Eli Simpson
Encyclopedia
Eli "Cymmie" Simpson was an influential and controversial British caver and speleologist, and a founding member and Recorder of the British Speleological Association
.
Simpson began caving
in 1901, and in 1905 helped create the Yorkshire Speleological Association, the first British club formed specifically for the purposes of exploring caves. Simpson undertook cave exploration, mapping, and photography throughout his active career.
Simpson was a founding member of the British Speleological Association
in 1935, became its Recorder for much of its existence, and organized the most extensive cave archive in Britain. The installation of gates on BSA-controlled caves caused much friction with other caving organizations as well as within the BSA. BSA influence waned after 1945 when new or dormant caving clubs (such as Northern Pennine Club
and Red Rose Cave and Pothole Club gained ground, and members expelled or resigned from the BSA went on to create other organizations, notably the Cave Research Group of Great Britain (the two merged in 1973 to form the British Cave Research Association
).
British Speleological Association
British Speleological Association was founded by Eli Simpson and others in 1935. It was instrumental in the discovery of Lancaster Hole and other caves...
.
Simpson began caving
Caving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
in 1901, and in 1905 helped create the Yorkshire Speleological Association, the first British club formed specifically for the purposes of exploring caves. Simpson undertook cave exploration, mapping, and photography throughout his active career.
Simpson was a founding member of the British Speleological Association
British Speleological Association
British Speleological Association was founded by Eli Simpson and others in 1935. It was instrumental in the discovery of Lancaster Hole and other caves...
in 1935, became its Recorder for much of its existence, and organized the most extensive cave archive in Britain. The installation of gates on BSA-controlled caves caused much friction with other caving organizations as well as within the BSA. BSA influence waned after 1945 when new or dormant caving clubs (such as Northern Pennine Club
Northern Pennine Club
Northern Pennine Club is one of the oldest and largest caving clubs in the UK. Founded in 1946, the Northern Pennine Club was one of the caving clubs started by various cavers affected by the politics of the British Speleological Association immediately after the Second World War...
and Red Rose Cave and Pothole Club gained ground, and members expelled or resigned from the BSA went on to create other organizations, notably the Cave Research Group of Great Britain (the two merged in 1973 to form the British Cave Research Association
British Cave Research Association
The British Cave Research Association is a speleological organisation in the United Kingdom. Its object is to promote the study of caves and associated phenomena, and it attains this by supporting cave & karst research, encouraging original exploration , collecting and publishing speleological...
).