A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

North Nottinghamshire Area from April 1967

Page - 37 -

Jan 1970 - Teversal

Thurs 1 and Fri 2 … Colliery Rest Days

Asian flu … quite poorly in bed, Doctor visited several times.
Sat 3 … 5936 tons
Sat 10 … 12003 tons
Sat 17 … 12180 tons

Mon 19 … Office … Month end figures. Section sheets to Area HQ. Progress plans. Tonnage sheets to date.      
First Eyesight test at Wildens

Tues 20 … Updating 1/5000 Composite plans. Information to Colin Clarke, Cost Clerk re-Dirt tips.

Wed 21 … 21s inrush of water … from Top Hard 40 yards above … Office … Sorting through old roll plan etc. for position of workings above and any evidence of water. Making a Composite plan and section for HMI H Jones … Gordon Darrington, Group Planner assisting me.

Thurs 22 … Office … Continued with plan. Information from Maurice Lamb Boremaster re borehole drilled from 21s to Top Hard goaf and plotted same. Meeting … HMI FW Gill, H Jones and R Gregory, Group Manager, George Noble, Manager, Ches Stasiewicz and self … Investigation and discussion into incident and we came to the conclusion it was from a swilley in Top Hard 40 yards above (RB*) … just on the maximum limit of notification of distance above and below the seam being worked … all the area of Waterloo is underworking old Top Hard workings 40 yards above.

Fri 23 … Office … Finished plan for incident, colouring prints of same. Borehole records. Discuss … Water problems etc. with Mr G Noble, Manager and R Wood U/m.        

Sat 24 … 12510 tons

Mon 26 … Office … Manager’s and Area HQ progress plans. Plotted swilley across 17s and 21s. Coloured prints etc. and drew route on plan for Mr G Noble, HMI H Jones and George Stain, Deputy / Pump man to examination below old pump on old North Dips Top Hard. Calculated and plotted 21s survey.

Tues 27 … Office … Colouring plans of 21s. Information to Bob Dale, NUM Agent (ex-Manager Harworth) re incident. Information over phone to HMI H Jones. Information to Ray ?, Strata Control. Plan for Frank H Lee, Area Planning Engineer delivered by C Skeavington. Additions to Accident plan.

Wed 28 … Office … Copied 21s survey. 1/5000 General Purpose negatives to date. Calculated 17s DG theodolite survey. Plotted 17s face line survey and prints. Qualified 10 years.

Thurs 29 … Office … Completed plan showing 2 fans in one air stream … 10s DG for 12s. Completed Accident plan negative and prints and coloured. Notice for H Henshaw.

Fri 30 … Office … Coloured 3 Dunsil R & FF plans. Print off Composite plan and coloured for Horace Henshaw, Deputy Manager.                                                     

Sat 31 … 13253 tons

Feb 1970

Mon 2 … Office … Calculated and plotted 17s and 12s development. Plotted17s, 21s and 12s on 1/5000 and 6 inch also. Inked in workings and faults etc.

Tues 3 … Office. Weekly Newsletter. Prints off 6 inch Top Hard plan for G Darrington. 6 inch plans to date. Calculated 12s thirling survey and plotted on 1/500 … Shelving in safe with Dexiron assisted by Alan Hill (AH), Linesman.

Wed 4 … Office … Updating photo Overlays of Waterloo.

Thurs 5 … Office … Calculated and plotted 9s survey on 1/2500, 1/5000 and 6 inch and inked in plus levels etc. Erecting shelves etc. and moving tackle etc. with AH. Before he transferred from A Winning in 1969 he had had an accident that broke his back but he recovered. Allowed him to stay on surface for the week doing other odd jobs as well such as tackle maintenance, printing, checking plans and filing in drawers etc. due to his back hurting, sooner than him dropping off work. He was o.k. after the rest and grateful for it. Amended Installation of Electricity plan for 12s.

Fri 6 … Office … Coloured Overlay tracings for Waterloo. Coloured 4 prints for Installation of Electricity to 12s. Making red reflective strips for use in gate lines. 

Sat 7 … Record 13944 tons

Mon 9 … Office … Manager’s progress plans. Monthly section sheets for Area HQ. Drawing of Electrical circuit for Alan McDiarmid. Checking Tony Maddock’s monthly figures.

Tues 10 … Office … Making 6 inch Composite plan of Top Hard and 1st Waterloo showing boreholes completed and proposed boreholes.

Wed 11 … Office … Continued with 6 inch plan. C Skeavington discuss. 21s face line plan (kitted up with red reflector sighting strips).

Thurs 12 … Office … List of plans and locations for C Skeavington. Continued with 6 inch boreholes plan. Colouring prints.

Fri 13 … Office … Completed colouring prints. Reflective strips for lining out of belting. H Henshaw re-Shaft bottom and pumping arrangements etc.                            

Sat 14 … 12067 tons
Tom Wright Assistant Cost Clerk started

Mon 16 … U/g … Dial survey and measurements of 12s development and lines re-established … 4 men (RB*, CHS, AF, HH) … Office … Calculated and plotted on 1/500

Tues 17 … Office … Calculating closing line for 12s face. Plotted 5s Siding End Snicket. Sorting plans. Mark for 21s pans plan.

Wed 18 … Office … Notice for Pithead Baths, Superintendent Wilf Eley. HMI Harry Jones came for plan relevant to boring programme for Top Hard water. I had arranged for a bag of sticks for him from the Saw Mill and as I put the bag in his car boot … he remarked … ‘I only come to this pit for a rest’.

Thurs 19 … Office … Checked over Computer programs for 9s, 17s and 21s theodolite surveys. Calculated 9s levels and plotted same.

Fri 20 … Office … Updated 1/5000 negatives – Haulages, Conveyors etc. Information for Joe Manion, Silverhill re faults in LM 23s area. Calculated and plotted 17s DG levels and contour. Discuss sighting strips on face signal latch boxes.                                 

Sat 21 … 12679 tons

Mon 23 … Office … Pan and chock plan for 21s face and prints.

Tues 24 … U/g … Re-survey into 12s development, established LH face head … 4 men (RB*, CHS, AF, AH) … Office … Calculated closing bearing.

Wed 25 … Office … Plotted theodolite stations on plans from Cannock Computer results. Calculated levels for 1s and 21s and plotted same. Monthly information and section sheets, face lengths etc. Contouring, also checked with Geophysical method.

Thurs 26 … Office … Copying 12s survey in to book. Computer sheets to AE Betts, Assistant Area Surveyor. CzS 2116 to 2316, RB 1560 to 1730.

Fri 27 … Office … Priority Repair Work Sheet for Ron Wood U/m. Prints and Weekend Work Sheets.                                                                                     

Sat 28 … 13417 tons

Mar 1970
Paul Thompson (PT) Mining Trainee as linesman

Mon 2 … Office … Updated Isopachyte plans. Borehole at Scour. Progress plotted on plans. Inked in levels and contours. Plotted 21s levels etc. Weekly Newsletter info.

Tues 3 … U/g … Theodolite survey 21s DG angling and catenary measuring, adjusted line … 4 men (RB*, CHS, AH, HH) … Office … Calculations. Made out Computer sheets and copied up.

Wed 4 … Office … Calculated 10s levels. Computer results. New Rules for Dirt tips.

Thurs 5 … Office … RB*, Ron Wood U/m, Composite plan to date also Operational Manpower plan … Surface … Adjusting and repairing CTS dials.
Evening … Safety Quiz at Ollerton & Bevercotes Welfare

Fri 6 … Office … Colouring prints of Manpower Deployment.                       

Sat 7 … 13800 tons

Mon 9 … U/g … Dial survey and measurements 17s DG and line check on 12s SG face head … 4 men (RB*, TM., AF, HH) … Office … Calculating closing line. Calculated 17s TG lines – 1 degree different !

Tues 10 … Office … Notices. Calculated 21s survey and plotted. Getting out information re-surveying for Safety Quiz.

Wed 11 … Office … Made up questions for Safety Quiz Team in Conference Room. Copying surveys.
Consultative Meeting told 3 years life for Colliery !!!

Thurs 12 … Office … Calculated 12s and 17s surveys and plotted. Re-checking same.

Fri 13 … Put boreholes on plan and coloured. No water found. Plotted 17s and 21s on 1/5000 and 6 inch. Calculated 9s survey etc. Checking 10s survey.                            

Sat 14 … 13614 tons

Mon 16 … U/g … Visit to Rufford Colliery with Quiz team … 33s panel in Low Main, ‘Khyber Pass’, Top Hard locos, Methane drainage, Self-rescuers, Tower Winding house and Skip winding … (RB*) … escorted by Bill Pitchford and Fred (Ventilation Officer), Ted Jones, Safety Engineer (Team … Barry Forman, Ralph Bradshaw, Jack Truswell, C Bacon, A Kemp and D Lyons) RB*.

Tues 17 … Office … Newsletter. Sorting out 21s survey re-calculating and plotting. Information re-Clowne seam and isopachytes of coal thickness on plan for R Gregory.

Wed 18 … Office … Calculated 9s survey and sorting out. Amount of water pumped … records lost!

Thurs 19 … Office … Plotted 9s, 12s, 17s, 21s on 1/2500, 1/5000 and 6 inch scales and inked in. Discussion C Skeavington, RW, RS, D Green, A McDiarmid re-Clowne seam scheme. Calculated 10s survey and plotted.

Fri 20 … Office … Re-calculated 10s survey and plotted same. Copying survey. Amendments to Conveyor Line Diagram RB* with R Wood, U/m and Tom Brown, PPM. Conveyor belt figures to March end for Jack Limmer, Manager’s Clerk.                       

Sat 21 … Record 14037 tons

Mon 23 … Office … Plans to date for March. Newsletter. Deputy’s Districts and new reference. Pithead Sketch

Tues 24 … U/g … Theodolite survey and catenary measuring 9s LH … 4 men (RB*, TM, AF, AH) … Office … Computer sheets for same. Calculations (910 + 31 u/g)

Wed 25 … Office … Updated negatives for Manriders, Haulages, General Purpose, Electrical. Information from Pleasley re-stopping their Waterloo, for Gordon Darrington, Planner.

Thurs 26 … Office … Electrical information with A McDiarmid Electrical Engineer. Plant numbers with Tom Brown PPM and plans to date. Mechanical drawing for D Green, Mechanical Engineer.

Fri 27 … Office … 1/5000 R & FF negative to date except for check on hydrants and valves.

Sat 28 … Record 14651 tons

Mon 30 … Easter Monday Holiday
Tues 31 … Pit Holiday

Apr 1970
Colin Clarke transferred to Bilsthorpe and Brian Watson new Cost Clerk from Rufford

Annual Leave Wed 1 – Sat 4

Sat 4 … 7061 tons

Mon 6 … Office … Manager’s progress plans and book. New style progress negatives in folder for Area HQ. Notice for Teversal Church. Coloured Deputy’s Districts plans for R Wood U/m. Borehole records to date. Assisting Brian Watson, new Cost Clerk with familiarisation of plans and pit etc., etc.

Information to H Henshaw in Charge, G Noble on Holiday.

Tues 7 … Office … Rating assessments – Scaling’s. Coloured a copy of Deputy’s Districts. Monthly section sheet for Area HQ.

Wed 8 … Office … Information for Cost Clerk. Made scale drawing of AB CMDE Trepanner for accident. Plotted 9s levels and contours (graphical method) Face lengths etc.

Thurs 9 … Office … Calculated trigonometrical levelling and ordinary levelling from old North Dunsil to 8s Waterloo.

Fri 10 … Office … Notice for Canteen. Mean sections etc. and foot acres etc. for Rating with C Skeavington. Information and plans to Civil Engineer David Cottingham. Information to Tim Bramley, Mechanisation.
Fri 10 … Evening … Safety Quiz Regional Final at Edwinstowe (RB*)

Sat 11 … 13912 tons

Mon 13 … Office … Area HQ and Manager’s progress plans and advances. Plotted 12s on 1/500. Poster for Coal Queen Dance. Information re periphery of arches for G Noble, Manager.

Tues 14 … Office … Prints. Newsletter info. Notice re Sabotage to 5s Conveyor belt. Updating Quarterly tracings.

Wed 15 … Office … Continued with Overlay tracings. Coloured Dunsil 6 inch (1/10560) negatives.

Thurs 16 … Office … Continued colouring. Made out survey book etc. Sorting out all Overlays.

Fri 17 … Office … Sorting out filing boxes and stencilling. Information to date on 1/5000 Conveyor negative.

Sat 18 … 13031 tons

Mon 20 … U/g … Theodolite angling and catenary measuring 21s LH … 5 men (CzS, RB*, CHS, AH, HH) … Office … Area HQ progress. Newsletter. Information to G Noble re distances from Pit top to Lamproom. Calculated and plotted 21s and 9s.

Tues 21 … U/g … Theodolite angling and catenary measuring 17s DG … 4 men (CzS, RB*, CHS, PT) … Office … Calculated and plotted same.

Wed 22 … Office … Calculated and plotted 9s, 21s and 17s surveys. Isopachytes to date.

In Charge … Czs on Holiday Fri 24 – Fri May 1

Thurs 23 … Office … Check calculated surveys. Measured up Accident … Collision with Oil tanker in Car park. Made plan.

Fri 24 … Office … Made up 9s, 17s, 21s on 1/5000 and 6 inch and inked in. 

Sat 25 … 13492 tons

Mon 27 … Office … Manager’s and Area HQ progress plans. Monthly returns. Newsletter

Tues 28 …Office … Plotted theodolite calculations from Computer sheets for 17s and 21s. With Dougie Green and Don Hollingsworth Mechanic re Motty Compressed air chute and tube. Plan of same from Pit top to Lamp room.  
Conference Room … Meeting re future of the pit

Wed 29 … Office … Routine. Checking 9s SG.

Thurs 30 … Office … Information to Bob Dale, NUM Agent and G West, Insurance Claims re Accident to B Radford on 10s Waterloo in 1968. Notice for Manager then another notice for Manager.

May 1970
Fri 1 … Office … Made a new Pumping plan negative. Sorting through pumping records in Deployment Centre.

Sat 2 … Surface … Meeting at Teversal Welfare (RB*) re-pit 13580 tons

Mon 4 … Surface … Survey of old Dirt tip (RB*, TM, AH, PT) … Office … Plotted same and other side. Information re 12s to R Wood, U/m.

Tues 5 … Office … Plotted Dirt tip survey. Discuss C Skeavington. Dirt tip plan in folder to Apri. Newsletter … Surface … in afternoon … Set out and painted line for Motty blow back system from No2 Pit bank to Time Office.

Wed 6 … Surface … Completed survey of Dirt tip … 4 men (CzS, RB*, CHS, PT) and tacheo survey of No 16 Slurry pond and Dirt tip … A man called Charlie used to take the motties from the pit bank to the Time office in a carry box periodically after several draws of men ...Office … Notice re-Competition at Welfare.

Thurs 7 … Office … Levels and contours to date on plans with 17s and 21s. Stippling plans.

Fri 8 … Office … Calculated and plotted levels and contours on Old Dirt tip. Sketches in Ventilation book.

Sat 9 … 13604 tons

Sun 10 … U/g … Closed dial survey through 9s face … 5 men (RB*, AH, HH, TM, AF)

Mon 11 … Office … Calculated 9s survey and checking through others.

Tues 12 … Office … Plotted 17s levels and contours on all scales. Isopachytes to date. Information for G Noble, Manager and Len Wright, NUM President re sections … Surface … Tuition on instruments to (RB*, AF, TM, CHS) and slurry ponds and Computer sheets.

Wed 13 … Office … Dirt tip negative amendments. Checking theodolite survey distances etc. … Surface … to Sutton for workings … (RB*)

Thurs 14 … Office … Check calculating 9s theodolite survey from new measurements and closing line. Sorting out 12s thirling line, 11 inches off. Undermanager’s Composite plan.

Fri 15 … Office … 1/500 plan of 12s district, face and back rips for Ron Wood U/m. Print of manpower Deployment. Plotted far end Dirt tip and pond.                              

Sat 16 … 13505 tons

Mon 18 … U/g … Checked to thirling point on 12s face … 2 men (RB*, CHS) … Office … Discuss C Skeavington Emergency Boring stations layout.

Tues 19 … Office … Calculation of face lengths etc. for 9s. Amendments to R Wood’s Back Ripping Chart.    

Wed 20 … Office … Amended Operational Manpower plan and prints.  

Thurs 21 … Office … Updated 12s, 9s, 21s on 1/2500, 1/5000 and 6 inch scales. Gordon Darrington information re Dunsil and Waterloo. 12s development Bar chart and 4 copies coloured.

Fri 22 … Office … Plans to date, coloured, dated and stippled etc. 2 large notices for G Noble re-Conference.

Sat 23 … 14422 tons

Mon 25 … Spring Holiday, Tues 26 and Wed 27 Colliery Rest Days
5384 tons
Annual Leave … Thurs 28 - Sat 30 Norfolk Broads

June 1970

Mon 1 … Office … General update

Tues 2 … Office … Overlay tracings for Waterloo to date. Master 1/5000 Waterloo negative to date and to HQ for ozaloft copies. Notice re Trepanner for 17s for G Noble, Manager. Amended chart for Conference. Levels for 21s TG plotted and surface levels above.

Wed 3 … Office … Amended chart and print and coloured. Progress on plans. Levels on Surface plan for siding to WH. Notice for Stores re keys etc.

Thurs 4 … Office … Plans to date for British Rail Surveyor Earnshaw. 2 notices for Welfare

Fri 5 … Office … Checking pumping records and amended plan. Tuition with Tony Maddock with calculations. 21s levels and contours.                                                 

Sat 6 … 12185 tons

Mon 8 … Office … Newsletter. Plotted numbers 7 and 8 slurry ponds on 1/1250 and inked in on plan.

Tues 9 … Surface … Levelled to Slurry ponds numbers 5 and 6 … 3 men (RB*, AH, HH). To Silverhill for 1/2500 reduction print (RB*) ... Office … Amending 1/2500 negative etc.

Wed 10 … U/g … Theodolite survey and catenary measuring 21s DG … 7 men (RB*, TM, CHS, AF, AH, HH and TP) … Office … Plan of old 10s DG showing rings and back rips etc. for Ron Wood U/m … Surface … Counting cars in Car park 4pm … 78 … (RB*) (915 + 31 u/g)

Thurs 11 … Office … Computer sheets for 21s DG … Surface … Reconnaissance to Norwood Lane and Hardwick Park Farm to surface theodolite stations. Counting cars in Car park … 87 … (RB*)

Fri 12 … Office … Pumping record sheet and plan. Made copy of plan for O & M … Surface … Height of No1 headgear by tacheometry. Set out line for Emergency Winder pad … (RB*) … Office … Printing. Plan for G Reynolds.                                            

Sat 13 … 12510 tons

Mon 15 … Surface … Tacheometric survey of Dirt tips and No5 and No6 slurry ponds … 5 men (RB*, TM, CHS, AF, AH, PT)

Tues 16 … Office … Computer sheets for Dirt tip survey … Surface … to Hardwick Hall and Farm … Reconnaissance for survey stations in the event of Emergency Boring … 3 men (C Skeavington, CzS, RB)

Wed 17 … Office … Computer sheets for Dirt tip survey … Surface … To Hardwick Hall and Farm, reconnaissance for surface stations for Emergency boring … 3 men (CS, CzS, RB)
Technical College … Geography exam … Grade 1.

Thurs 18 … U/g … 9s SG Engine house details measured … (RB*, Alan Vincent, Assistant Undermanager, Dougie Green Mechanic Engineer, Bill Payne, Rope man) … Surface … same day … Took survey programme sheets to Computer Centre at Berry Hill … (RB*)

Fri 19 … Office … Calculated 17s LH survey and plotted same. 9s Engine house plan.

Sat 20 … 12730 tons

Mon 22 … U/g … Line for rope and levelling for 9s SG engine … 3 men (RB*, HH, PT) and Billy Payne Ropeman … Office … Plotting same.

Tues 23 … U/g … Theodolite survey 9s LH and 9s DG and catenary measuring in DG … 4 men (RB*, TM, AF, HH) then with Bill Payne re excavation etc. at 9s Engine house (RB*) … Office … Calculated bearings … Surface … to Sutton to take small tripod … (RB*)

Wed 24 … Office … Books made out. Calculated 21s theodolite survey and dial survey and plotted. 2 prints of Conveyor Transfer points re-Airborne dust and coloured. Checking distances against previous. Plan for Barry Flint, Ollerton.

Thurs 25 … Office … 21s plans updated. George Dwelly re-12s props plan. Calculated 17s LH turning point position.

Fri 26 … Office … 2 x 6 inch plans for Cost Clerk and Training Officer and coloured. Plan of 9s Engine house and prints. Computer sheets sent back for Surface. Tony Maddocks tuition re-calculations. 

Sat 27 … Applied for Planner, Computer liaison, and Surveyor’s post for Thoresby, Blidworth and Mansfield. 13724 tons

Mon 29 … Office … Calculated 9s theodolite survey and Statutory survey. Plotted same. Area HQ section sheet. Monthly information to Undermanager, Cost Clerk, Time Office. Notice re Statutory Certificates. Checking 9s Engine house plan with Jack Woodland.

Tues 30 … Office … Negatives to date for Electricity, Deputy’s Districts etc. Pithead Sketch coloured.