Mike Thomas, (Pembroke 1979-82, Committee 1981-82)
Expedition 1982 (pushing the depths of
Stellerweghöhle), 1983 (142 and
Steinschlagschacht 1623/136), 1984
(Steinschlagschacht), 1989 (cave diving
in Altausseer See and at various resurgences).
As well as being in CUCC and exCS, Mike joined the
Northern Pennine Club.
He soon took up cave diving (and therefore joined the
Cave Diving
Group), being at one time the only diver in the Dales
with a 100% record for passing virgin sumps at the first dive (OK, so it
was only 2 feet long :-). Diving took him on the NPC expeditions to Northern
Spain (especially Cueva Culiembro in the Cares
Gorge).
Mike still cave dives, and even caves, occasionally (in between flying a
light aircraft), despite being confined to a wheelchair after a ski-touring
accident.
The photo was taken at the Lost Johns' carpark on Leck Fell - note the
tatty canoeing helmet, as used by many cave divers (the holes let the
air out when diving).