Telling stories on the barrow

Dr Cleal, hearing C-H-M's appeal for more material, has emerged from hiding, blinking into the light and very kindly sent C-H-M this picture. She writes "... at some time in the 80s, I think after your time but I may be wrong, we started going to sit on the top of Crippets long barrow in the field next to Ullenwood, usually after we'd been to the pub (strange, that). This is an occasion in 1984 and the protaganists are from left front clockwise : I'm afraid unknown (or forgotten on my part), Julian Thomas (now Professor Thomas, University of Manchester), Clive Anderson, Nicky Snashall, Clare Milroy, Julie Lancley, Simon (help - have temporarily forgotten his surname) [Figg? Ed.], self, Dave Southwood (Biggles). We certainly did this on more than one occasion and I've since looked up Crippets in the 1920s volume on Gloucestershire long barrows by the well known field archaeologist O.G.S.Crawford in which he notes that there is evidence of some antiquarian activity - well, we should have recognised that, as we were sitting with our feet in the remains of the 'dig' - but I'm not sure that did occur to us (except perhaps to Julian!). If you're putting stuff on line you can mention that Nicky (usually 'Nick' now) and I now work for the National Trust at Avebury where we recreate, as far as is possible, the ambience of the CH finds and planning huts - all we lack is Corky to keep us in order."

To which Dr Ferris muses: "Oh, the youth of today thinking they invented everything-the jet engine, alcohol, cyber-sex, the wireless, pot noodles, sitting on Crippets barrow at night etc. I remember some splendid late night, GL-fuelled,ghost-story-telling sessions on the barrow in 1976 and 1978, the latter being my opportunity to reveal my strange experience with the ghost of a miner encountered in County Durham. And I wasn't making it up." How much GL had you had when you met the miner?

1985 in black and white

Resting during a break in 1985: Dr Phillpotts's snap shows Nadine Munn-Baron, Thomas, Cleo Demetriades, Pippa Gilbert and Adrian Corrigan. Looks as though it must have been a particularly sapping day: almost everyone had to have a lie down.

The ditch and baulk

A fine view of the section, baulk and ditch, I suspect on Julian Thomas's cutting, 'Slot City', taken by Dr Phillpotts in 1985. The 'Ditch and Baulk' would make a good pub name.

Up to no good, I'll be bound ...

It was, I think John Boden who used to say to me "What are you up to, Jules? Up to no good, I'll be bound ..." which leads me neatly to this, from the Chronicler's 1985 series, debauch in a caravan. Left to right, ?, Bob Hopegood, Nick Snashall, Ros Cleal, Julian Thomas, an outsize teddy bear and Julie Lancley. It looks remarkably cosy. Was this the famed 'Naughty Nicky's' - I cannot tell, I was not there: I await enlightenment ...

A 1985 medley

From the 1985 season, clockwise from the top left, Clive Anderson, Bob Hopegood, Katie Gold with David Griffiths behind her to the left, Ken Collier, Ken again and Bob again and finally Julian Thomas on his cutting that year dubbed 'Slot City'.

I know quite a number of readers like to download the photos which I publish: there are a handful of photos which have only been posted as part of a collage. If you would like a copy of any of the original component photos, please let me know by e-mail (link on the left approx 6th item down) and I'll send them to you.

CH85: high level conference

 

Sometimes it just helps to rise above it all and get a perspective from above.  Doing precisely that during the 1985 season, John and Julie Gale flanking Julian Thomas.  Fiona Wilkes recently drew my attention to the John Gale Appreciation Society. Is he, I wonder, the only former Crickley person to be so honoured on Facebook? For the benefit of those of my readers, such as Dr Ferris, of Amish tendency, Facebook is a social networking site ...  What on earth is going on in Bournemouth, I can hear him say?

1985: Julian Thomas planning Slot City again ...

Fine Phillpotts action-planning shot of Julian Thomas in 1985 on his cutting that was dubbed "Slot City".  You can even (just about) make out elements of the plan which shows just how good Dr Phillpotts's camera was all those years ago: now any digital camera would produce even better definition.  Looks a rather jumbled and awkward cutting.

Enlightenment from Selly Oak ...

Dr Ferris came to stay with me at the Albergo Parker last weekend. I also had the great pleasure of finally meeting Iain's wife Lynne (Dr Lynne Bevan, a lithics and small finds specialist, for those of my readers who might wish to commission her charming erudition).   The Hill may have came up in the odd conversation over the odd glass of Basque wine ... 

Now that they are both home again, Iain and I can resume our diablogue:

"In a fine example of synchronicity at work, Crickley Hill Man recently published two photos on his blog depicting diggers who, probably unbeknown to their fellow workers of the time, were destined to go on to greater things.

Julian Thomas is now, of course, Professor Julian Thomas of Manchester University and author of 'Rethinking the Neolithic' and other books. Alex West became a highly-successful TV and, I think, radio producer who worked on the BBC programme 'Chronicle' and in Australia on the apparently epic series 'Constructing Australia'. I met Alex at a conference a few years ago - he recognised me but I didn't recognise him (I have an awful memory for both faces and names) -and one of his most abiding memories of Crickley, surprisingly, was the soundtrack provided one year by the LP 'Return of the Durutti Column', one of many records I had at Crickley that year as I was in the process of moving house. In many ways, the serenity of the track 'Sketch for Summer' on this LP pretty much evokes the view from the hill itself."

Iain, I never knew that Ullenwood was, for a spell, the only home you had (should that be hole you had to go to?).   I suppose, in view of your last comment, we'd better have a view:

Julian Thomas in 1985 ...

Another fine view from Dr Phillpotts, this time of Julian Thomas planning on his cutting which seems to have been dubbed "Slot City" according to the captions in the Chronicler's album. Good example of the way planning frames sometimes have to be carefully supported in mid air. Doubtless the plumb-bobs were in use to ensure accurate planning on gradients. Looks rather an interesting cutting and that's a seriously large spoil heap ... must have been getting near the season's end if the JCB was on site as well as the dumper truck. Backfilling can't have been far away.