L Bruce Keith - Scotland Beneath the Surface

L Bruce Keith who has crossed many a bridge and travelled many a mile returned to give Rotarians a subterranean Odyssey. He revealed his new word -  Speleological: the scientific study or exploration of potholes and caves as he explored underneath Scotland taking us on a tour of the country’s subterranean assets. His tale took us from the Bone Caves of Assynt, to the Gothic arch vaulting at Yester Castle and Ballahulich Slate Quarry.

An explosion of facts poured out throughout the talk including how it became illegal to live in a cave even though 55 people gave a cave as their residence in official censuses. Skara Brae on Orkney existed 5000 years ago even before the Pyramids. 25-30 people lived in each of the 120 vaults under South Bridge in Edinburgh. Rubislaw Quarry is the largest man made hole in Western Europe. Slate quarrying has now begun on Luing. 

Above: L Bruce Keith's latest publication.

Bruce looked at water supply in the Royal Mile from Castlehill and from tunnels from Loch Katrine constructed in nineteenth century. He took us underground to meet tunnel tigers and see Ben Cruachan, the first hollowed mountain in the world. He marvelled that the coal miners from Valleyfield tunnelled Nader the River Forth to meet the miners from Kinnell in a tunnel only 2 inches out when they met. 

Railway tunnels of the clockwork orange opened in 1896 and we saw the railway tunnel under Dundee Law. Turning to underground bunkers Bruce exposed the secret Barnton Quarry as well as Scotland’s Bunker in the East Neuk. He questioned why the Pentland Firth tidal power with planning permission granted in 2013, had never been developed. 

Vote of thanks was given by PP Ian Grieve thanked Bruce for his fascinating fact-packed talk given with tremendous humour.