Northern Cavern and Fell Club founded 1928

[Robindad]

I have a lifelong interest in the Northern Cavern and Fell Club and have researched the activities of this club from 1928 to 1939 and then their reunions in the 1980's.

One of the founding members was Frank Windle of Rook Street Barnoldswick - see separate topic.

Here I will post extracts from my introduction to the NCFC.


Always interested in fresh insights into the men and their Barnoldswick connections

Robin

[Robindad]

Northern Cavern and Fell Club
a brief introduction by Robin McEwen King

DRAFT ****************

Work in progress – DRAFT as of 12 January 2023

************



The Northern Cavern and Fell Club was set up in 1928 by a small group working men who had met through their love of the hills and dales. A particular interest was cave exploration.

I have known about many of the NCFC men all my life as my father (Frank King) and a small group of the old pals who lived ‘down south’ met up regularly to chat over old times.

The first recorded meeting was on Sunday 4 November 1928 at Copster. The diary of Frank King records -
“N C F C started at Copster. 11 Members. Joe President. J Scott Sec.

Frank King Diary 1928 October 28 NCFC start November 4.jpg

The first list of officials for 1929 in the Northern Cavern and Fell Club Log Book confirms these appointments. “Joe” is Joe Bradley who in 1927 and 1928 was actively encouraging others to pursue his passion for caving.

Over the next couple of weeks the lads seem to have been recruiting members. Frank records that there were talks about the ‘New Club” on Wednesday 7 November - J Simpson at Burnley and “J. K. lecture Preston” on Saturday 1 December. The next Sunday 2 December there was an NCFC meeting at Copster.

Frank’s diaries show that he was a keen cyclist and member of the CTC since at least 1925. He rode with BTC and NCTC regularly in 1928.

The NCFC was founded by his elder brother Jack King. Jack along with Cliff Downham was the driving force in the early days.


Robin December 2022

[Robindad]

The photo of the founding NCFC group at Copster Green on 4th November 1928 shows 12 men. Jack King is on the left and my father Frank King is standing 5th from the left. Dad was born in May 1909 so is 19 in this photo.

NCFC Founders 1928 48 bit colour 1200dpi.jpg

on the back is a list of the names

Front Row
J.King, F. Scott, W. Hardaker, J. Bradley, F. King, F. Windle, W. Horsfield, E. Hindle.

Back Row
W. Howarth, J Oldham, J. Simpson, C. Downham.

Fortunately there is a list of their names on the back.

NCFC Founders 1928 names006 copy.pdf

The black ink writing is, I think, by Joe Bradley. The penciled date and additions are in my father’s hand. The founders names are confirmed on the back of another copy belonging to the Windle family.

[Stanley]

A good start to an interesting subject Robin....

[Tizer]

Are these two web pages related to the above posts?
1. Abebooks
2. Bookseller

[Stanley]

I took the liberty of applying the missing 'N' to Northern....

[Robindad]

Yes the two links are to a USA bookseller who has a copy of the 1934 Log Book for sale. I have my father's copy.

The one for sale is special as it was donated to the landlady of the Inn where the NCFC lads were having tea when they left the table to do a 27 huor cave rescue. She fed them for free the next night.

[Jomason]

Hi Robin, I'm sending you a couple of photos in attachments I thought you might be interested. I believe they are taken at Gaping Gill. They are from an old photo album I have which I bought in a antique shop in Keighley. Do you recognise anyone in the photos? I've been trying to research the album. I've also attached a couple of other photos just in case you recognise any possible members of the club.
Jo

a196863d8853d1b633c4d26a9f71e63b.0.jpg

0531087edbfecd1f7368e6ef4632a79b.0.jpg

c02e1c3d0747d91be947619f9f0851a3.0.jpg

c094bf6f9b04d6aee750025bda80feea.0.jpg

[Stanley]

Love the bowler hat and cut-off trousers!

[Robindad]

Hello
many thanks for posting the photos ... we were caring for a terminally ill family member last year.
Now getting back to following up on NCFC interest

I do hope you receive notification of this message..
I am most interested in the photos you have shared and to know what else is
in the album.

I can probably date them as the I have one of a GG meet showing the same
group of tents and some of the men.
>From memory likely to be 1934.

Robin

[Robindad]

Here is a photo I have to hand ... Frank King on duty at the winch 1934
The one above shows the winch during setup - not the timber supports look the same.

I also have another photo of camp showing the same layout of the tents

here are also dad's diary entries for set-up and the following weekend



Dad

ps hope the images are there ..

[Robindad]

Looks like no image s.. I will try again in a day or so ...

[Stanley]

Nice to see you back and posting Robin. The image gallery is working OK. Keep trying!

[Robindad]

Thanks Stanley
Just tried again and get 'http error'
Same whether is drag and drop or go through the 'attach' route.

Robin

[PanBiker]

If you are uploading to the gallery first there is a maximum file and image size limit. Good practice to apply the same to images loaded as attachments.

If you use the attachment method you will see the file name blow the text editing box. You need to put your cursor in the text editing box a couple of spaces below the last line of text. Select the file from the entry below and the "place in line" and the file should be appended to the post. You will not see it until you either preview or submit your post.

Where, (what stage) do you get the error and is "http error" the only message? There should be a number appended as there are a lot of different http errors. The number can be resolved to the problem area.

More information on image handling here:

Images Tips and Tricks

Other useful links in the "All New Members Read Me First" sticky at the head of each category.

Sounds complicated but it's not once you have cracked it. Shout if you need more help.

[Robindad]

The four photos above all fit with the NCFC Easter 1934 Winch Meet.

Here is one of our Gaping Ghyll photos - Frank King on duty at the winch 1934

Frank King at the NCFC Winch Meet Gaping Ghyll Easter 1934 small copy.jpeg

My father Frank King was on the NCFC committee when they bought the winch from Bancroft. They had it refurbished in 1933 and prepared for the first outing at GG Easter 1934 (the story of the Bancroft Winch was written by Dave Allanach in 2018 and published in the Craven PHC Journal)

FK records the weekend when they set up (NS means Night School - he was studying for his ACIS exams)

1934 March IMG_5857.JPG

Then the day of the meet - his brother Jack King had arrived on leave from his Royal Navy duties

1934 March IMG_5858.JPG

and clearing up too on the next weekend

IMG_5861.JPG

ps thanks Stanley .. got past the images problem by changing to a different web browser

[Stanley]

How can we access Craven PHC Journal? That Bancroft w3inch sounds interesting!

[Robindad]

I'll try to find out ..

Did have a copy but notable to find it at present

R

[Stanley]

I've done a bit of digging and suspect the Bancroft in the name doesn't refer to the mill in Barlick but is the trade name of a self contained Canadian made winch.....

(LINK)

[Robindad]

I've done a bit of digging and suspect the Bancroft in the name doesn't refer to the mill in Barlick but is the trade name of a self contained Canadian made winch.....

(LINK)

Apologies ...
Found my copy of the Dave Allanach article and can now quote from it

The "Bancroft" winch was put together by Eric Bancroft of Denholme based on a repurposed NUT motorbike ( 500cc Touring Model P). It was used by Eric at Alum Pot before being sold to NCFC in January 1932.

R

[Stanley]

Thanks for that!

[Robindad]

Barnoldswick folk tour potholes 1936

NCFC Alum Pot 1933 Burnley_Express_10_May_1933_0004_Clip.jpg

[Stanley]

The year I was born....
Pity they hadn't enquired about opening hours for Clapham cave!