Cave diving and local legends @ Bagshawe Cavern, Derbyshire

Описание: I can’t now remember just how long it took me to produce the final version of “Bagshawe Resurgence: A Source of Potential” – it only lasts about 20 minutes, but from the time cave-diver Andy Morrison invited me to film the start of his successful breakthrough attempt in February 1996, to the final edited version with all the interviews and background information, well over a year had passed. I really enjoy the clip-gathering process for any project, and with the Resurgence it was always just one more trip to capture the differing water-levels or further history of the site, and add just a few more seconds to the story- the road from Nottingham to Bradwll was very well-travelled.

An earlier shorter version, made with the September 1996 Hidden Earth Video Competition with its 10 minute time limit in mind, featured just the clearing and successful breakthrough from the blocked 5m deep sump to open space beyond heading straight towards Bagshawe Cavern. This version was a success for both myself and Andy and his team, since it won 1st prize in the competition and went on to further accolades in the Speleovision International Film Festival held in the Vercors in August 2000.

The film features a number of interviews, the first time I had ventured into this more personal side of filming, but I was fortunate with Andy, who was a natural in front of the lens. His relaxed spontaneous delivery such as his frank admission that he’d “ borrowed the missus’s sowing tape...” when asked how he proposed to measure the size of the big boulders blocking the way on, to the string of colourful invective on breaking through into open passage at the base of Sump 2. I nearly missed this dramatic moment when he surfaced with the news, as the “waterproof” camera housing had only just dried out having completely filled up with muddy water from an attempt to capture underwater shots, a task well beyond the 2m design limit offered by Sony. The resulting damp misty shots were all the more atmospheric for the ducking.

Jack Badger was also a natural when describing the site of the resurgence situated on his land, and made the most of the spooky tales of ghosts and “Lumb Boggarts” when reading from Seth Evans early 20th century book on Bradwell.
I was also fortunate to get two well-known cave divers John Cordingly and Russell Carter to agree to relate their experiences to camera of their earlier digs at the Resurgence, and also acknowledge the importance and potential of the site.
The film has been shown to many local audiences, including one where Andy tried to explain to a group of elderly Castleton Rotarians why he loved risking all to explore dark cold underwater recesses for pleasure. Present was a somewhat bemused 80 year-old Eva Ollerenshaw, one of the illustrious owners of the Castleton Blue John shop, who declared Andy to be a hero.

I hope you enjoy watching this 26 year-old epic made well before the days of HD,steady shot and digital editing.
For more information on the dig and eventual connection with Bagshawe Cavern see Descent nos. 134, 149, 198 and 205.