Frank Baguley

Post by **David Cooke** » Tue 13 Mar 2007 00:41

Mick Day wrote:Frank Baguley
20/11/15 -10/3/07

Sadly, Frank Baguley died on Saturday morning, 10th March at Ty Mawr nursing home, Abercrave, after a long illness.

He was born in Aberdare, the son of a dentist. It was there that he began his professional career as a school dentist. He served in the war in the Army Dental Corps rising to the rank of Major, but perhaps more importantly meeting his wife, Ella, while stationed in Scotland. The couple returned to Aberdare where Frank resumed his civilian dental career and they brought up their son, Douglas.

Frank was always involved in sport; hill walking, canoeing, swimming, water polo, cycling. He was for a while a Diving Judge for the Welsh Amateur Swimming Association.

In 1963 he joined South Wales Caving Club and developed a lifetime passion for the underground. He took part in both club expeditions to Balinka Pit in Jugoslavia. It was Frank who developed much of the winch equipment that lead to the success of the venture, bottoming the pit from where the remains of partisans were retried.

On a much sadder note it was Frank who identified the victims of the Aberfan disaster from their dental records.

In later life, when an accident in a cave caused him mobility problems, he continued to serve caving as secretary of the Cambrian Caving Council, as a contributor to the Cambrian Cave Registry, as secretary of the National Caving Association (now BCA) and representative of the caving world to many outside organisations where he was very well respected. He was presented with an award for his service by the Welsh Sports Council.

His funeral will take place on Friday, 16th March, 2.00pm at Llwdcoed Crematorium, Aberdare (located on a small road parallel to A465 near Baverstocks). This is signposted both from the easterly and westerly approaches on the Heads of the Valleys road, A465, between Hirwaun and Merthyr Tydfil.

Family flowers only; donations to Wales Air Ambulance.

Condolences may be addressed to:

Mrs Ella Baguley,
The White Lion,
Ynys Uchaf,
Ystradgynlais,
SWANSEA SA9 1RW