TEAM MEMBERS
Clive Gardener BSc, FRGS
The Project Co-ordinator was elected a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society following spectacular cave discoveries beneath Llangattock Mountain in the 1980s which he initiated with other members of Chelsea Spelaeological Society. Discoveries in Daren Cilau include Epocalypse Way with its outstanding aragonite, calcite and gypsum formations and the Time Machine, the largest known underground passage in Britain. He is currently developing film projects and books for publication focused on adventure-exploration subjects and as a director, editor and writer he manages his own film company.
David Judson dip. arch (Leeds)
The Group Secretary has authored the acclaimed book on the 1971/2 expeditions to Ghar Parau in the Zagros Mountains of Iran which formed the basis for establishing a foundation to award and disburse overseas cave expedition grant funding. He has explored caves principally in Yorkshire, South Wales, across Europe, Iran and Ecuador. He is also editor of the standard work on British caving techniques, Caving Practice and Equipment, published by the British Cave Research Association and Cordee. He was chief architect Bury MBC (1974-92) and is currently director for Rowlands House Consultants (1988-date). He is Insurance Officer for BCRA and has a lifelong interest in natural and industrial heritage conservation. (58)
John Lister CEng, MIMM, BSc
As a consequence of the death of John Lister there is currently a vacancy for the post of Mine Manager. The original Project Substitute Mine Manager and subsequent Mine Manager was a former manager at Wheal Jane tin mine in Cornwall and mine manager for Dudley stone mines. He was a widely experienced mining engineer, cave explorer and rescuer with membership of the South Wales Caving Club. (46)
Paul Deakin
As a consequence of the death of Paul Deakin there is currently a vacancy for the post of Mines Surveyor. The original Project Mines Surveyor was professionally employed in the same capacity and a member of Eldon Pothole Club and Derbyshire Caving Club. He participated in the 1967 expedition to the Gouffre Berger in France, then the deepest cave in the world, on the occasion when it was extended by the British cave diver Ken Pearce to a new world depth record. He subsequently extensively photographed this huge cave system and won national acclaim for his outstanding capabilities as a cave and mine photographer. He was a partner in Henry Butcher Smith Vincent Mining, Quarrying and Waste Management Valuers & Consultants. He was also the original Group Treasurer. (54)
Dr Andy Farrant PhD, BSc
The Project Research Officer has a PhD (Bristol) on the manner and rate of landscape evolution from the dating of cave deposits and relating cave geomorphology to surface developments. Geologist with the British Geological Survey in Nottingham since 1996. Co-author Geological Conservation Review Vol. 12, Karst and Caves of Great Britain (Chapman & Hall, 1997) for the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Geological Recorder for the Pwll Du Cave Management Group. (30)
Jerry Cross
The Project Cameraman is an experienced video cameraman with previous credits in underwater filming for 'DIVING From the Past - Into the Future'. His underground work includes: Pant Mawr Pot with the artist David Bellamy, drama reconstruction in Dan yr Ogof with Steve Thomas for Weird Wales and filming in Ogof Draenen during the first days of the original exploration. He is currently employed as a news/current affairs cameraman for HTV Ltd., Cardiff.
Jerry Wooldridge FRPS
The Project Photographic & Presentation Advisor is a world renowned cave photographer and explorer. A teacher now working as a visual presenter and digital artist.
Rob Murgatroyd MSc, BDS, LDS RCS (Eng.)
Website Editor and Designer. Manages web sites for the Cave Diving Group, Chelsea Spelæological Society and The Secret Bottletop Production Company Ltd. Experienced cave and cave diving explorer in Yorkshire, South Wales and France. Currently pursuing an MSc in Health Information Management at Sheffield University.
Other Team Members/Participants
Chris Barber, Antoinette Bennett, John Cooper, Chris Crowley, John Evans, Rob Frowen, Noel Hale, Mal Hughes, Rhian Hicks, Andy Kendall, Ben Lovett, Lou Maurice, Steve Pedrazzoli, Andrew Read, Brian Robinson, Paul Taylor, Peter Ward, John Wilcock and Kevin Wills.
Supporting Groups
The project enjoys the support of the British Cave Research Association (BCRA), Cadw, Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru - Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), Cyngor Ogofeydd Cymreig - Cambrian Caving Council (CCC), Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group (GCRG), Dragon Caving Gear of Abercrave, the predominant landowner, Walters Group of Hirwaun and additional landowners Brian Lewis & Peter Jones. Discussions have also been held with Torfaen County Borough Council Development Department, Big Pit Mining Museum, Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, The Coal Authority, HM Inspector of Mines, Mines Rescue Services Ltd., Environment Agency Wales, Brian Lewis (Lamb & Fox), John van Laun (Quarries & Primitive Railways Archaeologist), John Evans (Blaenavon historian), Chris Barber (Welsh Author & Custodian of Alexander Cordell publications), Michael Blackmore (Artist), Brian Davis (Pontypridd Historical Centre) and Jeremy Knight (Cadw, retired).
