... and the winner is ...

Giles Barker Award 2026

Giles Barker lost his life while caving in Spain in 1992. He was an accomplished cave photographer and a member of the Red Rose CPC and Morgannwg CC.

These clubs have annually, since 1993, funded the Giles Barker Award in his memory. This prestigious award – a hand-crafted statue of a cave photographer made by Ceris Jones is given to a person connected with any aspect of cave photography in recognition of his or her excellence and contributions to the field.

When I was younger, so much younger than today (that sounds like a good lyric for a song), I used to dream fantasise  about winning this award. After all, my caving videos for a while were quite popular - I have the views to prove it.

As the contestants on Britain’s Got Talent are always saying when asked what it would mean to win the contest, it would have meant the World to me.

However, each year when the award was presented at the national caving conference, I would look at the recipient and realise that they were so much more talented and deserving than me - just look at what the other three Dudley recipients, Brendan, Mark and Bartek have achieved!

In fact reading through the list of recipients reads like a Who’s Who of caving royalty. Jerry Wooldridge, Peter Collings-Wells, Dave Gibson, Chris Howes, Gavin Newman, My hero - Sid Perou, Paul Deakin, Andy Eavis, Andy Sparrow, Peter Harvey, Robbie Shone, Paul Fretwell, Clive Westlake, Rob Eavis, Dave Webb, The Freems, Pete Glanvill, Martyn Farr, Paul Taylor, Bill Nix and Roo Walters, to name but a few.

I am truly honoured, but also I am a little bemused that my name will now be entered in the Hall of Fame.

And finally in true BAFTA award winning speech style, I could not have done it without the support and encouragement that I have been incredibly lucky to have had from numerous members of Dudley Caving Club over many years. My heartfelt thanks to you all. I shouldn’t really single anyone out, but very special thanks must go to Mark, Jess, Ian and Kay aka Keith’s Cavers.

Me and Bartek at HE 2026. He won a few awards too.

 

The International Day of Caves and Karst 2026

The International Day of Caves and Karst is a chance for people around the world to celebrate caves, karst and the people who explore, study and protect them. On 13 September 2026, the world will celebrate the first UNESCO International Day of Caves and Karst. 

To help mark this important occasion, we wanted to create a video that would share something of the excitement, adventure and passion that lies at the heart of caving. 

And we couldn't have done it without the members of Dudley Caving Club. 

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, helped out, appeared on camera, provided footage, offered ideas, helped behind the scenes, or simply gave their time and enthusiasm to make the video happen. Making a video like this takes much more than pressing record. It takes people willing to turn up, get involved, try things more than once, help each other out and, of course, spend a fair amount of time underground! 

That's something Dudley Caving Club has been doing for decades, so in addition to our 60th anniversary celebrations, lets share the enjoyment of celebrating the International Day of Caves and Karst. and encourage others to discover the underground world. 

This video is therefore not just about the International Day of Caves and Karst. It's also about the people who make caving what it is a shared adventure, a chance to explore places most people never see, and a way of learning more about the world beneath our feet. 

To every Dudley Caving Club member who played a part and the whole caving community that contributed to making of this video: Thank you for your time. Thank you for your enthusiasm. Thank you for your patience. And thank you for helping us celebrate caves and karst. 

We hope the video captures just a little of what makes caving so special and helps encourage more people to discover, understand and protect the underground world. From everyone involved in the project thank you, Dudley Caving Club! 

Discover. Understand. Protect. 

Special thanks to Lucy Hyde for getting this project off the ground in the first place, and to Professor John Gunn for his support throughout.

#InternationalDayOfCavesAndKarst #IDCK2026 #DudleyCavingClub #Caving #Karst #Speleology