Saturday 19th August 2023

John Cooper, Vern Freeman, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann, Adrian Vanderplank, Jude Vanderplank and Barry Wilkinson. Jude and Vern went in first to have a look at the bottom. They were followed by John and Pete with drill etc. Jude and Vern exited after a look and were replaced by John and Pete. Quite drippy at the bottom. John drilled 3 x 8mm x 400mm holes in the triangular boulder in the floor before carrying the drill back up to the Tunnel whilst Pete filled the holes. When John returned Pete had completed work so John took out the second bag and laid out the wire. Pete followed carefully positioning the wire. At the Tunnel John left the bag and ferried the drill to the bottom of the entrance shaft whilst Pete connected the firer. Very quiet result, it’s a long way. John collected the bag from Pete and ferried it to the base of the entrance where he swapped it for the drill. A slight outward draught but no fumes. Supervised by Adrian from the surface who was looked after by Barry and Nigel. 1¼ hours.

Saturday 29th July 2023

John Cooper, Pete Hann and Adrian Vanderplank. Double mix of cement taken in. Used by Pete at bottom of Pensioners' Pot. Once Pete had been given the second of three buckets of cement Adrian and I went to update the survey. We started at station 24 in Father Duckmas Shaft, which is by Nigel’s SRT hang as I wasn’t sure what effect the steel bolt marker would have had last time I did that bit. This time I removed it before taking a reading then replaced it before moving down. From 24 went to 40 as the 30 range was used last time. Picked up the previous bottom station, 34, on our way past (again removing then replacing the steel bolt marker). Today we finished at 48, so only 9 legs today,  with some downward splays into the area Pete was working. Depth now 66.5m (with 2+ unsurveyed). Latest survey at top of screen. By this time Pete was finished and struggling to get out of the Dwarf Trap he’s built! Need to let his cement arch cure for a few days before removing the next boulder, which appears to be above a “DROP”. 2½ hours.

PS Names on survey. Father Duckmas named after the duck which appeared in the shaft after a Wessex CC duck race down Swildon's Hole and Pensioners' Pot after Pete Hann when he finally joined the rest of the Pensioners.

Father Duckmas. Photo by AV.

Tuesday 25th July 2023

John Cooper, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Capping kit taken in and used by Adrian on a boulder at the bottom. Enough rock created so Pete can have a double mix of cement on Saturday. Whilst Adrian was capping Jude was above him passing stuff back and forth whilst I was above Jude in the chamber at the end of the rift. Did two trips carrying rocks from Adrian up to the base of Father Duckmas shaft and put clatch in the wall just below me. Some rocks escaped Adrian and vanished into the depths, as did a pair of safety specs. 2 hours. John.

Bottom. Photo by AV.

Below bottom. Photo by AV.

Saturday 22nd July 2023

Saturday 22^nd July 2023. John Cooper, Pete Hann and Adrian Vanderplank. Double mix of cement taken in. Used by Pete at bottom. It was raining on the surface when we went in so we were wet to start. Then hanging about as the draught came up the shaft was quite cooling. As each bucket of cement was used I took the opportunity to take it along the rift and up to the base of Father Duckmas Shaft to warm up a bit. At the end a couple of rocks were hauled up from the bottom and left at the chamber below the rift. Capping next time. 2 hours. John.

Tuesday 18th July 2023

John Cooper, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Capping kit taken in and used by Adrian on a boulder at the bottom. Enough rock created so Pete can have a double mix of cement on Saturday. Whilst Adrian was capping Jude was above him passing stuff back and forth whilst I was above Jude in the chamber at the end of the rift. Took some rocks up to the base of Father Duckmas shaft and put clatch in the wall just below me. 2 hours. John.