Over several years the idea of turning ones activist skills; climbing (rope access), boating, the ability to open locked doors quickly, into something as futile as poking around disused industrial sites has had a growing appeal. Finally I tracked down some forums devoted to such nihilistic activities in the form of the UK Urban Explorers Forum.
The link that I followed in was from an idle question about the tunnels under Imperial College, London. Plausibly some speculation about subterranean access to buildings in the area. In a different life I studied there and can attest that there is a range of tunnels running from what was Southside, under the V&A to Queens Tower and beyond. It was a handy shortcut (well a drier detour) to the bar and I can still vividly remember the Victorian brick staircase spiralling down beneath exhibition road, to Neverwhere.
The beginning of the week saw a bunch of us out on the boats, teaching media types (photographers and all) not to do anything stupid in the event of a high speed activity. We ended up out at the sea forts in the Thames estuary, the rusted remains of Red Sands towers, and what was once the lonely haunt of pirate radio stations.
So when time allows, I have some pictures to upload to the forums. Some currency to establish my place in the digital community and perhaps a hook to lure a few folk with the skills necessary to poke around disused industrial sites, to the idea that occupying more useful sites coal power stations and all) has more of a future.
