Assuming I can get enough photos in to make the 2018 calendar happen, where do people want the money to go?

Two beneficiaries as usual? And the usual split between a preservation group and a CRO?

Or one beneficiary?

Opinions please...

And suggestions too :flowers:

And if you don't suggest anything don't come complaining to me that the money didn't go to the group you would have suggested if you'd suggested one :lol:

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Probably a bit off key but I think the air ambulance should get some, because most rescues would involve them .

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It would be useful to have the list of previous recipients please. :thumbsup:

Answer my own question. ( Search is your friend.:))

https://www.aditnow.co.uk/Pages/Mine-Exploration-Calendar-2016_17 

One suggestion so far... At this rate it'll be the simonrl beer fund* this year :lol:

To save me from overdosing on Greek lager please post your thoughts on where the money should go :flowers:

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* Just in case anybody reading this actually thinks there is such a thing and calendar money might end up there can I just assure you that was a joke. However if anybody wants to start one 😉

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On a more serious note, and to save people scouting around for previous years groups, here is the full list of where calendar dosh has been distributed over the years.

2017
Devon Cave Rescue Organisation: £321.45
North Wales Miners Trust Association: £482.18

2016
Cambrian Mines Trust: £720.20

2015
Shropshire Mines Trust: £377.39
Swaledale MRT: £287.54

2014
Cambrian Mines Trust: £719.76

2013
Nenthead Mines Conservation Society: £468.65
Devon Cave Rescue Organisation: £174.96

2012
Welsh Mines Preservation Trust: £331.28
Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation: £293.26

2011
North Wales Cave Rescue: £674.49

2010
Kelly Mine Preservation Society: £153.60
Cumbria Ores Mine Rescue Unit: £297.89

2009
Friends of Cwmorthin: £289.80
North Wales Cave Rescue: £205.51

2008
Friends of Cwmorthin: £450.00

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I would like to see a 50 - 50 split between a CRO and a preservation group/ project.

On the CRO front I would nominate either North Wales CRO or Cumbria Ore Mines Rescue.

I promise not to nominate Devon CRO again (at least for a couple of

years!)

One suggestion so far... At this rate it'll be the simonrl beer fund* this year :lol:

To save me from overdosing on Greek lager please post your thoughts on where the money should go :flowers:

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* Just in case anybody reading this actually thinks there is such a thing and calendar money might end up there can I just assure you that was a joke. However if anybody wants to start one ;)

Frankly, I dont like pushing Cambrian Mines Trust over and over and have dropped into the habit of only coming cap in hand when we desperately need money for underground works, which I am aware is close to the heart of most people on this site.

I will be making an announcement and publishing a photo write up soon as work is completed, expected by month end. For what its worth £850 of steel went into Lefel Fawr, so your previously kindly donated money went to good use. Frankly, CMT would have been up a gum tree without you, I suppose it would have been ARM funding again. Insider joke.

Anyway, we shall shortly be looking at starting surface work, basically on the lines of our conservation and management plan. The immediate plan is for interpretation boards on the archaeologically important site of Copa Hill. Our director Simon Timberlake has completed the designs. They will be mounted on a stone and concrete plinth, at least the lower one which will be on the informal parking area. This construction should be 'impact resistant, a couple of boulders will add extra protection. Welsh Mines Society has kindly donated £250, and a private individual £50. We have had donations before from private individuals which demonstrates the support for our work quite clearly.

Other work scheduled will be the clearing of the area immediately opposite the mill which has been subject of informal dumping. This will be a tidy parking area and farm turning circle. We also want to clean up the area around the concentrates store and make up a pedestrian walkway reinstating the original course of Nant Trefach through the original culvert.

The board opposite the pottery mans needs replacing with one dealing with social history and South Cwmystwyth, which is the direction it faces. The board as is will be moved to just inside the fence that surrounds the concentrates store.

My methodology is to pool financial resources and then approach statutory bodies to explore the possibility of match funding. Obviously any groundwork on site will need recording by an archaeologist.

Anyway, with other bids slow in forthcoming, then sorry, its me again.
;D

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Probably a bit off key but I think the air ambulance should get some, because most rescues would involve them .

I do agree...up to a point.

I'm going way :offtopic: here so I apologise....


My own opinion is that the Air Ambulance does an excellent job and is, especially in rural areas, an essential life saving tool. Pingu will back me up on that one.....what shape would he be in today without it?
As such it should be state funded and not paid for by public donations, which could potentially run out and leave the thing grounded. If it has been decided that a life is worth saving then it should be saved without having to worry about whether there are sufficient funds in the pot to do so. I'm happy to donate money to it if the majority agrees, however I would also ask that you lobby your MP or AM or anyone else who will listen, for all the good it will do, and join the growing body of people pushing for full, guaranteed state funding, as they do in Scotland. I know that the "clinical" staff on board are NHS funded but that's no good if you can't afford to pay the pilot or put fuel in the tank.
I appreciate that CROs and MROs are not state funded but with the greatest respect they DO only serve "niche" markets. The air ambulance is there for everyone of us, regardless of whether we have had a car accident, fallen off a pitch in a mine or had a heart attack in Tesco.

This is only my opinion and is definitely NOT intended to start a discussion!! :surrender:

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Probably a bit off key but I think the air ambulance should get some, because most rescues would involve them .

I appreciate that CROs and MROs are not state funded but with the greatest respect they DO only serve "niche" markets. The air ambulance is there for everyone of us, regardless of whether we have had a car accident, fallen off a pitch in a mine or had a heart attack in Tesco.

Point taken but we (mine explorers and cavers) are the main "niche market" served by CROs and consequently they are largely dependent on you and I for support whereas the air ambulance has much wider support base.

Probably a bit off key but I think the air ambulance should get some, because most rescues would involve them .

I appreciate that CROs and MROs are not state funded but with the greatest respect they DO only serve "niche" markets. The air ambulance is there for everyone of us, regardless of whether we have had a car accident, fallen off a pitch in a mine or had a heart attack in Tesco.

Point taken but we (mine explorers and cavers) are the main "niche market" served by CROs and consequently they are largely dependent on you and I for support whereas the air ambulance has much wider support base.

In a round-about way that was kind of what I was eluding to.... ignoring the charity "giants" such as Cancer Research, Macmillan. Oxfam, NSPCC etc some charities are seen as "sexy" (Air Ambulance, Help For Heroes, RNLI etc) and do receive a lot of support whereas the niche ones do not. My point was that because the Air Ambulance can potentially be used by everyone then it should be state-funded and not funded by public donations....or by a few hundred quid raised by the sale of a calendar serving a geeky hobby.

I believe that I also said I didn't intend to start a discussion so that's the last word on the subject from me! :lol: ;)

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I also like the 50/50 split we normally do with a CRO and historical/preservation group.
I'd put forward Derbyshire CRO as one we haven't chosen for a while and North Wales Miners Trust.

have to say I'd agree with Sinker on the air ambulance, yes its a very worthy cause, which really should be nationally funded, but it does have a much wider funding base than most of the charities we normally support. As I understand it, most of the government funded sources of grants which have funded much of the CROs in the past are all steadily drying up/have finished by now so they're all going to start to struggle more (I may be corrected on this by someone more up to date with the funding status than me!).

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Rockchick.
N.W.M.A.T had the award last year
Are you proposing them again this year?

Probably a bit off key but I think the air ambulance should get some, because most rescues would involve them .

I appreciate that CROs and MROs are not state funded but with the greatest respect they DO only serve "niche" markets. The air ambulance is there for everyone of us, regardless of whether we have had a car accident, fallen off a pitch in a mine or had a heart attack in Tesco.

Point taken but we (mine explorers and cavers) are the main "niche market" served by CROs and consequently they are largely dependent on you and I for support whereas the air ambulance has much wider support base.

In a round-about way that was kind of what I was eluding to.... ignoring the charity "giants" such as Cancer Research, Macmillan. Oxfam, NSPCC etc some charities are seen as "sexy" (Air Ambulance, Help For Heroes, RNLI etc) and do receive a lot of support whereas the niche ones do not. My point was that because the Air Ambulance can potentially be used by everyone then it should be state-funded and not funded by public donations....or by a few hundred quid raised by the sale of a calendar serving a geeky hobby.

I believe that I also said I didn't intend to start a discussion so that's the last word on the subject from me! :lol: ;)

I think we are singing from the same hymn sheet.

For discussion,
Cave rescue organisations.

Cave Rescue Organisation
Cornwall Search & Rescue Team
Gloucestershire CRG
Irish Cave Rescue Organisation
Mendip Cave Rescue
Midlands CRO
Scottish CRO
South East CRO
South & Mid Wales CRT
Upper Wharfdale FRA

Past recipients.
Cumbria Ore Mines Rescue Unit £
Derbyshire CRO £
Devon CRO £ £
North Wales CRO £
Swaledale MRT £

Crikey

I think at some point I've been underground in all those areas with the possible exception of Scotland - and that may happen in the future.

Maybe any one of them that hasn't benefitted before :confused:

A change from the norm. I'd like to nominate Lancashire Mining Museum, aka Astley Green Museum. Some great work going on there at the moment.

https://lancashireminingmuseum.org/ 

I propose,
South and mid Wales Cave Rescue.
They cover many of the mines in Wales and have repeatedly been involved in mine rescue situations.
And Cambrian Mines Trust. (Roy Fellows.)
There is no one doing, and spending more, on maintaining access to mines for non commercial visitors.
http://www.cambrianmines.co.uk/ 
:thumbsup:

A change from the norm. I'd like to nominate Lancashire Mining Museum, aka Astley Green Museum. Some great work going on there at the moment.

https://lancashireminingmuseum.org/ 

In the absence of any better suggestions, which I don't have, then this gets my vote. Seconded by Sinker.
50/50 split with Midlands CRO.

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Yes I agree its about time Roy had a little help with all his efforts

he gets my vote :thumbsup:

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Hi
Yes I vote for Cambrian Mines Trust and the S&MWCRT.
Cheers
Allan