A BRADFORD woman who was just a tot when her dad died 50 years ago in potholing’s worst caving disaster has described how she feels closer to him now than ever before.

In a cruel twist of fate, tragedy struck again one year later when Rachel Taylor, who now lives in Wyke, was run over and left partially paralysed on an outing to Southport.

The 51-year-old, who has two grown-up children of her own, was only able to start piecing together a profile of the father she never got to know after her heartbroken nan died a few years ago.

Colin Vickers was just 23 when he and five other men died in the labyrinth of passages in Mossdale Cavern on Conistone Moor after it was engulfed by flood water, 50 years ago this Sunday.

Hundreds of people were involved in a frantic rescue bid, digging dams to try and stop the rising water only to find all the potholers had perished.

Their bodies were never removed and are still together in a place in the cavern known as The Sanctuary.

“I didn’t dare talk to my family about my dad for years because it was too upsetting for them. It almost felt like a taboo subject. All I have are two photos of him, they are precious to me.

“The one thing my mother did tell me was that he loved me very much and that was so important to hear. I’ve held on to that but I always wanted to find out more,” said Miss Taylor who will be reading a self-written poem at a memorial service at St Mary’s Church in Conistone at 6.30pm on Sunday.

In 2014 she was able to go to Mossdale Cavern for the first time, thanks to members of the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) who took her in one of their rough-terrain vehicles.

“Without them I would never have been able to get closer to my dad. I feel closer to him now than ever before. They are a great bunch of people.” Miss Taylor hopes by telling her story she can raise awareness of UWFRA which needs more than £40,000 a year to keep running.

The other men who died in the tragedy half a century ago were William Frakes, 19, of Eldwick, David Adamson, 26, of York Road, Harworth, Jeffrey Boireau, 24, of Fearnlea Crescent, Swinton, John Ogden 21, of Cuerden Street, Colne, and Michael Ryan, 17, of Dean Close, Rhodesway, Bradford.

Sunday’s service has been organised by Mick Melvin, a member of the Happy Wanders Caving Club, who was involved in the rescue operation. Before the service, anyone who was around at the time of the tragedy and wants to go to the cavern can be transported there by Land Rover.

Miss Taylor, who needs a wheelchair, will not be able to join them at the cavern this year after a recent fall but hopes to visit it later in the year.

“My dad and the other potholers had checked the weather forecast but it’s unpredictable in the Dales. Outside the cave that day there were thunderstorms and the heavy rain flooded where they were. I believe his spirits is there, I do miss him. Being able to talk about what happened has helped me get to know my dad better. I know from the photos I have that he was tall. I think he was a nice, rather pleasant man. Potholing was his hobby, he had a job at the tax office in Bradford, but he was a bit of a free spirit. I get the feeling when I’m at Mossdale that I’m very close to him.” To find out how you can support Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association, go to uwfra.org.uk