Pegasus Caving Club
aka Pegasus Club Nottingham
The “Pegasus Reunion” 12th October 2025
Some of the Thirty Seven Attendees with a hint of 'Decrepitude'
Seventy Three Years of The Pegasus Club Nottingham
I am pleased to report that there was a very good turn-out for this year’s Reunion, despite the advancing years of majority of members attending, at least 70+, which gives an accumulative figure of 2,800 years of existence on planet Earth.
A much more interesting figure to calculate, if possible, would be how many pints of beer have been ‘downed’ over the years by this bunch of appreciative ‘Good-Ale’ drinkers and at what overall cost ?, probably enough to buy a brewery….. and fill a decent-sized pond with the passing product !
Also present were family members, of Ernest Smeeton (founder member of the Pegasus) and Ted Winks including Ted Winks wife, both families meeting on this occasion for the very first time.
Although Ernest and Ted were very close friends back in the 1950’s making their most incredible epic journey, on foot, in 1956 from Nottingham town centre to the Himalayas [see Pegasus website articles] at some stage the families lost touch and they only regained contact via ‘Cheg’ Chester, they having seen the articles about Ernest and Ted on the Pegasus website.
Both families brought along with them original hand-written diaries and annotated photo albums some of which were interspersed with original travel tickets and equipment catalogues etc. It was not only a pleasure but also an honour to see these historically very valuable items and it is hoped that in the future a percentage of this material will feature on the Pegasus website in a dedicated article to Ernest and Ted.
Bari Logan, Histon, Cambridge, 14.October.2025
October 11th 2025. Well it’s that time of year again, an occasion when a cohort of aging cavers meet up at The Plough in Radford to sample some real ales and reminisce and recall past glories underground from years gone by. A time when we were all young, fit and healthy and the caving world was our oyster. In those days no challenge underground was sufficient to satisfy our thirst for adventure and endless quest to discover virgin cave, similarly no single hostelry could quench our thirst for beer. Sadly for me and the majority present that ship has long since sailed, it was however refreshing to discover that several of those present are still active. Mac Anus still leading trips down Cuthberts at the ripe old age of 75, Andy and Sam two youngsters yet to reach the big 60 milestone preparing to descend into Derbyshire nether regions the following day albeit by motorised winch rather than the conventional method of ladders and lifelines or SRT, and a good few others actively caving, diving or walking . The event was again well attended with relatives of original founder members again attending and maintaining a link with the past and the present, sadly the club lost two valued members last year, Roger Hall and Barrie Suddal but as long as these reunions continue their memory along with others will live on. Thanks to Cheg for his efforts in ensuring the continued success of these annual reunions and also for his sterling efforts in managing the club website. The website and clubs WhatsApp group and other social media along with the annual reunions are all invaluable aids in ensuring continuing contacts with a membership now spread throughout the UK and further afield. Long may it continue, look forward to seeing you all again next year.
Alan Steans
Dear Cheg,
Many thanks for arranging last weeks wonderful get together of creaking cavers, who, in all honesty, should have dived the final sump years ago. It was GRAND!
Before I make comment on the gathering, I’d like to make a few observations regarding the facilities at The Plough ?, personally, as a very regular user of ‘piss stones’ these days, I was particularly cognisant of the impeccable patina of the antediluvian pipe work which staggered gracefully from one sweet smelling ceramic enclosure to the next. I was so impressed that I induced my recently re-acquired wife to visit this male Valhala, while I kept ‘doggo, with a view to obtain her opinion of the vast colour range of a hundred years of undisturbed verdigris. Sadly she only made it to the door before she had an attack of her ammonia allergy.
Personally, while concerned about her reaction, I thought the venue perfect for ex Berger men, well used to minor privations. Truly it was great to meet up with friends who shared the same absurd affection for the Berger, most of whom had been on both the Pegasus Trip in ‘64 and the rather more challenging excursion of ‘67. I was particularly delighted to discover that Tommo and Jud, Melvyn Toblerone! and Cheg, we’re still compos mentis enough to remember who I was. As we were staying with Mr Parker and Janet, he was forced to remember me when we shattered his peace to introduce them to our new dog! Even Vic took a day off from cleaning windows to meet up with his old chums. As stated already, it was a grand get together, well worth the long drive from Aberdeenshire’s ‘dour north’.
A final thing. I made a point of seeking out one of the less tottering Pegasus men present and was pleased to find out that , during the ‘80s he’d been down The Pit’ twice - on one occasion getting to the bottom and back in 50 Hours! Somewhat of an improvement on the 11 days it took us to get to the bottom of what is now, impressively the 36th deepest cave in the world!
See you all next year. (DV!)
Ian & Julie Curphy
What a great, garrulous , gasseus gathering. Only criticism…. Bogs even worse than the Stags’.
Keep up the good work. Sorry I didn’t get up to talk to you.
Sue Harrison
It's never too late to have your say!
Those in Attendance
Diane & Keith Wilson, Allyson Lewis + Sister & Husband, Christine Winks, Barrie & Janet Parker, Jud & Paul Thompson, Rob Atkinson, Bari Logan, Victor Holland, Andy Walchester, Sam Garrad, Malc Debbage, Paul Reavill, Ruth King, David Gough, Ian & Julie Curphey, Melvin Batchford, Mick Edwards, Aileen & Cheg Chester, Maggie Proctor, Kathryn Bingham, Emily Reeve, Sue Harrison, Stuart McManus, James Cobbett, Dave Epton, Nigel Burns, Mike Dempster, Al Steans, Chris Coles, Andy Keen. (37)