In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:
Nice to see there is a book about this.
I went on a walking tour of Cambs. and the guide mentioned the night climbers.
On one occasion they placed a brolly on the top of a spire. The local marks man was tasked with shooting it down. Which he did, from some distance away as well. So they went up again an placed a union jack on the spire. Said marks man refused to shoot down the union jack as it would be unpatriotic! They also used to leave certain female undergarments on strategic high points to prove their ascents.
Another thing we were shown was some leap between buildings. Even though the tops are slightly overhanging, there is still a good 10+m drop into pavement. There is no room for a run up and only a small area to land on. Apparently it was seen as some sort of initiation test.