EMERGENCY WINDING ENGINE OPERATOR PERMIT

This is to certify that the bearer :-
W.R.Havill
An employee of the National Coal Board,
who is stationed at Ilkeston Mines Rescue Station, is authorised to:

1. Drive the Scammell Towing Vehicles
2. Operate the emergency Winding Engines,
belonging to the National Coal Board.

F. Heald
District Rescue Stations Manager

Emergency Winder permit, issued by the colliery before work can begin, although often it baegan long before the permit was issued.

The Emergency Winder was a truly awesome vehicle, here 'Shef' or Albert Sheffield is seen standing outside the cab.

In it's day there were no motorways. It had fixed routes to pits, which it had to follow. These routes had no low bridges, telegraph wires or tight corners.

The winder seen here with Shef's grandson Robert.

The winder was eventually given a blue flashing light. Unfortunately one policeman did not agree with this and stopped the winder, on it's way to an emergency! He told the driver, possibly Les Havill, that he had no right to a blue light and even threatened to arrest him if he did not turn it off.

Left Men in the Kibble are being lowered down the Langley Shaft by the emergency winder, which was operated by Philip Healey and John Dixon. It was being used here during the decommissioning of Ripley pit.
Before filling in the shaft the false bottom had to be removed.

Right Taking a well earned rest. They are wearing water proofs and shaft safety harness.