Memories of Tom Sykes, 1933 - 2017
I
first met Tom in 1959. I was 14 at the time and wanted to go caving, so was
directed to a pub called the Moorlands in Lancaster where the Red Rose Cave and
Pothole Club had their meetings on a Friday evening. Tom soon took me under his
wing and we spent many happy Sundays in wet and miserable conditions
underground. My first memory of caving with Tom was a trip up the slopes of
Whernside to Greensett Caves on a "novice" trip which turned out to
be a long walk in snow to the cave and then a very wet exploration along a deep
canal. On exiting I was extremely cold and on the way back to the road my
boiler suit froze hard. However I loved it, and so started a long friendship.
Tom
had joined the Red Rose in 1949 and except for a small break for National
Service has been a member ever since.
His early explorations with others in the Easegill Caverns System in
what was then Westmorland led to the discovery of Britain's longest cave system
now measured at over 100 kilometres in length.
In
1967 he was elected Club President, a post he held for 10 years after which he
was granted Honorary membership, earning this privilege from his many early
caving experiences. Tom had been elected President just as the Red Rose
attained 21 years at which the Territorial Army and it's then Captain Tony
Tanner, a future President of the club, and his men organised a camping weekend
in Kettlewell where Tom had the honor of cutting the birthday cake which the
army cooks had made on site.
Around
that time he was instrumental in forming
the Council of Northern Caving Clubs after a long cave rescue led to the
closure of the caves on Leck and Casterton Fells. Tom was its first secretary
and he helped restore good relations with the landowners, it has now become an organisation that is
still influential today.
Like
many cavers Tom evolved his sporting life, and after a long spell caving he
took up fell running and orienteering at which he represented England at an
event in France. A member of Rochdale Harriers Tom was the one you asked for if
you wanted someone to navigate you on a Bob Graham run. His skill at navigating the mountains was
always welcome when the weather turned nasty, but he was usually always lucky
with the weather - we often said "Tom's with us, the sun will shine
today"- a welcome antidote to
Carol's cloud! She often said Tom was
always lucky "If he fell off the
co-op he would land in the divi"
Sandra
and Carol and Tom had many long distance runs together and the girls often would break into song, From
Bohemian Rhapsody to Jerusalem! - at
which point Tom would sprint 200 yards ahead
saying to others "How do you
stand that!"
Tom
was also a member of several other organisations, South Ribble Mountain Rescue
Team, The NORI group of friends from east Lancashire amongst others. We spent many holidays together, our first
being a walking and caving trip to
Austria. Tom had a company car - very posh! as we were all crammed into a
clapped out Dormobile. Near the end of this holiday a friend Les, ran out of money but Tom and
Anne stepped in with a loan so he could buy food, only to see Les head straight
for the bar. He did however pay them back. Many other holidays followed, Morocco,
Nepal, New Zealand and we always stayed friends. That says something about Tom.
So
many memories, so many good times together. Tom, it was a privilege to have
your company. You will be missed. We send our sincere condolences to his wife
Anne, daughters Jennie, Denise and Ann.
Postscript: Tom never forgot his time with the Red Rose
and he left instructions in a letter to his wife and daughter that funds should
be made available from his estate to provide for a wake to be held for members at
Bullpot Farm. His generosity continued with a sizable donation towards some
lasting memorial at the farm. Discussions have taken place with his family on
how this money is to be spent.
Tom
at the Colonnades, Lancaster Hole circa
1950 Tom being presented with the
clubs 21st. .
birthday cake at Kettlewell in 1967
Mel
Wilkinson.