfold Pot. Cherry Tree Hole. Stump Cross / Mungo Gill. Notts Pot. Penyghent Pot on Alison Reed's eighteenth birthday. Urien Shaft Park fell discovered. Skythorns Pot extended to sump / duck. Smithy Holme Pot discovered. Irish Trip 1970 to Lisdoonvarna, County Clare. Winter Camp at Malham. Twenty first Annual dinner at the Devonshire Hotel, Grassington.
1971. Clubman of the year Bernard Bond. Janet Varley organises January trip down Sunset Hole to shake off Christmas lethargy and flab. Irish trip July 1971 to Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, club camps at Frank Hillary's farm. Gaping Gill main shaft on ladders both ways by club members. Kingsdale coach meet, Spectacle Pot bottomed by John Gregory, Pete Hartley, John Scott, Geoff Barber and Pete Wilson. Lancaster Hole - County Pot a memorable trip Ginger Bob attired in wet suit, pink knickers and tights.
September 12th Jim Penny claims to be first man to bottom Penyghent Pot solo. October Meregill Hole bottomed by Maureen Oldham, Steve Robinson, Bob Riley, Dennis Wood, Barry Wood, Tom Targett and Chris Holden. October, Dowber Gill Passage, Providence Pot - Dow Cave, Jim Penny leads Chris Holden. Dennis Wood, Tom Targett and Vic Grainger on through trip. Juniper Gulf bottomed by Stan Wilman, Dave Woods, Pete Hartley and John Gregory. Jim Penny attempts to make underground movie film. Heifer Pot a new entrance to Bull Pot, Kingsdale discovered by John McNeil and Duncan Smith. Club produces the classic Songs, Poems and Curses of Burnley Caving Club.
1972. Clubman of the year Dennis Wood. January - March Club discovers and explores Red Moss Pot, Penyghent area, into a magnificent active master cave passage forming part of the Birkwith Cave System. Pete Hartley, John Gregory, Alec Peacock, Peter Wilson, John Scott and Mike Meredith undertook the main exploration and survey. The cave survey traces four thousand five hundred feet (one thousand three hundred and seventy two metres) of passage to a depth of seventy six feet (twenty three point two metres) to a sump close to the end of the known Old Ing cave system.
January Bob Greenwood, Graham Sumner, Bernie Bond and company discover and explore Slit Pot, Penyghent Gill, nineteen metres deep and one hundred and forty eight metres long. The pot is an active system associated with the Slit cave resurgence. July diving in Old Ing Cave by Ron Crosby and Alan Reddy who discover an extension to the main downstream sump after a sixteen feet dive to a chamber twenty feet in length, twelve feet high and four feet wide.
Late July B.C.C. Expedition to Trou Du Glaze, France by J. Gregory, K. Nuttall (Garth), D. Patterson (Patty), J. Scott (Scottie) and P. Wilson (Will). The Glaz- Annette system is traversed. John Gregory accompanies a Belgian team on the Trou Du Glaz - Guiers Mort through trip. Old Ing cave extensions August 20th 1972 Ron Crosby and Jim Penny dive the downstream sump and pass it to reveal the Baker Series. The most impressive feature of the series is the large chamber just before the final canal and sump.
1973. Clubman of the year Chris J. Holden. Club meets held at Nettle Pot, Oxlow system, Ogof Fynnon Du, Grange Rigg Pot, Nick Pot, Magnetometer Pot and Goyden Pot. Mid-week climbing alternates on the local Gritstone Widdop / Scout / Jackson Ridge / Hugeoncroft and the Bridestones.
Exploration continues in the Birkwith system. John McNeil's survey of the Birkwith cave system identifies the connection potential of the Old Ing / Dismal Hill / Birkwith caves. Diving party forced to abandon the dive, as the water was too high and murky on an attempt to link Red Moss Pot with Old Ing. Red Moss Pot II Pete Hartley, Alec Peacock and (Garth) Kevin Nuttall dig out new entrance to the system via Frustration Inlet. Further discoveries followed the first major find was circa one thousand feet in Peacock passage by Pete Hartley & Faye D. Concealed inlet thirty-foot aven was scaled to reveal one hundred and fifty foot bedding plane passage to a flooded cross rift close to Canal cavern.
Foreign trips to the Trou Du Glaz by Pete, Faye, Plumbe and Mustafa of Manchester University Speleological Society. The Pyrenees by Peter Wilson, John McNeil & John Scott who visit the caves in the Villefranche-de-Conflent area and the Salle du Verne chamber of the system of the Pierre St Martin.
1974. Clubman of the year Peter Wilson. Gouffre Berger, France Expedition. By twenty-four members, system done on ladders and reach Little Monkey Pitch minus nine hundred and fifty two metres. The Penultimate Pitch, loss of ladders halts descent. John Pollack, Wilber Howie and team of U.S.A. Spelukers share Berger permit for last week. We have memorable night round campfire passing round "Old Crow" Jim Beam whiskey. November further extensions made in Red Moss Pot, Long Mire inlet fourteen hundred and twenty eight feet and Sludge inlet aven forty-foot.
1975. Sudden and tragic death of Honorary President Trevor Rambadt. August, Abyss Emilio Comici, Italy Expedition to continue the exploration. August Bank Holiday, the discovery and exploration of Spittlecroth Cave, Littondale. September, Gouffre Berger, France Expedition. System bottomed with French colleagues Eric Meunier and Alain Marechal, who tragically die on ascent in flood conditions. Clubman of the year Trevor Howarth and Lynda Walton. Raymond Haffner accepts the post of club President.
1976. Clubman of the year Kevin. G. Nuttall. Club Secretary Derek Patterson. Club expeditions to Comici, Italy and the Tru De Glas, France. Kevin Nuttall [Garth] leads a memorable Providence pot- Dowber Gill passage trip. Spring climbing meet held at the B.M.C. hut Isle of Skye. Annual winter meet Glencoe is very popular.
1977. Clubman of the year Jim Penny. July, Burnley C.C. / Earby P.C. Grotta Di Monte Cucco and Montte Canin Expedition. The last ladder rigging of a major continental cave system by the club. Waterfall cave dig still on going. Annual winter trip to Glencoe was blessed with good snow conditions.
1978. Clubman of the year Geoffrey Barber and Ann Barber. Derek Patterson [Patty] stands down as secretary Geoff Barber takes over. Quaking Pot finally bottomed by Nigel Smith, Geoff Barber, Simon Wilson & Peter Hartley. Gingling Hole Alec Peacock climbs aven. Echo Hole, Fountain fell, Pot wins first round. February annual winter trip to Scotland is a washout. Bob Riley leads Austrian caving trip. Chris Holden organises Alps climbing trip. July Duncan Atkinson dies in tragic motor cycle accident. Annual dinner Wheatsheaf Hotel, Ingleton Bob Leakey gives memorable after dinner speech.
1979. Clubman of the year Peter Hartley. 1979 was the year of the B.C.C. revival a large number of new members has made the year the most active. Trips every weekend: - Newby Moss, King Pot, Washfold, Alum, Swinsto, King Pot to King Pot II, Echo Hole- bottomed at last, Birks Fell, Jib Tunnel to Whitsun Series. Expeditions to N.W. Spain, Nigel Smith to Eire, Derek Suddell to Morocco, others to Austria, Peter Hartley & party to Italy, help Speleo club Goritzia explore the Sepenhoffer sink on Mount Canin. Annual dinner held at the Golden Lion, Settle.
1980. Clubman of the year Derek Sudell. South Wales trip Dennis Wood, Nigel Smith & Duncan Smith traverse Ogof Ffynnon Ddu cave system from top entrance to O.F.D. 1. The following day they visit Ogof Craig- y- Ffynnon. Same day two cavers are swept away in O.F.D. in main stream passage by a flash flood puts a tragic cloud over the weekend. Pete & Faye Hartley and David Whittaker (Twitters) visit Langcliffe pot new entrance.
Ian Plant cave diver and editor of the Craven Herald, died while cave diving in Bull pot of the Witches. Members take part in the rescue and sherpa for the divers. Diver Geoff Yeadon finds Ian's body. A tragic loss to his family and his caving friends. Peak cavern trip is visited in March by nine members after three thwarted visits, but is a disappointment for Geoff Barber.
Spain expedition to Treviso area of Picos De Europa, by Large party of Burnley C.C. and Lancaster University S. S.
1981. Clubman of the year David Whittaker. Patty, Derek Patterson dies in a climbing accident at Witches quarry. Patty one of life's great characters is dearly missed, his photographic skills, humour, wit and adventurous spirit were a great asset to club and friends. The C.R.O. are later presented with a resuscitator from funds raised by B.C.C. in his memory.
Summer expeditions and trips: - Nigel Smith with Nottingham group traverses the Dian - Tarre du Bel Espoir, six hundred and thirteen metre depth and horizontal traverse of four and a half kilometres, reputed to be one of the world's greatest cave traverses. In July Dennis Wood, Catherine Clunnie, Dave Whittaker & Pete Myers Explore and visit Tanne du Bel Espoir, Grotte de Bournille, Grotto de Gournier, Gouffre Berger, Trou de Glaz, Caladaire and Pene Blanque entrance to the Trombe.
New extension to Long Drop cave, a thirty three-metre aven Patterson pot is climbed above High stream chamber reveals an inlet series, Humble inlet.
1982. Club man of the year Leonard. J. Howard. June novice trip in Sunset Hole by members Kevin Walker, Len Howard, Barry Sudell, Ann Bullough, Neofitos Savva and Peter Myers. The weather breaks whilst the party is underground and torrential rain floods the cave. Neofitos Savva is swept to his death. The remaining members eventually battle their way out. Neofitos was an enthusiastic potholer; club members were all shocked on the news of his tragedy. Twitters dig down unnamed pot, Old Cote moor, David Whittaker and his digging team, Terry Holmes, Graham Starkey, Peter Hartley & Bob Riley dig and push tight crawl to a further pitch but it becomes to tight.
Deaths Head Hole is venue For Pete Hartley, Terry Holmes and other members during the winter 1981 - 1982, they climb all the avens but all draw blanks.
Summer Expeditions. Dennis Wood, Catherine Clunnie & David Whittaker return to France to continue their pot bashing exercise. They explore Gouffre d' Aphanice, Catherine has a close shave whilst abseiling she free falls thirty foot when her stop descender became jammed. They also visit Laruns and Eaux Chaudes, Then onto the Vercors and the Gouffre Berger and round off with a trip down the Scialet de Malaterre. Anglo-Spanish expedition to Picas of Northern Spain. Pete & Fay Hartley and family, Bob Riley, four L.U.S.S. members and S.E.I.I. Madrid push Sima Cembaviaya - Cave of the ice field to minus six hundred and fifty metres.
1983. Clubman of the year Phillip Glover. Linda Walton is voted in as chairman, Len Howard secretary, Phil Glover Librarian, Alec Peacock Editor, Peter Hartley Tacklemaster and Trevor Howarth Treasurer. Twenty-nine club meets are planned for the year.
1984. Club man of the year Gill Moorhead. Annual dinner held at the Golden Lion Hotel Settle. Bernard Houghton mine host is the guest speaker. The club has another active year. Members using the climbing frame climb the Hensler's great aven.
1985. Club man of the year Catherine Martin. A very ambitious programme is planned for the year.
1986. Club man of the year Nick Earnshaw. Ray Morris unearths the clubs early lantern glass slides. Nick Earnshaw & Mel Singleton produce a memorable slide show from the slides and also a Gouffre Berger 1967 Expedition slide show that Roy Swindlehurst was a member of. Two epic trips are recorded. Peter Wilson & Gill Moorhead experience arctic weather conditions on Striding Edge, Helvellyn. Nick Earnshaw, David Heap and Andy Freem on a photographic trip down New Rift pot in preparation for their Berger trip are caught out by a sudden thaw. They battle their way out and return later to recover their photographic equipment. Expedition to Gouffre Berger France led by Nick Earnshaw and Dave Heap resulting in a memorable photographic record of the trip
1987. Club man of the year Simon Wilson. Nick Earnshaw and David Heap lead a trip caving to Jamaica. Annual dinner held at New Inn, Clapham, Harry Long is the guest speaker.
1988. Club man of the year Bob Riley. The S.R.T. club tackle is up graded. New Inn is the venue of the annual dinner.
1989. Annual Dinner at Golden Lion Settle. Clubman of the year Jack Nadin.
1990. Annual Dinner at Golden Lion Settle attended by fifty odd members and guests. Twenty cavers descend Lost Johns on permit meet other trips to Easegill, Tatham Wife Hole and others. Club members also attend a trip down Marham Main Colliery, which closed down shortly afterwards. Exhibition at Towneley Hall forty years of B.C.C. on display through October until early November. Clubman of the year Jack Nadin for the second year running.
1991. Treasure hunt for club funds two cars participated later nineteen people enjoyed a social at the Maypole. Visit to County Clare Ireland Faunarooska and Coolagh River cave visited by Dennis Wood, Graham Dean, Jack Nadin and Kathryn Clunie. Fortieth Anniversary Dinner at Keirby Hotel attended by one hundred and fifty-two people held in February. Annual dinner at Golden Lion Settle attended by twenty-two people. Raymond Morris gives a memorable talk involving hypnotism. Trips to Dog Hole in May and Otter Hole at Chepstow. Clubman of the year Chris Bosomworth.
1992. Visit to Moorhouses Brewery with free beer. Taster day in caving organised for District Youth and Community Services. April Welsh trips to Porth-yr-Ogof and Dan-y-Ogof. Death of John H. McNiel. Annual Dinner at Golden Lion Settle. Review 92 published. Clubman of the year Jack Nadin. Trips to Swinsto (pull-through) and White Scar Cave in January. December trips to Mungo Gill and Goyden Pot.
1993. Club trip to Ireland. Clubman of the year Gordon. D. Kirkham. Associate membership class introduced. June Summer camp held at Mucker on Mrs Metcalfes' farm. January trip to Pikedaw Calamine Caverns.
1994. Jack Nadin takes on Editors job. Splash trips continue in the summer. Visually impaired people taken caving. Annual Dinner at Station Inn Ribblehead. SPLASH trips continue to Long Churn Cave and the caves of Ribblehead. Fundraising abseil tower at St. George's day event at Towneley Park and Arndale Centre Nelson. Caving trips to Hell Hole, Rowten Pot, Diccan Pot, Pool Sink, Swinsto Cave, Ireby Fell Cavern and Out Sleets Beck Pot amongst others. Review 94 published. Clubman of the year Chris Bosomworth.
1995. Twelve cavers spend twenty-four hours underground in Bar Pot to raise money for local cave leader certification. Splash trips continue. Collection of money for borrowing club equipment approved by Committee after much debate by the Club. Disabled party into Churns during Sportathon in September. Annual dinner at Station Inn Ribblesdale attended by twenty-three people. Clubman of the year Trevor and Linda Howarth.
Silver Spoon trophy awarded to Maxine Watchorn. Exhibition of photographs and equipment at Colne Library in November for three weeks. Chris Holden takes on Editors job. Anthony Dearnaley (Squeaky) killed in road accident. Trips into Simpsons Pot during heavy rainfall to assess the difficulties of passing Slit Pot, the point of the exercise being missed due to the cold. Committee members P. Heywood, C. Smith, D. Hall and G. Kirkham leave to form Pendle Caving Club. Pete Wilson takes on Meets co-ordinator role and Chris Bosomworth becomes Tacklemaster.
1996. Local Cave Leader Certificates for four members. Eight ladies taken into Long Churn for International Week for Women. Slide show at 110 Club by Kenny Taylor on his Southern China exploits. Seventy-eight descents made by ten members of ninety-foot Comfort Hotel in Burnley centre. This was the "Vertical Mile" and raised four hundred pounds for cave leader certification. Trips for Burnley youth during Splash weeks continue with four trips into the Churns system. New owner of Green Street premises and Bacup Judo Club taken to Churns. Memorial plaque for Alan Clegg installed above entrance to County Pot in June.
Annual dinner at Golden Lion Horton in Ribblesdale attended by twenty-three members. Clubman of the year Bernard Bond who gave the shortest of thank you speeches after twenty six years as C.N.C.C. representative. Raymond Morris first chairman of B.C.C. and founder member dies in October. Club premises moves from old whist club after it is sold to local builder who increases the rent. In December new club premises opened at Bank Hall near the old Bank Hall Miners Club site after extensive work by members. Caving trips continue with reports of Darnbrook Pot and Cherry Tree Hole areas being featured in the Newsletter as having scope for potential.
1997. Forty-fifth Reunion dinner at Comfort Inn Burnley in February attended by seventy-six people with ex members travelling from as far away as Australia. Peter Carroll gives interesting after dinner speech of the early days of the club and his many memories. Members assist C.N.C.C. Technical Group with hanger testing. Jack Nadin publishes book "Coal Mines of East Lancashire" and is featured in Burnley Express article.
Four Splash trips with Burnley youth during the summer. September Open day held at new Club premises attended by old and new members. One hundred and sixty pounds raised towards the building costs from barbecue, stalls, bouncy castle and aerial runway. Annual dinner at Dalesbridge Centre at Austwick attended by thirty-one people. Clubman of the year Simon Mitchell for his work at the new club rooms. Web site opens on the Internet courtesy of Alex Holden bringing B.C.C. onto the information superhighway. After twenty-two service in the Dales years Trevor Rambadt seat refurbished and reinstalled. Reports received of members other activities walking in the Haute Savoie region of France and climbing on the North Lancs. loop
1998. Burnley College special needs pupils attends caving course and trips with B.C.C. into Long Churns and Dow Cave. Splash trips with Burnley youth during the summer. Ben Jones gained Scout Association Speleo badge, the first to do so in East Lancashire. Bank Hall Buttress the new climbing wall opened at clubhouse. Annual dinner held at Goat Gap Inn at Clapham. Surveys donated to club from the estate of John H. McNeil. Clubman of the year Peter Warren (Viking Pete) following his return to caving after a serious illness. Report of seven week walking holiday in the Himalayas received from Peter Lambert and Raymond Haffner. Edgar Rawlinson early member of B.C.C. dies remembered for his walking once doing the Three peaks of Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent continuing through the night to climb Pendle and finishing with a pint at the Lamb Club Barrowford.
1999. Splash trips continue with Burnley youth during the July and early August with trips to Long Churns and Calf Holes. Caving trips continue aplenty with trips to Yorkshire, Derbyshire and a small trip in France. Bob Riley and others find new passage in Valley Entrance and publish details in Descent magazine after work flushing out debris with a water hose. Club members explore small find on Pendle Hill but the work comes to nothing at an impenetrable boulder. Work commenced on protecting the Library and archives at the damp Clubrooms. Annual dinner held at Goat Gap Inn at Clapham attended by forty-four people. The raffle causing some amusement as a prize of an ice-axe was won by one of the locals. Clubman of the year Alex Holden for his work on the B.C.C website.
2000. Clubhouse gets new asphalt floor following grant from DybSac to better preserve the Clubs library and archives. Fiftieth Anniversary Dinner held at Comfort Inn Burnley attended by one hundred and two people. Money was raised by a raffle and a guess the total ages of those present competition. The surprising average age of forty-nine was calculated despite all the grey hairs present. George Perfect and Fritz Volkman friends of the club from the early days attend. Peter Lambert early B.C.C member dies. Club members spend weekend at Lancashire Climbing Clubs Hut at the Lake District. Caving trips continue regularly primarily to the Yorkshire dales.
Three Splash trips held as usual during the Summer Long Churns and Great Douk Cave being the venues. Trevor Rambadt seat repaired with the aid of money collected at the fiftieth anniversary dinner. A special award of Clubman of the year on the club's Fiftieth Anniversary and to mark the Millennium was given to Raymond Haffner. Annual dinner held at Goat Gap Inn Clapham attended by thirty-two people. Jack Pickup ex underground controller of the C.R.O attended as special guest. The Club Constitution was changed at the Annual General Meeting to facilitate a future Lottery Grant. B.C.C. Members on B.B.C. Radio Four programme in December to promote the club and caving generally.
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