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.

Saturday 10th October 2026

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Noticeably cooler today at 13°C with a chilly wind blowing. John down first and he set up a floodlight attached to the bottom rung of the fixed ladders. He then came out and Kate descended to send up spoil. In addition she sent up 1 bit of carpet and 3 dumpy bags. However the floor rift swallowed up the other bit of carpet. John descended to break up a couple of larger rocks before coming out again. More loads sent up before Adrian descended to discuss options and take photos. Kate came out and Jude descended for a look. Finally Jude came out followed by Adrian, who collected the floodlight on the way. Totals for the day were 24 loads of rock and 26 loads of gravel. 3 hours. John.

Carpet protected stal? Photo KL

Looking South. Video KL

Tuesday 6th October 2026

John Cooper, Xiao Jin, Kate Lawrence, Wayne Starsmore, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Still warm today at 18°C. John down first and started to drill a line of 4 holes in the top ledge.Kate then descended and drew lines on the rock to show John where he was NOT allowed to drill. After she returned to the surface 3 dumpy bags were lowered to block off the rift in the floor. Then John completed the line of 4 deep holes in the ledge. In addition he drilled another line of 4 shorter holes in the ledge at floor level, North end. He then came out and Kate descended with a roll of carpet, 2 pieces, to cover the dumpy bags. It is hoped that the smoother surface will make removing the gravel easier. Kate then came out and Wayne descended. He commented that the stemming water was leaking out of the holes where they passed through the various beds. Should be more spoil this time, fingers crossed. 2½ hours. John.