Alan Gray, the Secretary of Mendip Cave Registry and Archive, has been collating reports of all caving rescue and incidents located in the Mendip Cave Rescue region, from early reports of an incident in Pen Park Hole in 1669 through to the current day. All these reports, plus newspaper articles and extracts from log books, have been compiled into a book giving a thorough history of the cave rescue incidents that have taken place over the last 350 years, along with some information about how cave rescue equipment has evolved over the years. All of Alan's hard work has resulted in a 750+ page PDF book, that is available as a free download from the MCRA website.
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).
Mendip Cave Rescue are providing first aid cover for the Sidcot School Peace Festival, where suitably qualified first aiders will be on hand to treat anyone who requires our assistance. This year the festival is held on Saturday 15th June, from 12:00 through to 17:00. The festival is free to enter, so feel free to come along and say hello and sample some of the entertainment on offer.
Mendip Cave Rescue are once again providing 24 hour first aid cover for the Priddy Folk Festival, where suitably qualified first aiders will be on hand to treat festival goers at any time of the day (or night). This year the festival runs from Friday 12th July through to Sunday 14th July and is held at various locations around the village of Priddy. The MCR first aid tent will be located on the village green, so please drop by and say hello!
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, Priddy 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