South Yorkshire Times June 8, 1957
Missing Four Hours
Dearne Boys Rescued From Derbyshire Pothole
Two 14-year-old Thurnscoe Hill modern school boys were rescued early yesterday from a 15 feet deep pothole, hundred 50 yards inside a cave in Matlock, over four hours after they have been reported missing.
They were Michael Brown, only son of Mr and Mrs William Brown, 36 Briton St, Thurnscoe and Keith Beavers.
They had been accompanied by Mr Collins, Science Master at the Hill school, and by his friend Mr Brian Hague, Doncaster Road Mexborough.
Mr Collins told a “South Yorkshire Times” reporter yesterday that they left for Derbyshire after school on Wednesday. It was entirely private outing and the journey was made in his car. All the party were keen cave and pothole enthusiasts.
They went to the Job Holes system of caves near Matlock, one of the most interesting of the Matlock Caves, described by Mr Collins as “an absolute honeycomb labyrinth.”
“We intended to have a brief survey in the case for, in particular, bats and fossils. We had been looking at leading works and not having found anything special were having a final look round and I said that for a bit of sport they could descend the small pothole in the cave.
Sound Shadow
“The boys descended at 9:15 PM and I imagine lured by the spectacular things under there, they wandered off and because of sound shadow they could not hear our voices nor our whistles to them. At 945 when we had had no reply, we decided to seek the advice and help of the Cave Rescue Group in Derbyshire, though through the police.”
Mr Collins said they went to Matlock and informed the police. Two policemen returned in the car and John Gardner stayed at the entrance to the pothole.
The police car went round a wide area of Derbyshire, mustering the rescue squad, and Matlock police informed Thurnscoe police about the incident. A police radio car stood near the mist shrouded entrance to the cave, giving details of progress to other rescue teams who had been alerted to standby.
Seven minutes
The rescue party went down the hole at 1.35 and by 1.42 the two boys have been located safe and sound. On realising they were lost they decided to stay put,” one of the boys said.
They arrived back in Thurnscoe just after 6 a.m.
Michael told our reporter later after inspecting the pothole they discovered so many underground tunnels that they did not know which one to take back to the opening. They decided to “stay put,” bearing in mind Mr Collins advice, and taught each other for a while. Then took it in turns to sleep. Michael said that although he felt a bit frightened as time dragged by they did not panic. It was very cold, he said.
Leaders Praise
Afterward, Mr Arthur Neal, leader of the rescue team, praised the boys for “staying put” when they realise they were lost, and not wondering about. He also thanked Mr Collins for summoning assistance so quickly after the boys were missing.
Mr Collins said that Gardner, although shivering with the cold, refused to leave his post. “It was quite a right.” He also paid tribute to the courage and presence of mind of the two missing boys, stressing that there was no direct danger to them, apart from being lost. He was grateful to the Matlock police for summoning help so quickly and for informing the local police.
Mr Collins said it was unfortunate that something like this should happen to put people’s backs up against pothole in. There was no danger in this case; it was just misfortune.