Saturday 31st October 2026

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Noticeably cooler today at 9°C with a damp clammy mist. John descended and fixed the floodlight to the bottom of the fixed ladders before coming out again. Kate was then lifelined down to the bottom which allowed Adrian to fix the rope at the correct position for Jude to abseil down to floodlight level. This station allows the person to guide the buckets past the bottom of the ladder otherwise they snag when being hauled up. The depth of the shaft was then measured at 21.0m to top of the slot. Kate then proceeded to send up loads of rocks (26 plus 1 large stal) and gravel (17). In addition 1 carpet and Adrian’s purple tackle bag (swallowed by the slot 19/09/2026) were retrieved from the slot. Two frogs and other critters rehomed today. Lots more hauling required. It would also be good to sort out the bottom ladder. Jude came out followed by Kate, who removed the floodlight on her way out. Still somewhere in the slot is the ball of string lost on 08/08/2026 and a plastic critter pot. 2½ hours. John.

I'm happy here! Photo KL.

Friday 30th October 2026

John Cooper and Kate Lawrence. Lovely warm sunny day, 16°C. John descended to the top of the electron ladder then Kate lowered bucket with drill and flood light (which he attached to bottom rung of fixed ladder). Then he descended to top of slot and Kate lowered drill to there. John coiled up the electron ladder so it did not get hit by falling debris. John then spent some time with drill in chisel mode straightening out the shaft above the slot to give a better haul. He then moved on down and widened the floor slot. The hole is deep from the sound of falling debris! Some of the debris landed in the bucket but a lot did not. Once completed he ascended and Kate descended to check his work. John hauled out two loads of rocks, then the drill. Finally the flood light was hauled up which Kate detached on her way up. Should all be ready for a good hauling session tomorrow! Kate reported sound of running water somewhere. 1½ hours. John.

WARNING The electron ladder is old and was constructed using thin wire. You should use a lifeline if using the ladder. 

Saturday 24th October 2026

John Cooper, Pete Hann, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Noticeably cooler today at 11°C with a chilly wind blowing and the rain getting heavier as the day wore on. Kate down to start with, rigging the electron ladder to the fixed ladder. We rehomed one newt and one frog today. Not sure how she saw the frog as it was only the size of my thumb nail. Jude rigged an SRT rope and descended to the level of the end of the fixed ladders so she could relay messages and guide the haul line up. Only 2 light buckets of gravel and 3 light buckets of rocks hauled out. One capping mat, two carpets and two dumpy bags were recovered from the rift and hauled to the surface. One dumpy bag remains protecting Kate’s stal but one carpet, one tackle bag and assorted bits are still in there somewhere. When Jude got too cold she came out and Adrian descended to install a proper bolt and hanger for the electron ladder. Once completed we all retired cold and wet. 2 hours. John.

Saturday 17th October 2026

Nigel Graham, Pete Hann, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. A very short session fitted in between the Wessex Cave Club's AGM/EGM and Annual Dinner. Five loads removed. The slot in the floor needs to be made larger still. 1 hour. John.

Thursday 15th October 2026

John Cooper, Kate Lawrence, Wayne Starsmore, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Still warm today at 18°C with no breeze. John lifelined Kate down first, then lowered 3 dumpy bags and 2 rolls of carpet which she used to plug the floor rift and protect the South end. John then descended to discuss where today’s holes were to be drilled. Kate then ascended and lowered John’s drill. The intention was to drill 5 long holes in the lowest ledges to start with. However the Southernmost hole dropped right through with the longest bit (900mm), so he restricted the others to the 600mm bit. As each hole was completed it was plugged with a rubber bung supplied by Wayne (many thanks). A tea towel was used to cover each set of holes (2 and 3) to prevent debris from the higher holes being forced into them. Finally a row of 3 deep holes was drilled in the upper ledge, none of which dropped through although the rock was quite fractured. John ascended and Adrian was lifelined down. Then his bag of supplies from Wayne lowered to him. Once all was set up the bag was hauled up and the wire lowered down. Adrian was then lifelined out and he destroyed the holes. 2½ hours. John.