Southsea Spelaeological Society was founded in 1974 by a group of student teachers finding that to continue gaining access to some caves they would have to belong to an organised caving club, looking around there wasn’t a club handy so they organised one.
Back in those simpler times there was no insurance and the first year’s subscription was 50p. By the end of the 70s the society had grown to a healthy number and had already organised two if somewhat ramshackle foreign expeditions including one where a late joiner managed to hitch hike to the Pyrenees ahead of the minibus with the rest of the club.
In those days all you needed was some old clothes and some boots, somebody would lend you a light which might even last until you left the cave.
Although caving gear now costs more than those old clothes at least it is comfortable and doesn’t part around the midriff every time you crawl and lights just seem to go on forever.
The strength of the club has always been the tight bond of friendship between members whilst at the same time always welcoming newcomers whether they be experienced or have no experience whatever. This has led us to maintain a fine balance between caving trips for beginners and more advanced ones for the racing snakes.
The 80s and 90s saw a continuation of the growth in caving experience and more, better organised trips abroad with annual expeditions across Europe.