Hello, I am writing to you in the hope that you may be able to help me. Would it be at all possible for you to publish my appeal below in your newsletter/website, perhaps then some of your readers would be kind enough to help me. I was a miner in the Yorkshire Pits for 33 years and have now retired. For the past several years by way of a hobby I have been an avid collector of colliery checks or tallies, local ones at first, then checks from other areas.

Alas I now seem to have come to a standstill.

Are there any fellow ex-miners out there who coud please help me obtain any checks, from any closed pits, from any coalfield.

I would of course refund any postage paid.

Thank you.

W. Bennett (Bill)
5, Edinburgh Ave,
Bolton-On-Dearne,
Rotherham,
South Yorks,
S63 8DS

Hello Fionn,

Do you please have information on John King the inventor of the double hook which secures the winding cable to the pit shaft cage?

I believe the invention is remarkable because of:-

• Its simplicity
• The fact that it has never been bettered
• Because it is used all over the world.

I would appreciate your comments.

A scale model of a Pit Head winding gear, including the John King hook, was located at Pinxton in the early 70's, adjacent to Junction 28 on the M1. Perhaps it's still there.

Ray.

Hello Fionn, I came across you site while looking for pictures of Mine Rescue Vehicles, I wonder if you know of anyone who might be able to help. I worked in Newcastle City Centre in the 60's, and remember seeing large six wheeled mine rescue tenders, cream in colour racing through the city centre with a siren sounding, I would like get a picture of these tenders if possible. Thanks Brian Smith.

From: Brian Smith Sent: 17 February 2007 Hi again Fionn I'm still looking for that rescue vehical, and today I came up with this picture, see attachment, could this have been one of the later Leyland Tenders, it has a local registration number, I cannot make out the writing on the display info, but I will try and chase up the owner. Brian Smith.

Picture from
Sharpo’s World

I was in the mines rescue for about 13 yrs. before my pit closed, and I have a small collection of brass miners. I would be very pleased if you could tell me where I could purchase a figure of a rescue man from. I have been in contact with Robert Olley of South Shields but he told me he only makes them for the Rescue Brigade.

Hi my name is Sheila Francis.

I went into a Poppy charity shop last Saturday and found a tanker celebrating Big K Two Million Tonnes 1981.

Being a Welsh miner’s daughter I could not leave it there. But I am very interested to find out why, when and to whom these were given.

Hope you can help. Sheila It could be Kellingley Colliery. The operation of sinking the shafts was begun 2 km East of Knottingley in 1958. It was/is referred to by miners as "The Big K". If so it is situated in North Yorkshire, near Pontefract, the only deep mine still in existence in Yorkshire, a long way from Wales. In January 2005 UK Coal was expected to shed jobs at the Kellingley Colliery, due to geological problems at one of the coal seams but I think it is still open. More information on Miners Advice

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