Saturday 29th June 2024

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. No cement or capping today. Started by clearing all the rocks from the bottom of the entrance shaft to the surface, 17 full loads! Then Jude and Kate to the bottom to clear clatch and lose it in various voids in Pensioners’ Pot. After a while some rocks were found which came up Pensioners’ Pot to be stashed at the bottom of Father Duckmas shaft. Having dug a 1m deep hole at the bottom it was then 2/3 filled by collapse. Fortunately, this left a big void which Pete is planning to fill with cemented rocks next week. Nice outward draught from the bottom today. 3½ hours. John.

Pete looking down at collapse. Photo AV.

Thursday 27th June 2024

Darren Chapman, John Cooper, Mark Easterling (Bean), Aidan Harrison, Mark Kellaway (Mak), Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Moved rocks up from the bottom of Father Duckmas and added them to the heap already at the top. Then moved all the rocks up to the Tunnel and finally on up to the bottom of the entrance shaft ready for Saturday. 2 hours. John.

Saturday 22nd June 2024

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann, and Adrian Vanderplank. No cement or capping today. Pete alternated digging clatch and rocks out of the bottom. The clatch was lost in voids in Pensioners’ Pot and the rocks were moved up to the bottom of Father Duckmas shaft. 3 hours. John.

Tuesday 18th June 2024

John Cooper, Mark Easterling (Bean), Wayne Starsmore, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Moved rocks from the bottom up to the top of Father Duckmas in 3 stages. 2 hours. John.

Friday 14th June 2024

John Cooper, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Adrian capping boulders in advance for Pete tomorrow. Not too drippy. 1½ hours. John.

Saturday 8th June 2024

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Double mix of cement taken in. Two thirds used by Pete at the bottom and the rest by John in Father Duckmas Shaft. Not so drippy today. 2 hours. John.

Saturday 1st June 2024

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann, Kate Lawrence and Adrian Vanderplank. A bit drippier than last time. Single mix of cement taken down and all used by John at the bottom of Father Duckmas as it was too wet for Pete to cement at the bottom. Kate dug out gravel at the bottom which was stashed higher up in Pensioners’ Pot. Will need a lot of cement and drier conditions next. 2 hours. John.