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DCC DIAMOND+5 ANNIVERSARY PAGE
The DCC was formed at the very end of 1960 out of part of the Orpheus Caving Club. The OCC had been divided into a northern and a southern group about two years previously and both parts called themselves the Orpheus during that period. This caused some confusion and it was decided to formally refer to the Northern section as the Derbyshire Caving Club at a meeting between the two groups in December 1960.
The first formal meeting of the DCC was probably the Annual General Meeting on 6th May 1961 but the Club had already published a newsletter (No 1) so it is probably reasonable to say that the Club was formed in 1960. So we celebrated the 50th year of the Club in 2010 and had planned to celebrate the 60th year in 2020.
A number of plans were made led by Yvonne and Gina on behalf of the Club. These were to include:
- A 60th Party in Derbyshire in July for Club members and friends from Derbyshire and further afield.
- A special journal containing articles about the history of the Club and much more.
- A traditional Annual Dinner in November at Bramhall Golf Club to which special guests from other clubs would be invited.
- And anything else you can think of.
With the outbreak of Coronavirus, these plans changed. In particular, the 60th Party was POSTPONED until the same time in 2021 due to uncertainty about the meeting together of a large number of people but then cancelled as Covid continued.
The picture on the left is the poster for the summer party planned at Buxton but sadly cancelled. On the right is the congratulatory letter from the Queen on our 50th Anniversary. Beat that! Below is the photo of the Club at the 21st Dinner - see who you can spot who is still in the Club.
Now we are beginning to plan for celebration in our 65th year, a Diamond+5 celebration. Anyone who would like to take part in the planning is welcome to contact Gina or Yvonne.
This page contains the history of the Club and the record of expeditions extracted from the old Club handbook.
If you want to look back over the history of the Club, members can read the minutes of meetings and journals/newsletters going back to the dawn of time, i.e. 1958. There are even some newsletters from the Stockport Potholing and Caving Club, a forerunner of the DCC in the 1950s.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CLUB
1959 & before Stockport Potholers and Climbers Club and Orpheus Caving Club (Northern Section)
1959-60 Split from Orpheus. OCC retained the name. DCC formed.
1960 January - first meeting of DCC
1968 First Club Expedition (Italy)
1969 Negotiations for and reopening of Wood Mine
1972 Spluga Expedition
1975 Reopening of West Mine
1980 21st Annual Dinner at Stockport Cricket Club
1981 Capping of Engine Vein; addition to lease
1982 Inauguration of the Fluffies
1985 25th Annual Dinner and exhibition at Haddon Hall Hotel, Buxton
1985 Closure of Royal Oak
1988 Move to Pack Horse, Market Place
1991 Berger Expedition
1993 The year of the Rocket
1997-2005 Alderley Edge Landscape Project
2000 Millennium and 40th year of the DCC
2002 New way into West Mine opened in 18-acre field
2010 GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY of the Club
2011 Founder members Arthur Ball and Todge Burgess died: new award for Novice of the Year
2012 DCC hosts the NAMHO Conference at Quarrybank Mill, Styal
2014 Scout access to the Alderley Mines sorted out; Paul Deakin died
2015 Pete Borthwick and Phill Taylor died; the Surgery had a major clean-up
2016 New policy on climbing vertical ladders at Alderley Edge following a visit by the Mine Inspector
2017 New newsletter editor! Reeking Mine opened up
2019 Three members and ex-members died during the year; plans started for 60th anniversary
2020 Covid19 stopped all caving. 60th Anniversary postponed to 2025
2021 Covid19 still reduced the amount of caving activity
2022-23 Caving activity resumed although we continue to lose past members each year
2024 Caving continues. Plans started for 65th Anniversary
EXPEDITION LIST
1962 Gouffre Berger (1)
1967 Antro del Corchia (2)
1967 Gouffre Berger (1)
1968 Antro del Corchia (30) Club expedition
1969 Antro del Corchia (2)
1970 Gouffre Berger (2)
1971 Pierre St Martin (5) Joint Club expedition
1972 Spluga della Preta (30) Club expedition
1973 Antro del Corchia (25) Club expedition
1973 Pierre St Martin (2)
1974 Italy (6)
1974 Matienzo (1)
1974 Poland (2)
1975 Antro del Corchia (5)
1975 Gouffre Berger (25) Club Expedition
1975 Matienzo (2)
1976 Abisso Michele Gortani (7) Club Expedition
1976 Italy (3)
1976 Matienzo (2)
1977 Italy (4)
1977 Matienzo (6)
1978 Ireland (10)
1978 Italy (4)
1978 Matienzo (2)
1979 Matienzo (2)
1979 Spluga della Preta (3) Club Expedition
1980 Gouffre Fromagere and Gouffre Berger (3) Club Expedition
1980 Matienzo (2)
1981 Matienzo (2)
1981 Sima GESM Malaga (7) Club Expedition
1982 Matienzo (1)
1982-3 Mexico (3)
1983 Gouffre Berger (6)
1983 Matienzo (2)
1984 Matienzo (10) Club Expedition
1984 Nare River Cave (1)
1985 Matienzo (8)
1985-6 Mexico (4)
1986 Dachstein, Austria (3)
1986 Gouffre Berger and Gouffre Fromagere (1)
1986 Ireland (7)
1986 Matienzo (1)
1987 Matienzo (8)
1987-8 Mexico (3)
1988 Matienzo (8)
1991 Gouffre Berger (29) Club Expedition
1991 Ireland (2)
1992 Albania Joint Club Expedition
1992 Mallorca (18) including families and friends
1993 Matienzo (20)
1994 Gouffre Berger
1994 Matienzo (10)
1995 Alaska (1)
1995 Mallorca (26) including families and friends
1996 Alaska (1)
1996 Ireland (4)
1997 Alaska (1)
1997 Matienzo (4)
1998 Alaska (2)
1998 Matienzo (4)
1999 Canada (1)
1999 Matienzo (4)
2000 Alaska (1)
2000 Matienzo (4)
2001 Alaska and Vancouver Island (1)
2003 Matienzo (8)
2004 Matienzo (9)
2005 Skye (4)
2006 Mallorca (3)
2006 Matienzo (4)
2007 Matienzo (7)
2008 Matienzo (6)
2009 Matienzo (6)
2010 Matienzo (14) 40th/50th anniversary
2011 Matienzo (9)
2012 Matienzo (6)
2013 Matienzo (6)
2014 Matienzo (11)
2015 Matienzo (15)
2016 Gouffre Berger (2)
2016 Matienzo (11)
2017 Matienzo (11)
2018 Assynt (8)
2018 Matienzo (10)
2019 Matienzo (8)
2020 Covid19 stopped all caving
2022 Matienzo (5) and Gouffre Berger and the Vercors (2)
2023 Matienzo (10) and Gouffre Berger (2)
