THE BIG DAY WILL SOON BE HERE!!

ONLY ELEVEN MORE UNPROTECTED DAYS TO GO!!

On Sunday 1st January 2012 we can go out and be insured for Public Liability to the tune of £5 million each.

That’s what it says on the shiny orange membership cards just arrived, just right for flashing at landowners and members of the public without getting arrested. This is for surface use only – if you want to be able to flash it underground then you have to pay even more so I think we need to think about the implications of that over the coming 2012.

Welcome to latest member, No. 12, Roy Widdowson, not yet able to show a shiny card but will be added to the privileged few when I am able to stop spluttering, coughing and then able to hear again.

If anyone wants their membership card I will send by post – otherwise they will get delivered as we meet up during 2012 on Sunday 7th January, if not before.

Depending on circumstances (mainly weather) we must use the visit to move some of the fencing to handier places for the other project. First job is to make both shafts safe, then remove some of the junk inside – possibly using SRT? For opening the drifts the use of Brett’s Big Boring Machine is another possibility to determine the distance needed to dig.

IN OTHER NEWS TODAY …

Reading C.I.A.S. Bulletin No. 22 of 1994 there is a potted history of Chaloner Mines with the interesting information that in 1884 the hauling engine from there was moved to Old Bank, Eston.

Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year,

Today I have applied for BCA membership for the Society which means all eleven of us who have so far joined will be insured for surface activities. This is a cost for the coming year of £96 of which John has very kindly offered to donate the cost of the group insurance part which is £30. When the latest subs. are passed to Peter and I get reimbursed there should be approx. £30 left in the kitty.

When I get the paperwork to say we are insured then we can start our new project

As more people clamour to be allowed to join the Society then we can increase the insurance cover at £6 per head; the amount declining according to the quarter year in which the person joins. As we have all joined at £3 per head then I feel we can only charge the new members the same, but encourage donations of a higher value!

For 2013 and beyond we may have to charge £10 for the year for the same cover.

If we decide during the coming year that underground insurance is necessary as well then that is another £17 per person per year on top of surface only cover of £6 and a portion of the group charge of £30. But then some may only want surface cover, and some may have underground cover via membership of another group. Personally I think that surface insurance is essential but I would like to hear what others have to say about u/g cover.

Communication amongst ourselves is also essential and as generally we meet up once a month that I suggest that is in fact a form of committee meeting where grievances can be aired and people can slag each off over tea and biscuits.

Don’t forget that the back-room digital team is setting up a website for the Society for the benefit of us to teach and lesser mortals to learn so send in stuff; pictures, text, more pictures, whatever is of interest e.g. limekilns, alum quarries, whinstone workings, potash calamities, potash new developments, even railway constructions. And don’t forget jet. When I get the Upleatham gen. finished then that may be able to go on there.

As usual, any comments to me,

Simon.

This member of the society was seen in a low mine this year crawling room only?

Do you think this ladder started life on a railway signal ?

Merry Christmas

Photo by Blackshiver.