The British Cave Rescue Council (BCRC) was formed in 1967 as the representative body for bona fide volunteer underground rescue organisations in the British Isles. Its functions include representing and supporting its members at National and International level, promoting the exchange of information between member rescue organisations and providing a common voice for them. ResCon is the bi-annual BCRC Cave Rescue Conference, a gathering of cave rescue volunteers and others to discuss (and practice) cave rescue techniques and meet other cave rescue team members. The next ResCon is to be held on Mendip in September 2019, to be organised by Mendip Cave Rescue, over the weekend of 6th to the 8th September 2019 on the outskirts of Priddy in the Mendips. A ResCon 19 website is being created which will have full details. Please note that tickets are now available online from eventbrite, with weekend tickets costing £50 (to include camping, food and activities).

After 43 years of dedicated service to Mendip Cave Rescue, Nigel Taylor retired earlier this year. A farewell was held as part of a presentation evening at the Hunters Lodge Inn on the 9th June 2018. Nigel was made a warden in 1975 and has attended many call-outs over the years. In those days equipment was much more basic. Communication underground was made by reeling out hundreds of feet of wire to attach a telephone. Also, the first strike bag had a packet of 10 cigarettes in it, which were to calm the nerves of the casualty (known as a victim in those days) and the rescuer! The presentation evening also showed how cave rescue equipment and techniques have evolved over the years.

Nigel Taylor being presented with a certificate from the MCR secretary Martin Grass

Last year, a long-standing Mendip Caving Group and Bracknell & District Caving Club member Biff Frith passed away after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Biff was an enthusiastic and talented Mendip cave digger, and a number of Mendip entrances bear testament to his skill in engineering passageways through areas of slightly dubious stability. During an evening celebrating Biffs life, a number of caving related books from his collection were auctioned off, and the proceeds of £311 have very generously been donated to Mendip Cave Rescue, for which we are very grateful.

 

As agreed at the last MCR meeting, the next MCR meeting will be held on the second Tuesday of June, the 12th at the Hunters Lodge Inn, Priddy at 20:00. All are welcome to attend these open meetings.