I am afraid I am unable to make up my mind about your introductory note to the latest “St. Cuthbert’s letter. Is venerable quite the right word? I could think of other words more suitable. Page 59 Christmas 1966 B.B. 226/6 Judging by the contents of his latest ‘gem’ he must have been in the same state as his victim at the A.G.M., when he wrote it. The fact that he was not nominated for the Long Term Planning Committee seems to me to prove his statement concerning unknown people being nominated quite incorrect. (Who is St. Cuthbert?). It is very gratifying to know that everyone has a car these days, but I do wish that he could explain to me why it is that so many of the younger visitors to the Belfry almost form a queue for lifts back to Bristol - or beyond – on a Sunday evening, and also why it is that one can often start from Hillgrove with an empty car and arrive at the Belfry with the thing positively bulging with people and their gear. Perhaps the answer is that he does not visit Mendip often – or regularly enough to be aware of the situation. I am glad he wants first class changing and washing facilities. So do a lot of us. This is where he could, perhaps, start the ball rolling by offering to help in a practical way. We already have a club where members can, and do so, meet and talk. It is called the Belfry. If St. Cuthbert was a regular, he would know that late night talking is discouraged by the Hut Warden, as it is festering. There is plenty of work to do around the Belfry site for those who do not want to go caving, and I am sure the Hut Engineer will soon find a job for anyone if they sit around too long. In closing, I would like to put one serious question to St. Cuthbert. Why hide your identity behind the name of the most beautiful cave on Mendip? Is it because you are ashamed of some of the nonsense you put on paper Yours sincerely Gordon Tilly Editor’s Note:
We think that “St. Cuthbert” has been adequately answered by theses two letters. He is, of course, entitled to reply if he so wishes. We note that neither of the correspondents suggested that St. Cuthbert shut up altogether, so we may well hear more form him from time to time. On the more general topic of anonymity in the B.B. the rules are adopted are that correspondent’s name is known to the Editor, and that writing under a nome de plume is fair enough if the writer feels freer to express opinions as a result. If any readers have other views on thus subject, we shall be pleased to hear from them.
T h e V a r i a t i o n of T e m p e r a t u r e and H a r d n e s s o f S t r e a m s i n S t. C u thberts Swallet ….A progress report, by R.D. Stenner…. 1. Introduction. A B.E.C. Caving Report with a more detailed account of this and other related work done in the cave is due to be published in two year’s time. In the meantime, it has been thought desirable to make this preliminary report available to others engaged in similar work. Additional information may be obtained by writing to the author.