WMCEG Trip Report Trip Report final.pdf · The guitar came out but luckily nobody had a copy of WMCEGs “ At last the bloody songbook ” available so the entertainment was somewhat

WMCEG Trip Report, Derbyshire August 2017 A select team assembled over the weekend. Early arrivals on Friday undertook an exploratory trip to

Buxton where the quality of the local food and beer was tested and determined to be up to

standard. After a pub meal (and one or two beers) in The Wye Bridge House we moved on to a

smaller and more select venue, the Buxton Ale Stop. There we were entertained from their

extensive library of vinyl records and good beer (Thornbridge) before retiring to our various

overnight residences.

This and the other photo collages are from the photos available to me at time of writing and in making the

collages some photos have been cropped. Better quality originals and many more are available to participants

in an online gallery. There is room there too for any good photos you may have from our past if you can

provide digital copies.

Activities resumed at about 10:00 on Saturday, meeting in the Millers Dale car park and further

adding to the group size. Despite being a Bank Holiday the weather was perfect and stayed that way

for the next two days.

As expected, attempts to phone a couple of those who’d not shown up were confounded by non-

existent mobile phone service. Having allowed time for any late arrivals and checked the elderly and

infirm (most of us) for adequacy for the challenges in prospect we set off at a cracking zimmer-frame

pace to Monsal Head Hotel arriving in time to find space to sit and eat their tiny over-priced meals,

we were less reticent to enjoy their overpriced beer as at least it was the good stuff...

The picnic tables had seen better times but it is a scenic spot. Photos of our misspent youth in

WMCEG emerged and we stayed there for well over an hour identifying places and faces,

remembering stories and events and I (Grunt) had brought along another piece of memorabilia you

may spot in the photos.

The return trip included a diversion for some to walk in the valley bottom where possible, a pity

there was mud and Honky was in sandals! The ladies (and God) opted for the easier option but both

groups arrived where the two routes converged almost simultaneously. We were back at the car

park around 4:00. Those who had turned up with sick-notes with a view to claiming exemption had

survived the rigours of a WMCEG expedition virtually unscathed.

We then dispersed for a while, some visited the tea-rooms at Millers Dale station and many

regrouped later in Buxton at 7:30. A few were only here for the day and had not intended to stay

longer but nevertheless Mr & Mrs Honky chose to delay their departure to join the evening meal in

Buxton at 53 Degrees North where, as luck would have it, alcoholic beverages were available and it

would be churlish not to take full advantage of that opportunity.

We regrouped on Sunday morning at Ravenstor YHA. God and Clint had brought their bikes so took

off on the Monsal Trail to Bakewell while the majority headed off in the other direction. The bridge

from which many of us did abseil and ladder practice a few decades ago brought up more

reminiscences before we continued through the tunnels to WyeDale. There I offered the choice of

returning the same way or taking the more interesting valley bottom route. This time sick-notes

were forgotten and everyone chose the harder option.

One great feature of WMCEG always was that despite the piss-taking and practical jokes (if that

phrase adequately covers dead rabbit hidden under the dashboard) there was always the strongest

mutual support. The valley bottom route was quite slippery and muddy in places and so a lot of care

was taken of those less able or confident.

The outcome was that everyone said they’d thoroughly enjoyed the walk, far more interesting,

scenic, atmospheric than the Monsal Trail (and I think they meant it).

Rather than proceed back to Ravenstor we found ourselves at The Angler’s Rest where the cyclists

were waiting for us and had been checking that the beer was up to our demanding standards. They

may have overdone that as their recommended choice promptly ran out. Anyway, since we were in

a pub, we decided that a good strategy might involve a beer or two.

That challenge overcome, one hero fetched a car saving us the steep climb back to Ravenstor and we

again dispersed. This time we regrouped in Sheffield where Lally had been slaving away over a hot

stove all day to prepare an evening meal of Russian food and, in case anyone needed their fluids

replenished, vodka, beers and wines. Skippy brought his big box of photos.

The guitar came out but luckily nobody had a copy of WMCEGs “At last the bloody songbook”

available so the entertainment was somewhat more refined than WMCEGs traditional standards.

Although some stayed over for Bank Holiday Monday, for the good of our livers, and because some

had long journeys ahead we parted on Sunday evening. Overnight Ram (camping) needed to be

rushed to Hospital with acute chest pains but was given the all-clear after examination. He told

none of us until a week later.

You may recall that the original intention/expectation of the weekend was a discussion of issues

surrounding the situation with the demise of WMCEG, the disposition of the ODSS and other assets.

We are grateful to Cisco for initiating what turned out to be such a successful reunion, and we were

sorry that he hadn’t made it. Most people regretted not seeing him and his family. It also meant that

he missed the opportunity to benefit from our input and to allay the concerns of the group,

especially those who had contributed to the purchase of the ODSS and had chosen him to represent

their interests as trustee of the property. Understandably, there were robust discussions and

observations about the reasoning behind the communication issues, choices and actions, but it

would be unhelpful to report on those now.

WMCEG means two things. It means the now defunct caving club with all its accoutrements: weekly

meetings, field-trips, newsletter, subscriptions, expeditions, ropes, ladders, books, minutes, ODSS

and other assets. For the most part those assets are unimportant but it would be nice if we could

recover the minute books and of course appropriate disposal of the more valuable assets (ODSS and

the bank balance) matters to us all.

The second and more important thing about WMCEG still exists. That is us, our memories, our

camaraderie, our ongoing friendships and sense of community. The club may be gone but we are

not an irrelevance. Decades after we were active cavers, all those who attended the reunion are still

in contact, not necessarily each with every other, but indirectly through the network. WMCEG was

always keen to ensure new members enjoyed a safe introduction to caving (who could not enjoy

changing into yesterday’s smelly, muddy, wet gear in the winter, sleep deprived and with a hangover

on the roadside for the Sunday trip?) and became part of our community. Hopefully, should we

repeat the exercise, more of the recent members will join the bunch of geriatrics we dug up this

time.

One of the things that increases people’s happiness is the sense of belonging, being part of a group.

That’s us. There are a few more who were unable to attend, couldn’t be contacted in time or didn’t

show up on the day. Four (plus partners/kids) including both trustees were booked into the YHA but

didn’t show up. The day before one wrote “Our events next week are getting in the way” another

sent an email on Saturday and two didn’t show up or make any contact. It is very sad that these

have chosen to exclude themselves from the group.

Subsequently I have been working on finding contact details for more past members, currently the

“contactable” list is about 30. Any further additions are welcome.

The weekend was a great event and we agreed to aim for a properly organised get-together in the

next year or so. I seem to be the only one of those who attended who still ventures underground so

next time bring your kit and I can organise something more interesting if you like… No, I thought not!

Lally wanted to add this postscript:

Dear all,

The reunion of WMCEG club members made me feel sorry (for the first time in my life) that I never

went down a cave. It was sheer joy just to watch how seeing each other, you turned into your

younger selves – cheerful, beautiful‡, carefree. This transformation was like a miracle. It showed you

haven’t really changed, and still belong to a most unique community that has survived despite years

and distances. Thank you for a scoop of this youthful energy.

‡Beautiful Yes, I know what you’re thinking, the only explanation I [Grunt] can offer is that Lally was wearing

dark sunglasses.