Steve Vaughan's cutting in 1981

Mystifying patterns and holes in the limestone in this 1981 Phillpotts archive view of Steve Vaughan's cutting. Did someone just keep on digging to create the pit behind Maryam Ghaffari or does it just need a good brushing? Also, amongst others, Mike Adams and Bruce.

From a freezing garret in Shrewsbury ...

... the Chronicler, Dr Phillpotts, his mittened fingers almost paralysed with cold, taps out a message on the keyboard: "I am glad to see that the Crickley blog continues to attract attention. Amongst the things I have noticed recently is your query about the Yellow Bus and the Hula Hoop Frenzy. You may not be aware that after the Yellow Bus became redundant in 1989(?), being not so much a white elephant as a yellow elephant, it was adopted by the supervisors' circle as a semi-illicit after-hours drinking den called the Yellow Elephant Club. In this it was the successor to Naughty Nicky's (a caravan in the car park) 1983-1985, and the Boudoir (a room filled with mattresses at the end of the Brick House) 1986-1988(?). Despite our efforts to promote the sleazy aspects of these establishments, proceedings were usually quite sedate, lapsing only occasionally into the orgiastic. The Hula Hoop Frenzy refers to one night in the Yellow Elephant Club when Joanne consumed a bottle of white wine and several packets of Hula Hoops in pretty short order before retiring. When Steve followed her a little while afterwards he found her lying on her back with her head poking out of the downhill end of their tent,  at which point Steve decided that what she really needed was a walk round the car park and a cup of strong black coffee. Of course it was the Hula Hoops that did it, hence the name. Why Jock should be putting his finger in Nicky's ear I don't know. It joins other such notably named events as the Dance of the One Cagoul and the Night of the Exploding Schoolgirl. "

I think I want to hear more about the Night of the Exploding Schoolgirl, please ...  did we ever tell her parents?

Jock Bruce during a damp teabreak, 1987

This particular day on site in 1987 was plainly wet and cold: Jock, resting quietly in his waterproofs, while Mike Sims leans against the hut in the background sipping his tea.  The boot to Mike's right at the left edge above Jock's knee belongs to Malcolm White.  Rest of him, at same tea break, together with more in focus shot of Mike, is here.

What was this all about? Answers on the e-mail, please

I haven't had a chance to discuss what led to this pair of photos with Dr Phillpotts. Was a party ever held in the Yellow Bus? No drinks are on show. Careful comparison of the 2 photographs shows the following. In the top one, Joanne is between Nick, whose sleeve can be matched to the lower picture, and Steve, whose ear and eye are recognisable.  Steve has his pullover on.  Joanne appears to be eating Hula Hoops. Indeed Dr Phillpotts's album title mentions a "Hula Hoop frenzy".  The frenzy must have been heated, because by the time of the second photo, Joanne has turned into Jock Bruce, and is kindly cleaning Nick's ear and Steve has taken his pullover off. Clear interpretation of the archaeological record is sometimes hard to achieve ...