Nicely on schedule, the next issue of Descent is about to drop through your letterbox. Make sure your subscription is up to date, so you don’t miss out on all the big news!

Here are some clues on what to find in issue 290!

Alan Jeffreys’ articles are always a pleasure to read, so look out for his account of the discovery of a body in Body Pot, high up on Ingleborough, in 1947.

Did you realise that the Council of Higher Education Caving Clubs has now been active for 20 years? Aila Taylor writes about CHECC’s past, present and future.

In The Geometry of Deep Space – Part One, Frank Pearson describes the work put in, over several years, to open up Five Ways Pot in the Yorkshire Dales. This vertical gem is sure to be a classic SRT trip in years to come.

A huge number of speleo-cruciverbalists sent in their solutions to the Descent Christmas Crossword in issue 289, and this issue reveals the answers and the name of the winner.

Some giants of the caving world have died recently. Jim Newton is remembered by David Creedy, Paul Seddon by Dick Willis; and we have a tribute to Bruce Bedford, the first editor of Descent. This is written primarily by Clive Gardener, with a selection of memories from others.

Martyn Farr has been caving in the Lot region of France. He shares some of his fine photographs and thoughts on this stunning place.

In 1973, Dave Judson’s book Ghar Parau was published, and it has become a classic of many expedition reports. Fifty years on from the British team’s deep exploration in Iran, Arthur Champion reminisces and comments on the legacy of this groundbreaking expedition.

The new caves keep on coming! Another impressive discovery in the Dales is described by Hugh St Lawrence, covering the exploration of Hazeltop Cave on Barbon High Fell.

Descent continues to be at the top of the game with caving news, so head over to the subscriptions page on their website and guarantee yourself the best read in British caving.