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He recalled another boy who also liked to explore the old mines, but who was prepared to go "quite a long way" inside. That sort of stopped any kids from going down mines. He could not recall the name of the boy who died, but said his mother "drifted away from Fairfield" after losing her son. Mr Macdougall said he also still recalled the "sump holes" near Old Brighton Rd, formed from coal mines collapsing deeper underground.


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The holes formed small lakes on the surface as they filled with water, and provided a useful place to deploy decoys when it came to duck-shooting season, he said. Mr Macdougall moved away from the area later, but said he often thought about the houses in parts of Fairfield with mines still underneath them. Another family connection to disaster in the old coal mines was also detailed by Dunedin deputy mayor Christine Garey yesterday. Instead of a deterrent, this only encouraged us to explore further, and there were indeed little areas where sulphurous gasses and smoke broke through the surface.

Looking back, it was probably a dangerous place, but to us it was fun. A pond, surrounded by reeds.

List of books about coal mining

I can remember the whirring calls of reed buntings and warblers. Hot, really humid and sweaty, and the coal seams were really low at the pit face, so lots of back-ache from stooping! Of course by then machinery did a lot of the rough work but I can remember Grandad telling me about wooden pit props and pit ponies in mines he had worked in, and not for the first time my admiration for the hard, dangerous work that miners did soared.

I supported the miners and when they were forced back to work marching behind their banners I cried, as I knew it was the beginning of the end for all those tight-knit communities and for a whole way of life. My husband spoke up. My wife is a soft southerner, born in Deal and she has been down Betteshanger Colliery. Working on the switchboard in the early s I asked to go down on a visit. Can you imagine Health and Safety allowing that now!

The miner's wife

I was supplied with white overalls. The helmet I was given I lost overboard when my head went back as we travelled down in the Cage.

Working Man (The Miners Song)

I greeted the man at Pit Bottom who I had only spoken to on the phone. On a truckon railway lines we travelled deeper into the mine to where men were working. I was shown what rippers and hauliers did and also shown a seam that was only 18 inches high where other men were working. I was taught to listen to the pit props — the sounds they made were important. Shown how Snap was hung where it could not be reached by rats. I came away from that visit with a clear idea how Black Diamonds were obtained and with respect for those who obtained them and with relief to be in air and light again. Had some great work mates who supported me in my early management years, still friends today I am pleased to say.

I had served my time as labourer, mechanical apprentice, coal face fitter at Tilmanstone colliery.


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    6. Later I went to the midlands, Cadley Hill and Asfordby new mine that Ii worked on from grass land to production. Followed by working for RJB mining with responsibility for all equipment, reliability and maintenance. I was used to walking down to the Colliery, a 10 minute walk, but now with Chislet Colliery closing I had to travel 20 miles in a ramshackle bus with water pipes running around the bus for heating. After picking us up we called around the estates in Canterbury. Most men were asleep by the time we got out onto the Dover road. Arriving at Tilmanstone, a rush to the canteen to grab a cup of tea or a shilling screw of tobacco for the shift.

    Coal miners' memorial unveiled amid tears, memories and tributes

    By this time most of the men would be asleep and have to be shaken awake at their destination. Waiting at Shepherdswell level crossing for the coal trains to pass. Working at Eythorne Court Farm when the deep note of a passing diesel locomotive caused a visiting tractor salesman to do a double take!

    Do you have memories of miners in the local community? Are you from a mining family? Or perhaps you worked in the coal mining industry? There were so few of us left at the end. The men found it really difficult when they went back to work. They had to face the wrath of the coal board. My husband was an electrician but he was given menial jobs like sweeping the path. Miners used to look after each other underground but then they had to go back to work with people they had been shouting at on the picket line.

    We always said as women we lost nothing in the strike because we gained such a lot. We learned so much from it in terms of confidence and inspiration. Lots of women thought, "if I can get up and talk to thousands of people at public meetings I can go on to other things", and went on to join councils or political groups. We learned politically from the disputes and went on to other strikes, like Wapping. We are still active and campaigning.

    It gave me confidence to go to college and then to university, where I took a degree in industrial relations, which wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been for the strike. I look back on it as the time of my life. I am proud to have been involved. It wasn't about money or hours or pay, it was about communities and jobs and the future of our children for generations to come. All the pits in Staffordshire are closed now. It was never about economics; it was political. I truly believe one day the pits will reopen. They'll have to. I liked most union leaders but I couldn't stand Scargill.

    I didn't think he looked after his members' interests. Once we were negotiating for mining canteen workers, the lowest paid of all. I said, "No, we've got a good offer for you," and he said, "Next business. That was how he was a lot of the time. Then, on the prime minister's side, there was the appointment of MacGregor, who was quite a brilliant bloke — a global businessman of the highest calibre — but useless with people.

    I didn't like him. My negotiating was with the officials' union, Nacods, and weekly paid mining staff. During the strike, there was an item in Coal News, the coal board's internal newspaper, in which MacGregor said if the NUM accepted the same terms as Nacods, there would be a settlement.

    My boss, Kevan Hunt, had a phone call from the senior staff at the NUM saying they would go along with that. Today's another day. Industrial relations weren't bad at all. The relationship between the coal board and the miners' union, in general, was very good indeed.

    List of books about coal mining - Wikipedia

    There were people you could really deal with. Industrial relations is about achieving a win-win situation, it's not about putting the knife in. MacGregor was quite clearly brought in to put the knife in. My reckoning is that Thatcher wanted to destroy the unions.

    The strike in was a great win against Heath. That rankled with Thatcher despite the fact that the industry was improving its productivity. There were too many pits but they needed to be closed in an orderly way. The strike was pretty grim. There were big meetings with the NUM executive at the coal board's headquarters in London.

    Traditionally we'd share lunch but during the strike we all ate separately.