At the NPC we had an excellent New Year celebration to welcome 2019. In the last days of 2018 there were caving trips to Maracaibo and Arson Shaft in Easegill, Vesper Pot, Valley Entrance and Swinsto Hole in Kingsdale, and Rift Pot on the Allotment. The final trip of the year on New Year's Eve was a club bonanza down Lost Johns', with everybody reaching the master streamway.

25 members then tucked into a huge delicious feast at home in Greenclose. A huge thanks must go to Matt for masterminding the excellent dinner, Carly for providing delicious desserts, and everybody else who prepared huge amounts of vegetables. At midnight the party began with a chorus of 'Speleology' and good old-fashioned caving games.

We'd like to wish a happy New Year to all of our members, our kindred clubs, and all the other cavers out there. The NPC is going from strength to strength; we had an excellent 2018 with 3 foreign trips to France and a caving meet practically every two weeks. We are planning for this year to be as good as last year if not better. So we'll see you underground in 2019!

Photo credit: Gary Douthwaite