19th April 1953
Leader: Hastings.
Present: Barnett, Carr, Chantry, Chatburn, Colley, Davies, Haythornthwaite, Hide, Horner, Horsburgh, J.Husband, Sissons, Wood.
Guests: Pembury (B.E.C.), Tiptaft, Finch.
The elements were not at all in keeping with the first morning of British Summer Time when the Leader arrived at the hole with Carr, Pembury and Tiptaft. Although they were half an hour late, being the only members who had seen fit to conform with civilized practice, they were still the first to arrive. Davies arrived a little later and whilst the Leader and Carr went off in search of a missing guest, who never turned up, a start was made at laddering the hole. On the Leader’s return, he found Horner had arrived and was assisting on top; Barnett also, who was laddering, helped by Davies. Colley arrived with Finch and the brazier, newly lighted, was put under his care and was soon aglow from top to bottom.
The hole being laddered, Davies went right to the bottom to give a report on the choke; Barnett stayed at the 100 feet stage and Pembury went down to him with the telephone, and work was started. Chantry came up for an hour or two and Sissons, Hide and Haythornthwaite arrived to strengthen the top party. Unfortunately, both Colley and Chantry had to leave early, but during their short visit they managed to burn nearly all the coke intended to last the whole day. Work went on all day, with people constantly either coming up or going down, Davies Carr, Pembury and Tiptaft all getting right to the bottom and doing useful work.
Five o’clock came round far too early with too many people down the hole, so orders went down to evacuate as quickly as possible. This was very disappointing to some members, particularly Horner who had been straining at the leash all day to get to the bottom and tear away at the choke. Very smartly, Finch, Pembury, Tiptaft and Horner came out, and the Leader went down backed up by Carr and Barnett to lay charges in the choke. They came out again to find that most of the party had gone off to tea and that it was 7 o’clock, but good old G.D.H. was still at the top in the rain on the life line. Hurriedly, the ladder was taken up, charges touched off, gear stowed, change and away to tea at the Nags Head at Castleton just two hours late. The advance party had by this time finished, but Mrs. Forrest was most understanding and soon the latecomers were making short work of a large plate of ham and eggs apiece. The members of the first tea, who’s numbers had been swollen by the arrival of the Professor and Wood, Chatburn and Horsburgh, and who were now seated in the bar, were soon joined by the latecomers, and a most convivial evening was spent.
Derbyshire Pennine Club 