Darfar Potholing Club, based in the Manifold Valley, Staffordshire

Home

Member's Pages

Dave's Page

Me in Eyam Dale Shaft

Started caving in 1982/83 after reading a book from my local library in Sunny Warrington (think it was called Challenge Underground), I rummaged around, (pre-internet days) and after some tentative research found a little outdoor centre in Buxton aptly named Buxton Activity Centre who could take me caving. The stage was set, and little did I know that this centre was later not only to become the base for my initial training in the subtle art of throwing yourself down ole’s but the base for my first foreign trip and later also my employer. My first cave was Carleswark in Stoney Middleton, and after years of caving I still can remember the thrill I got from this little through trip. A week later I was desperate for more and armed with the old clothes and ragged boiler suits from the previous trip we met up with the Famous or should it be Infamous Des Marshall (only joking Des) for a winters evening trip around Giants. This was only my second trip and it left me in awe. I still remember getting changed after the trip in the car parking area near the farm in the dark and thinking someone is going to suddenly switch floodlights on and we will be stood boll~*k naked in the middle of a footie pitch The rest is a blur of caving almost to obsession at times with trips all over the place two, or some times even three a week. Under the wing of Mr Marshall we ( me and my best mate) Learnt SRT and promptly learnt to crap ourselves in the voluminous shafts of the Dales and later in the 300 meter plus single pitch of pot II in France. Nowerdays I twitch a 300mm never mind meters.

As time moved on, I like most cavers found other distractions in life and soon the caving gear was demoted to the garage then the loft, sound familiar??.

As I got older and fatter the thoughts of ever caving again Moved futher and further away until in 2000/2001 I moved from the north west to live on a remote hill farm in the Cheviots why?? well it seemed like a good Idea at the time. Well eight years of that and now in my forties I am back and relocated in Buxton. I am the new boy of the club but I can say with all honesty the lads couldn’t have made me more welcome. It is strange caving again after all these years , and despite having to get Phil Brown of “Caving Supplies” to make me a custom built over and under suit a new range I believe he is going to call “ FAT BAST@#D” I can't wait to get involved and help the Manifold boys achieve some of the goals.

Dave “The FAT One” Eyam Dale shaft 3 Weeks Ago

So another chapter begins and with the help of the Manifold Mob ,some clever tailoring by Phil Brown and a few surgical supports the adventure begins again oh god by back seems to be saying. Keep tuned for the next exciting episode and some photos of the Vercors 1984, if Martin M or one of the lads has got a scanner that is.

Dave Curry

[ Back ]