A Barton Explorer Scout made his Scout promise hundreds of feet below the Mendip Hills in Somerset during a subterranean ceremony to invest him into the Movement. The unusual initiation is all part of the heritage for these teenagers. They have been invested during a trip on the London Eye, while abseiling down a climbing wall and on a surfboard. But Steven McTaggart, 15 decided it would all happen for him down the biggest cave in Somerset lit only by the head lamps of his companions.

Steven is a member of the 12-strong Merlin Explorer Unit based in Barton who are know for their thirst for adventure. In February they tobogganed down the snow-covered Barton Hills in the dark. They learned to kayak on the River Ouse at Great Barford and, for a quiet weekend, they negotiated 24 locks in a narrow boat on the Grand Union Canal. Their promise includes a pledge to help other people. So they went to Lincolnshire this summer to run a skate boarding base at the Poacher’s International Scouting Jamboree.

For his underground adventure, Steven took along fellow Explorer Scout Chris Boyatt. They were trained for their ordeal by the Essex County Scout Caving Team who gave them a thorough grounding in safety before venturing out to the narrow entrance of Swildon’s Hole just above the village of Priddy in the Mendip Hills. At 30,000 feet long, the cave is the longest in the area and well over 500 feet deep.

Above them the green fields inspired poet William Blake to write the words of ‘Jerusalem’. “Below ground it was dark, damp and noisy with dripping stalactites and roaring waterfalls”, Steven said. He then added, “It was awesome.”

Heading this inspired group of teenagers is Explorer Scout Leader Lenny Leede. Every week she leaves the quiet village of Silsoe where she lives for an action-packed and often thrilling meeting of people who live up to their title of explorers. She says, “Every week there’s a new or exciting challenge. I have the time of my life – and so do they.”

[Back to News Front Page]