Abseiling - 4th Harrow style.
Tim Bloomer on the rope. Tom Backer (?) (white shirt), Mike Russell (?)
(no shirt), Stuart Ingram (glasses, looking to his right), John Stannard,
followed by two other unidentified boys. Not sure of the identity of the
leader without shirt (is it a young Roger Annan ?). By present (2008)
standards, there are just a few safety issues, such as:
(a). Abseiling rope is attached by means of bowline
around torso - places total reliance on the quality of the bowline
(b). No independent safety rope
(c). Is the roof strong enough to support seven people
standing in one small area ?
(d). Are the coping stones strong enough to support the
abseiling and several people leaning on them ?
(e). No-one is wearing climbing helmets
(f). Is the small piece of sacking sufficient to avoid
abrasion of the rope
(g). Is the rope suitable. It would have been hemp
rope, not the current "core and sheethed" climbing rope (which is much
stronger)
(h). Are the seven Leaders / spectators properly
protected from the risk of falling from the roof
etc., etc., etc.
It is amazing to realise that we managed to survive without all these safety
features !!
Also, a rather poignant picture, as John Stannard and Tim Bloomer both, sadly,
died young