Friday, 16th June 2023

As part of the celebration of the centenary of St Arvans Memorial Hall, on Friday 16 th June, over 100 local people enjoyed a full-length film showing the spectacular caves that lie under the village and the Racecourse. A retiring collection raised £450 for Gloucestershire Cave rescue. It was the first showing to any other audience besides cavers themselves so was very special indeed.

Only skilled cavers, taking great care not to disturb the amazing natural features, can see these for real but the film was able to show us just what we are missing. Some of the caverns that the audience saw are now closed even to the cavers who did the filming. They will only be opened again in very special circumstances.

Redhouse Productions, under the direction of Paul Taylor, who heads up Gloucestershire Cave Rescue group, and with a committed team behind him, took 8 years, 36 trips underground and 2,500 person hours to get this show to completion. As the entrance to the cave system is on the edge of the Wye, the tides dictated the timing of trips and as was seen dramatically in the film, determined how access to many parts of the system changed with the rise and fall of the water levels. If you want to see real, sticky, all-embracing mud, this is perfect!

But the real amazing features are the ‘decorations’ in the caves. The limestone formations of stalactites and stalagmites and huge expanses of crystal. This unique wonder of the world, said by some who have explored other caves in the UK, to be the best, is right under the feet of the people of St Arvans. Some of the shots were quite breath taking, especially the crystal formations, caves where floor and walls were covered with crystals, like something out of a Disney fairy tale. There was even a crystal bath on the floor and crystal pompoms hanging on the end of straw-like stalactites.

Such care had to be taken by the film crew that, once through the sumps, the cavers scrub off as much mud as possible so as not to take it through to areas that it would not normally reach. Heavy caving gear, including boots, were removed for some of the filming and very lightweight, forensic style suits were worn instead This ensures that any accidental brushing against walls etc. did as little harm as possible,

In the rear room of St Arvans Hall, the crew set up a display of photographs and the plan of the cave system as it is know to date, a document that brought home to residents how close they are to these wonders. Look out for this film called, ‘Controlled by Moon and Tides’ It has been entered into several International Film Festivals and has already been shortlisted for an International Film Festival in the USA

The committee would like to express its sincere thanks