Last week, Sue and I took Bonnie for a walk along the path at Shepherd Meadows, gave her some treats and then took her to the vets for the last time. RIP Bonnie girl, you were the most wonderful dog and you will always be in our hearts.
Both Sue and I grew up in dog-owning households and by the spring of 2004, after ten years of being married, we had decided that our home needed a dog. By coincidence I heard on the SWCC grapevine that Janice needed to find a new home for Bonnie. She was pleased that Bonnie would still be a regular visitor to SWCC and so it was that on the May Day Bank Holiday weekend of that year Bonnie came home from SWCC to Berkshire for the first time...

Our custody of Bonnie didn’t get off to a great start. On the Sunday of the Bank Holiday weekend, keen to exercise our new pet, I took Bonnie up to a surface dig on the Black Mountain with the regular crew. She trotted along happily beside us, but suddenly I noticed she was no longer there. I dashed back down the hill and found her eagerly seeking scraps from picnickers in the DYO car park. Our newly purchased lead was soon pressed into service.

Back in Berkshire, Bonnie’s gentle nature and enthusiasm for play soon earned her new friends among the canine community that frequents Shepherd Meadows. I lost weight and got used to early starts as every day began with an hour’s walk around the meadows.

Bonnie always loved coming to SWCC, though. She’d often sleep on the journey down but suddenly some sixth-sense would awaken her as I drove through Pen-y-Cae, and by the time I was halfway up the hill she’d be bolt-upright on the front seat, desperate to leap out of the car at the first opportunity. This had much to do with Ian Alderman.

Much as Bonnie loved Sue and I (and later, Harry) she’d turn her back on all three of us the moment Ian appeared. I’ll always remember watching as Ian hid behind cars and Bonnie dashed around the car park looking for him. On one occasion Ian and I were going to Twll Gwynt Oer and we duly shut Bonnie in the Long Common Room before sneaking off. We’d been at the cave entrance all of thirty seconds when Bonnie appeared. We had to walk all the way back again.
The generation of young members who are now in their teenage years grew up throwing endless balls down the garden for the dog that never grew tired of the game. She’d go for any walk that was on offer but potential walkers soon realised that if Ian was at SWCC then Bonnie would pretty soon choose his company rather than theirs. She loved the Jopling spaniels, Kim and Sprocket, and would play with them for hours, but she saw SWCC as her ‘territory’ and was decidedly lukewarm towards other canine visitors. I often came back from caving trips to find her sitting on the bench in front of the cottage, like a queen surveying her lands.

When Harry came along, a little more than a year after we took her home, he couldn’t wait to join in with Bonnie’s ball games, and was soon throwing tennis balls from the papoose on my back. His ability in both cricket and tennis can, we maintain, be traced back to these early beginnings.

In later years arthritis and failing eyesight limited Bonnie’s game-playing, and towards the end of her life I avoided bringing her to the club unless I had to, as she was less and less able to find her own way around. But I know that many members loved her dearly and Sue and I have been genuinely moved by the tributes from SWCC members and friends on Facebook and elsewhere. There are some lovely photos of her on the small common room wall and Bonnie will always be an SWCC ‘member’ even if she never had a membership card (or BCA insurance).

I also need to express my sincere thanks to Janice, for allowing Sue, Harry and I to have ten wonderful years with Bonnie and for training her into such a well-behaved, gentle and loving dog.

International Award for Andy & Antonia - by Pete Hobson

Andy just reminded me that I brought an international caving film festival (Speleofilm Festival Croatia) to his attention suggesting that he enter one of his films in it.
Andy and Antonia have just been emailed to tell them that they were awarded 3rd prize for Upper Flood amongst very international entries!

Fireworks Sat Nov 8th

Traditionally a brilliant way to dispel the deepening evening gloom is the SWCC fireworks party. The rules are simple - bring just one BIG ONE each! We will probably have food and refreshments available, watch this space - offers of help appreciated.

SWCC : 1-10 Powell St : Penwyllt : Pen y Cae : Swansea : SA9 1GQ
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