Potholing - Where Big Men Get Into Small Holes

The Dudley visit Eldon Hole in Derbyshire. With apologies to the Fast Show circa 1993 from which we stole the script, to the Buttered Badger Potholing Club, and to women cavers who everyone knows are equal to or if not better than their male counterparts.

This is a work of fiction and the Buttered Badgers mentioned bear no relationship to the actual Buttered Badgers. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s fevered imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

The video was taken on 13th November 2016.

Withyhill Cave

On 1st November 2015 Dudley Caving Club members Phil, Ian, Brendan, Mark and myself set off for the Mendips to visit Fairy Quarry to explore Fernhill and Withyhill Caves. We explored Fernhill Cave but never got to see Withyhill. In fact I didn’t get home until 18 days later and didn’t see the inside of a cave for another 6 months. Last year I got to do Withyhill twice (15th May & 27th November) and managed to take some video. It’s a bit rubbish but the cave is fantastically decorated and hopefully the video gives a flavour of its beauty.

Caver Keith Caving Videos 2016

It has been a very successful year (2016) for my caving videos.

• My 1st caving video was of Eldon Hole in 1990. Recorded on VHS.
• My YouTube channel was created on 9th October 2008.
• My 1st YouTube video was of Ogof Pasg and Ogof Foel Fawr using a Hi8 camcorder.
• The channel now has 104 caving videos
• With 3016 likes and 163 dislikes of the caving videos.
• 1548 shares and 563 subscribers
• And an amazing 776, 306 video views with 418,129 of them this year alone.

Channel Growth: Caving Video Views by Year

Top 10 Caving Videos

1. Caving Claustrophobia Kill or Cure
2. Caving in Cwm Dwr - South Wales
3. Peak Cavern (The Devil's Arse) - A Caving Trip
4. So You Want To Go Caving?
5. Tight Cave - Large Caver II
6. Extreme Caving in Burrington Combe
7. Caving Video: Giants Hole Round Trip
8. UK Caving Video Best Bits 2012
9. Caving Video: Return to Daren Cilau
10. The Vice Ogof y Daren Cilau (Warning: Do NOT watch if claustrophobic)

Caver Stuck in the Lobster Pot, Sidcot Swallet

We all have bad days, days where nothing seems to go right, days when things that are usually easy such as a particular obstacle in a cave become next to impossible. These incidents always provide great amusement for the spectators and over the years they have provided superb material for my caving videos. Today I have learned a new word, schadenfreude, and I have to plead guilty to engaging in a lot of schadenfreude during my caving career - great fun, happy memories. However I've rarely been on the receiving end, and never when some joker is pointing a video camera in my face. Please DO NOT share this film as is not up to the usual high standard expected by viewers of Caver Keith videos. It is being published under great duress and at the insistence of my caving chums who feel that fans of my videos would like to see me suffering from extreme embarrassment. I tried telling them that the footage had been lost - they didn't believe me. "Not exactly lost but corrupted when my computer crashed," I replied. They still wouldn't believe me. Neither would they believe that my computer had been hacked and the raw footage stolen. Eventually I had to give in and show them the footage, and now as a penance I've had to make it public.

The Dudley, Caving and Cakes - The Box Set

As the Yuletide offerings on TV are a little disappointing this year I thought I'd treat my fans and upload the full series in one easy to watch package complete with the added bonus of outtakes (or should it be outcakes?). So why not sit back, relax and hit the play button.

Caver Keith Goes In Search of the Real Santa Claus

X Certificate Rating

WARNING: This video contains highly disturbing images and should NOT be watched by children or anyone of a nervous disposition.

Before his big day Santa has to practice coming down chimneys. Recently The Dudley embarked on a highly covert mission with the aim of attempting to capture rare footage of Santa in his lair practicing his chimney climbing skills. The team were successful with their assignment but got a little more than they bargained for! They are all now receiving therapy and may eventually regain their sight.

The Dudley, Caving and Cakes - Episode 5

The 5th and final episode. Watch to find out who never makes it out of the cave and who has eaten all of the cakes.

The Dudley, Caving and Cakes - Episode 4

Here is part 4 of Dudley Caving Club's five-part subterranean serial. Last week we left Kayleigh battered, bruised and broken.
Is there anything cake can't do?

The Dudley, Caving and Cakes - Episode 3

How is Chunky going to get out of last weeks predicament? Who's going to end up in trouble this week? Watch episode 3 to find out.

The Dudley, Caving and Cakes - Episode 2

The next instalment of our caketastic adventures can now be viewed on YouTube.

The Dudley, Caving and Cakes - Episode 1

From the Caver Keith Film Studios comes this heart-warming tale from the underworld of triumph over adversity, where friendships are made and broken, adventures abound and cake rules supreme.

This is part one of a five part mini-series which ends when Mark ...... Sorry, you will have to watch to find out.
Episode two will be uploaded next Thursday - 24th November.

Video Highlights of the Caving Year

Here's the video I cobbled together and showed at the meeting on 18th December.  It's now been uploaded to YouTube so if you missed it or fancy taking another look, here's your chance.

I always enjoy putting these compilations together and looking back over caving the year brings back loads of great memories.

Thanks to all of the people who have assisted in this production. There are 15 of you and some of you are real stars. I must say a special thanks to Brendan, Jess and Mark for their help and encouragement, and an extra special thanks to Loz for risking life and limb to add that special bit of drama to the production.

Hidden Earth Video Competition

Here is what was my entry for the Hidden Earth 2012 video competition.

There were 4 entries on the competition. I didn't win and I didn't get a distinction or a merit, but I did enjoy making it.
I must say a big thank-you to Mark, Steve and Brendan for their encouragement, support and acting ability.