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
Over the May Bank Holiday (from Friday 4th through to Monday 7th May 2018) weekend there will be a Mendip CaveFest taking place in Priddy, a free event that will see a number of visiting cavers enjoying the variety of caving that is on offer in the Mendips, along with a number of talks and demonstrations covering caving techniques.
On the evening of Saturday 5th May, there will be a 'cavers stomp' in Priddy Village Hall with the bar and food for the evening arranged by Mendip Cave Rescue wardens and entertainment provided by DJ Basher. All proceeds from the evening will be donated to MCR funds.
Then on Sunday 6th May Mendip Cave Rescue will be running a series of cave rescue workshops, suitable for anyone who is interested in finding out a little more about the challenges, equipment and techniques used when rescuing an injured caver.