A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

North Nottinghamshire Area from April 1967

Page - 42 -

Jul 1971 - Page 4

David Oliver, Deputy Manager demoted by Jim Stone, Deputy Director for 58s and 57s stable holes conditions and performance of panels and transferred to Rufford as Assistant Manager. John A Daniels promoted to Deputy Manager from Undermanager at Clipstone and Vic Brown transferred from Sherwood as Undermanager. Jack Taylor, Undermanager had handed his resignation in before being sacked and left for Australia middle of July. I had been asked by J Stone to flap lines on 58s stable hole roof so that the props could be put into line. He said he was coming back the following Friday to check. The panel was ‘smartened up’ ready for his visit, however once down the pit on the Friday he decided that he would go to 57s instead and of course found that stable hole and gates equally as bad as 58s before. It was a deliberate act of course. I was called into the office to be told to put lines on 57s but whilst I was there J Stone ranted and raved at David Oliver blaming him for all the failings at the colliery and the untidiness etc, etc, etc and with that he sacked him in front of me. Not the thing to do but that’s what happened. He always looked scruffy and wore clogs, a battered black helmet, striped T shirt. Whether that was planned to create an image I don’t know, but it could have been so there was a witness.

Thurs 1 …Office … Plotting plans to Quarter end date … Surface … Measured up transformer compound … 2 men (WKH, RB) … Office … Plan of same for Alan Sinclair, Electrical Engineer.

Fri 2 … Office … Tuition to KB, ANM and DS various … Surface … Spot levels at all building corners on pit top (RB*, HAR, ANM) … Office … Eddie Betts and Albert E Robinson discuss re Computer calculations and Gyro results.

Sat 3 … 24850 tons

Mon 5 … Office … Electrical negatives, information for North side and Pit bottom finished … Surface … Transformer Park measures and levels etc … 2 men (WKH, RB*) … Office … Plotted surface levels on plan … To Medical Centre, checked Ambulance tubes and Morphia safes in the pit with John Leivers, Attendant.

Tues 6 … Office … Inking in Working plans … Surface … Observations to Edwinstowe Church and Pit chimney … Office … Calculated Surface base line co-ordinates.

Wed 7 ... Office … Calculated 100s LH theodolite survey … Surface … Check levelling in Pit yard … 2 men (KWH, RB*) … Office … Calculated and plotted same ... Surface … Machine shop measurements … Office … Inking in Working plans.

Thurs 8 … Office … Drew out 116s Airway turns. Checked the calculations. Calculated 58s theodolite survey. Had Support Rules sent from Teversal.

I was not introduced properly to John Daniels the new Deputy Manager and on the first encounter there had been an accident in the pit and 2 men had been sent to measure it up. The office door was flung open and he bellowed out to get somebody to the accident. He was wearing a blue pit helmet. I knew who he was of course and ignored his request. About half an hour later he flung open the door again to tell me to send somebody to the accident, but this time iI was ready for him and as he was partly into the office I trapped him in the door jaume and asked who he was and why didn’t he ask properly. I think he realised that I was different to the ones at Clipstone that he had dealt with so he then introduced himself and I told him there and then I didn’t need any telling to get someone or even myself to go to a reportable accident. I was always informed by the Safety department or from Control Centre to make arrangements. After that I had no more doors being flung open.

On the other hand Vic Brown the new Undermanager and genial personality came into the office to introduce himself and shake hands and give me a short run down on his career. We would get on wonderfully. (Even after retiring being in BACM union and by then I was a Pensioner Carer I rang him yearly round about Christmas and we would often have a chat usually about mining and reminiscences and he phoned me in 2012? about 3 months before he died to tell me of his prognosis of lung cancer)

Fri 9 … Surface … Tacheo survey of old Dirt tip … 4 men (RB*, HAR, ANM, KB) … Office … Computer sheets. Sections and progress advances etc. Bunker section. 

Sat 10 … 22450 tons

Mon 12 … U/g … (4T) Theodolite survey in 25s heading and catenary measuring … 4 men (RB*, ANM, KB, DE) … Office … Calculated closing bearing. (35 u/g)

Tues 13 … U/g … (5T) Theodolite survey in 42s heading and catenary measuring … 4 men (RB*, HAR, ANM, KB) Calculated closing bearing.

Wed 14 … Office … Calculations for 42s / 25s thirling … Ted Hinde, Deputy Area Surveyor and Albert E Robinson, Group Surveyor.

Thurs 15 … Office … Discuss Eric Spencer, Admin Officer the Emergency Organisation. 58s Gate end Supports amendments. Discuss Ron Hays, Group Surveyor and Albert Robinson 25s / 42s connection confirmed my calculations o.k.
W Keith Houghton was called to Area HQ for Interview… then went off sick same day 15 July

Acting Surveyor from Thurs 15 July

Fri 16 … Surface … Ken Mirfin (Bevercotes) and RB re O.S. (Ordnance Survey) … Office … New weekly information sheet with JA Daniels and V Brown. Ron Hays re plan. D Rodden re Bunker.

Sat 17 … 25033 tons
Party in the Green hut with Jack Taylor U/m who was leaving to Australia. Crates of beer reached the ceiling in his office and anyone calling in was offered a drink.

Mon 19 … U/g … Problems with Pit bottom Sutcliffe Bunker, catching side of roadway, edge offsets and line (RB*, DS) … with Mr D Rodden, General Manager, JA Daniels, Deputy Manager, Derek Stephenson, Assistant Undermanager, Frank Clarke Overman.

Tues 20 … Office … Plotting the Bunker on ¼ inch to 1 foot. Discuss D Rodden and JA Daniels.

Wed 21 … U/g … Setting out holes for tub stops near No2 shaft … and line for Bunker at 3’ 10” … 3 men (RB*, DS, ANM) plus (D Rodden, D Stephenson, Wilf Pearson Mech Engineer and Jim Hooley Deputy Engineer) … Office … Plotting same. Plan of No2 shaft for Foreman Joiner, Jack Weeds.

Thurs 22 … Office … Invited by Mr D Rodden to attend the Daily Morning Meeting in the Deputy Manager’s Office (later Manager’s bathroom) … to Stores re Matt Marshall for info re conveyor belting. 57s AW machine sketches showing shunting. Peter Hallam Area Safety Eng’r re Powder store.

Fri 23 … U/g … Lines etc for No2 Pit bottom holes on empties side … 2 men (RB*, DS) plus D Stephenson … Office … Plotted stations on North side plans. Conveyor figures. 

Sat 24 … 22201 tons

Pit Holidays Mon 26 July - Sat 7 Aug …

Only self and A Neil Mason, Apprentice at work. Everyone else on holiday.

Arthur Morley, Area Surveyor did not send any temporary help such as a qualified Assistant, knowing the pressure I was under, nor I might add did I ask for help. I just got stuck in and guided Neil through jobs he had never done before, such as using a Level for example..

Mon 26 … Office … Plotting co-ordinates on plans. Sorting through files. Checked R & FF prints … Surface … to Teversal for Pagra sheets (RB*).

Tues 27 … U/g … No2 Pit bottom creeper holes, Sutcliffe Bunker line and a line on 24s C conveyor and offset survey … 2 men (RB*, ANM) … Office … info to Peter Hallam Area Safety Engineer and Weights and Measures Inspector. Discuss V Brown, A Littler re 57s Stable hole machine.  (40 u/g)

Wed 28 … Surface … Measurements from Powder magazine to Squatter’s cabin … 2 men (RB*, ANM) … Office … Info to P Hallam. Support Rules with Bill Prothero and Jimmy Pickering. Emergency winder details at No1 shaft. Gridded a 6 inch scale Pagra sheet.

Holiday period … Sat 24 to Sun 8 Aug … Work completed underground … Installed No2 pit bottom creeper, changed winding wheels at No1 shaft, Sutcliffe Bunker re-levelled and aligned and on grade, 24s C conveyor installed.

Thurs 29 …U/g … (1L) Levelling from No2 pit bottom to 622s Engine house and up Tebbetts to 600s … 2 men (RB*, ANM). Rode No 1 shaft on skip deck, because of limited number of men in the pit. … Office … 6 inch Pagra sheet gridded. Stationery. Tuition to ANM re Kern Tachymeter. Folders for JAD titled.

Fri 30 … Office … Continued plotting on new 6 inch (1/10560) flat sheets. Computer results put in folder and labelled. 4 book covers stencilled for JA Daniels. Ron Hays, Group Surveyor discuss. Support Rules plan check.  
Nil tons.
(I had attended the Daily Morning Meeting for 2 or 3 weeks earlier when D Oliver was Deputy Manager but then asked to be excused because of pressure of underground work that needed to be done … see … never started back … I was picking up extra work on occasions from others round the table because I was there, and I could ill afford to. I was doing jobs down the pit 3 days a week for 7 weeks, 2 days a week for 4 weeks and averaging about once a fortnight after that.)

Aug 1971

Mon 2 … U/g … (2L) Levelling around Pit bottom area and Bunker road. Heights and offsets to Sutcliffe bunker … 2 men (RB*, ANM) … Office … Plotted same.

Tues 3 … U/g … (3L) Levelling from No2 Pit bottom along 600s, 650s, Drapers and Loco Road to No1 Pit bottom … 2 men (RB*, ANM) … Office … Calculated same.

Wed 4 … Office … Sorting out Bench mark values. Ron Hays Group Surveyor re sections and plan alteration. Info re Support of Roadways.

Thurs 5 … U/g … (4L) Levelling 650s Main from bunker to A2 gearhead and 100 feet marks. Bunker levelling again … 2 men (RB*, ANM) … Office … Calculations. Info for D Rodden Manager.

Fri 6 … Office … Sorting out books and filing system. Nil tons

Mon 9 … Office … Plotted Main Bright seam on a new gridded plan. Calculating Dunnose grid co-ordinates to NMG.

Tues 10 … U/g … (24) Theodolite angling from 600s down Tebbetts and East paddy 622s to 1s AW … 4 men (RB*, HAR, ANM, KB).  (45 u/g)

Wed 11 … Office … Plan for 2 fans in one airstream 20s Main / 44s. Discuss staff with Brian Wormald Training Officer. Letter files. Method of cutting 57s AW machine. Discuss Vic Brown U/m. Discuss Joe Callinan, Planner.

Thurs 12 … U/g … (6T) Adjusting bearing of 25s heading with theodolite. Measure marks in 25s AW and 26s Main … 3 men (RB*, DS, DE).

Fri 13 … Office … Plotted 2s swilley. Info re 57s for JA Daniels. Electrical plans re Offices. Permission granted to order 2 Joiner made tables plus pale green / beige Rembroplast covering. Distance of hole to be bored from 622s Paddy Road down to Drapers Paddy Road for cable to Ray Flint … 3 ft 6 in … he was sceptical ….

Sat 14 … U/g … Air crossing 622s paddy over Drapers paddy at right angles ... drilled hole for cable, 3’ 6” floor to roof, checked exactly with levels, spot on. Ray Flint, Colliery Overman had been told to order 20 feet of connecting rods by the previous surveyors !!!! 20002 tons

Mon 16 … Office … Sorting out levels. Calculated 25s / 42s connection bearing. Ray Flint C/O came in to say that I was spot on with the borehole length. Calculated 109s survey to tutor DS and plotted.

Tues 17 … U/g … (25) Theodolite angling down 600s and round Drapers to Engine house … 4 men (RB*, DS, HAR).

Wed 18 … Office … Sorting out filing system and reorganising.

Thurs 19 … Office … Calculations. Plotted 25s / 42s on 1/500 scale. Continued with filing system. Computer results and filing.

Fri 20 … Office … Filing system and referencing same -  21008 tons

Annual Leave Mon 23 – Mon 30 - Weymouth

20700 tons

Tues 31 … Office … Checking work routine. Check calculating and plotted 26s, 28s and 54s panels from old books and from new Survey done by ANM.

Sep 1971 
Albert Littler, Asst U/m on Days, John Ross Afters, Derek Stephenson Nights for 3 months

Wed 1 … Office … Plotting on new 6 inch plans (1/10560). Progress to date on Working plans. Plotted 109s. Drawing out turns for 25s / 42s conveyors. Support Regulations with Bill Prothero Safety Engineer and an Overman.

Thurs 2 … U/g … (26) Theodolite angling from No2 pit bottom to No1 pit bottom and checked onto main base … 4 men (RB*, DS, HAR, KB).

Fri 3 … Office … Completed filing system. Discuss AE Betts re survey etc. Sorting out angles for traverses.
Ted Hinde Assistant Area Surveyor lived in the end house of the 10 Commandments at the end of the pit lane and he always went home for lunch. His favourite ploy was to call at a colliery after lunch then he hadn’t got to get back to the Area office so quickly. He rang me up to see if it was convenient to call as he had an important question for me that needed answering that day. Anyway he turned in at about 1.45pm and immediatetly stated that I looked brown and where had I been on holiday? Ted was what I called a ‘word association’ man, he flittered from one word to another on a different subject in a split second. Anyway I said I had been to Devon and immediately he said that the Pilgrim fathers had sailed from Plymouth to the Americas and met the native Indians … not the Indians from the east … they were different colour and of course they couldn’t speak the American language ‘cos theirs was sanskrit a bit like Arabic and they come from Africa and our numbers come from their language and talking of language, just North of Devon across the Severn Estuary is Wales and some of them speak Welsh, not all of them, but of course all those living in Ireland don’t speak gaelic and then there are the Scots with their brogue, not the brogue shoes etc. etc. and etc. He went on and on for a good hour jumping from one subject to another and hardly ever letting up to let you get a word in. He had a cup of tea and shot off. I was just getting ready for knock off when Ted rang up … he had forgotten to ask me that very important question and now he couldn’t think of it! He would call again on Monday on his way to work. That meant he could arrive late and not have to be there on time. You couldn’t make it up!                                                  

Sat 4 … 15036 tons

Mon 6 … Surface … Spudding for stations on No2 Dirt tip … 2 men (RB*, DS). Ted Hinde called in as he had suggested on the Friday before and again went off the subject he had called in about! ... you couldn't make it up. The urgent answer to it was a 'yes' or a 'no' ... over the telephone.

Tues 7 … U/g … (27) Theodolite angling from No2 Pit bottom via 650s to Drapers Paddy … 4 men (RB*, HAR, ANM, KB).  (50 u/g)

Wed 8 … U/g … (28) Precise catenary measuring from 600s down Tebbetts and part of 622s East Paddy. Also from No2 Pit bottom to No1 Pit bottom and main base line using 30m band … 5 men (RB*, DS, HAR, ANM, KB)

Thurs 9 … U/g … (29) Precise catenary measuring 622s East Paddy to 1s … 5 men (RB*, DS, HAR, ANM, KB) also … Surface … Measured from main surface base to No2 Pit top via gantry …

Fri 10 … Surface … Theodolite angling from pit yard to Rubbing ropes at No2 shaft Pit top for a rough correlation check … 5 men (RB*, DS, HAR, ANM, KB) … Office … I made a mistake in calculating the angles by 1 degree and when the bearing in the pit bottom did not agree with the Correlation one by wires I thought that the ropes were possible twisted some way or other. I was very disappointed because the idea seemed good, for a rough check that was … I just put the notebook away in the box.

Sat 11 … 21614 tons

Mon 13 … Office … Notice and a tape doctored for Vic Brown U/m (he referred to an O/m at his last pit who quoted … ‘13 feet 12 inches, not quite 14 feet’!). Sketches for Computer calculations … 6 inch prints. Discuss 10s turn.

Tues 14 … U/g … 44s LG, set out snicket also set out 20s LG off 42s LG … 3 men (RB*, DS, HAR) then with AE Betts, AE Robinson, Ron Hays, RB, NM, KB ) … (7T) Catenary measuring 42s thirling heading.

Wed 15 … Office … Calculated East drivages planning. Notice for NACODS. 10s Waffler Support Rules. Discuss various with Ken Mirfin, Bevercotes (ex Surveyor at Ollerton pre 1959).

Thurs 16 … U/g … (30) Theodolite angling and catenary measuring from rubbing ropes at No2 shaft pit bottom to station 15 on 400s Junction and check angles … 4 men (RB*, DS, HAR, ANM).

Fri 17 … Office … Calculations for 25s / 42s turns completed. Routine checking.

Sat 18 … 22113 tons
Bob Shepherd (RS) started as linesman from Thoresby.

Mon 20 … U/g … (31) Theodolite Survey from old North Loader down 3s Main and old 26s … 4 men (RB*, HAR, ANM, KB). (55 u/g)

Tues 21 … Surface … Measurements to new Stockyard fence and rails … 2 men (RB*, HAR)
Tues 21 … Surface … I organised an Emergency procedure … Mr Rodden, RB, Ted Lilley NACODS Sec, Eric Spencer Admin Officer, Bill Prothero Safety Eng’r, G Marshall and Sister Barbara Hoyland … explained the door notices etc and change of Offices for some … to cater for example, Police, Newspaper reporters, Mortuary, site for Mobile Laboratory and other people from Area HQ etc. It would appear it had never been done before.
Bill Prothero, Safety Engineer would come into the main office upstairs and lean on the radiator taking everything in that I or my team did. but never spoke a word. I would get him out of that habit unless of course it was for info etc both ways.

Wed 22 … U/g … (8T) Catenary measuring 25s thirling heading … 4 men (RB*, DS, HAR, ANM) then angling same and line check (RB, A Eddie Betts, Albert E Robinson, Ron Hays, DE, RS).

Thurs 23 … Office … Sections on Isopachyte plans. Info to JA Daniels re development. Updated 1/5000 negs. Info re South Paddy for Mech HMI Hopkinson. 6 inch negative. Ventilation info for Alan Blyton, Ventilation Officer.

Fri 24 … Office … Continued and finished same. Discuss AE Betts and A Robinson re 25s / 42s connection.

Sat 25 … tons

Mon 27 …U/g … Statutory dial survey and measurements 57s panel and lines adjusted … 4 men (RB*, DS, ANM, KB) … Office … Calculated and plotted same.

Tues 28 … Surface … Checking hydrants and fire extinguishers … Office … Discuss AE Betts re angles check down 25s district. Emergency procedure plans. Discuss various Walter Cantrill, Clipstone. Discuss Freddy Longden, Surface Mechanical dept.

Wed 29 … Office … Sorted out all accident plans from 1928 onwards and filed same. Finished off accident plan 110s on 4/5/1971 for NUM. (1)

Thurs 30 … U/g … (32) Theodolite survey along 20s Main Road and into 44s LG, measure marks and line for face head … 4 men (RB*, HAR, ANM, MG).              
Alan Sinclair, Electrical Engineer left to United Arab Emirates.

Oct 1971

Fri 1 … Office … AEB and AR re calculations for 25s / 42s connection. Freddy Longden re surface water. Shofiring pattern for HMI G Weston and discuss JA Daniels. Calculations for 20s Main. Plotting Working plans to September Quarter end date. Roughing out Roadway Support plan.

Sat 2 … 21000 tons

Mon 4 … Office … Made a new wall plan for D Rodden and stippled same, using stippling machine for first time. Discuss 109s with JA Daniels D/m and V Brown U/m.

Tues 5 … U/g … (9T) Final adjustment of thirling line pins in 25s heading … (RB*, HAR, KB) … Office … Height of lightning conductor for Oil store for Electrician … 30 to 40 feet. Height of telephone post 26 feet (RB*).

Wed 6 … Office … Inking in working plans, and new 6 inch and 1/5000. Stats 113 Conveyor belting. 109s sketch for V Brown U/m.

Thurs 7 … Surface … to Thoresby for S400 Level. To Bilsthorpe to check ozaloft printing etc … (RB*) … Office … Sorting out parallel plate micrometer. Drawing of bottom roller strap for Sam Pepper, Mech.

Fri 8 … Office … Calculated face lengths for standard measures in Progress book. Conveyor print. Manpower survey for Joe Callinan, Planner. Info re Surface manpower survey Ted Hodgson. Computer forms filled in.

Sat 9 … 20067 tons
Pit on Strike re Caledonian Mining Co men doing fireproofing on 650s Trunk Road

Mon 11 … Office … Plans etc for 57s TP incident (fire). Info re 600s detail plotting. New Deputy’s Districts plan coloured.

Tues 12 … U/g … (33) Measuring from Pit bottom to 650s … 5 men (RB*, DS, HAR, ANM, KB) … Office … sent for out of the pit to see HMI G Weston info re 57s Incident. (60 u/g)

Wed 13 … Office … Making negative for Surface manpower. Dick Elliott, Divisional Geologist came re info for Top Hard North side. Completed 25s / 42s Coal heading Support plan and prints. 6 inch plan for HMI G Weston, 10 copies.

Thurs 14 … Office … Stencilling info ont Surface Manpower plan. Gathering info re same from Pit yard. To Blacksmiths to arrange winch and shaft for Saturday. Surface ... to see Blacksmiths re shaft winch with wire etc … (RB*).

Fri 15 … Continued with Surface Manpower plan.

Sat 16 … Surface … (6L) Measured No2 shaft with piano wire … (RB*, ANM, KB and 2 Blacksmiths on surface) and (DS and HAR) underground in pit bottom, to level to mark on wire and BM …. It only took 1 hour … Saturday morning.
16033 tons.

Appointed Temporary Surveyor for the mine from 18th October … notified on 1st November !  I had been in charge since 15th July (3 months) … Keith Houghton (2473) off work since then was transferred to Subsidence Department at Eastwood Hall with Charlie Shadbolt (2499)...

Mon 18 … Office … Calculations. Colouring prints. With Don Brown Area Photographer re Printing machine. HMIs G Weston and J Smith re 2s Loader Gate Electrical incident. Plan of 600s Main.

Tues 19 … Office … Continued with 600s plan and section. Sketch for Electrical dept. Sketch of 2s pushover blocks. Sorting through surveys, South Drivage etc ?

Wed 20 … Office … Replaced JA Daniel’s plans. Colouring plans … Surface … Measured piano wire in surface Stockyard … 5 men (RB*, DS, HAR, DE, JG).

Thurs 21 … Office … Calculated length of the piano wire allowing for stretch etc. Checking through old Level books for value of Bench Marks in Pit bottom area. Colouring 6 inch prints.

Sat 23 … 25s / 42s connection 27 yards to thirl - 18668 tons

Mon 25 … Office … Levelling calculations for Pit bottom area, checking etc. Discuss Joe Callinan 600s and proposed East drivages. Checking calculations for 10s development … Error?

Tues 26 … Office … Working on new Master negative for Support Rules (Teversal system). Discuss Joe Callinan Development plans. Plans on wall for JA Daniels and V Brown. Discuss with Architect re new Survey Office. 25s / 42s connection 16 yards to thirl

Wed 27 … U/g … to 10s Waffler face head check and line extended and 10s AW line check … then went to 25s heading and measured up waiting for a borehole being drilled from 42s side … I assumed wrongly that the coal height snicket they were driving was in the centre of the gate as shown on my plan but didn’t know it was started on the left hand side behind the arches. I heard the drilling and saw the face of the heading bitting at the left hand side but the hole did not come into 25s heading !! (self RB*) … very despondent, thought the headings were a gate width out … went home …

Thurs 28 … Office … Discuss D Rodden re same next morning and various and office arrangements. Made R & FF folder. Info for South Side Electrical plans. Info phoned out and plotted borehole through 25s / 42s connection.

Fri 29 … South side Electrical plans to date. Was then notified by the Ventilation Officer there was a hole made through at the connection and it had cloths hung to baffle the air flow. I quickly got changed and almost ran to the pit top and got the Banksman to arrange a special draw for me between the materials being sent in.
18045 tons

Fri 29 … U/g … I raced inbye to 25s / 42s thirling point 27th Oct, offset lines through snicket driven behind rings on left hand side from 42s side and saw where a borehole had been drilled at 45 degrees towards 25s side and missed !!! (RB*, met DS, ANM). Cliff Meakin, Overman, had arranged same because the narrow snicket heading at coal seam height was behind the LH arches to start off and then continued in that line towards 25s head with the coal being cast back to 42s head. He said he knew they were offline so it was no good drilling forward in line so he instructed the men to drill a hole towards 25s side at an angle as he thought they were now past the face of 25s and that the borehole would break through into 25s side heading but of course it did not at that sharp angle.

Line offsets were done on 29th Oct using several very short bases in the snicket heading from 42s side, that had veered off line to the left, using a flap line on the roof parallel at each offset plus the air clothing to negotiate and the difference from centre line to centre line at 25s side was 5¼ inches … 3 men (RB*, DS, ANM). As I made my way out of the pit several people such as the Paddy conductor, Onsetter, Banksman and Lamp Room foreman Ernie Worthington told me Mr Rodden wanted to see me straight away before I had a shower and changed.

I saw Mr D Rodden who was ecstatic and I had to have a double dram from his cabinet, even in my pit muck. (Wilf Pearson in the Manager’s Office at the time quoted … ‘ I never thought they would meet!). I then phoned Arthur Morley, Area Chief Surveyor with the news who was very pleased also … I reckon he must have had doubts about the accuracy of the survey or my ability.

It was actually ½ inch out in alignment when the heading was completed a few days later and about 7 inches in distance over 5½ miles. Apart from Ollerton management team several of higher management and Planners from Area HQ went to see the finished roadway but the only way to find the thirling point was where 2 feet spacers had been used instead of the normal 3 feet ones. The rings were marked 42s side and 25s side to identify the position. The centre line was absolutely dead straight. I was extremely pleased that I had been proved right for using the catenary system of measuring of which all the Surveyors at Area HQ were suspicious of, having never used that method. It had been achieved in 5 shifts on normal dayshift and no overtime. The 61 angles of the major traverse were done in 5 shifts, again on normal dayshift with no overtime.
NUM Overtime Ban started

Nov 1971

Mon 1 … Office … Going through Progress and development. Planning out the new Survey office … Surface … Measurements for proposed Powder magazine … 2 men (RB and Ted Hinde, Deputy Area Surveyor.

Tues 2 … Office … Discuss D Rodden Support Rules. JA Daniels re 34s Booster fans. Albert Littler re 25s turn. Electricians re 10s LG for a mono rail. Ted Hinde re subsidence results. Stencilling on new Support Rules Plan Master negative.

Wed 3 … Office … Finished Support Master neg. Made copies of same on our Printing machine for the first time with ‘Masterfilm’. Discuss management same. Info re old 20s panel, stations etc. Discuss new Survey office alterations.

Thurs 4 … Office … Continued with 116s Support Rules and also new 10s. 25s Turn junction. 116s AW to turn 20 degrees. Applied for the post of Surveyor. Plan for Welfare re new store … Surface … Soldered pen 51s in Lamp cabin (RB*).

Fri 5 … Office … Routine. Calculations for 44s. Discuss AE Betts. Coloured Progress plans.

Sat 6 … 15006 tons

Mon 8 … Office … Plotted plans to date, contours and sections. Discuss JA Daniels. Discuss Doug Shields, Group Vent re Booster fans at 20s LH.

Tues 9 … U/g … (10T) Theodolite angling and catenary measuring through 25s / 42s connection thirling … 5 men (RB*, DS, HAR, ANM, KB) … ½ inch in bearing and about 7 inches in distance … Office … Calculations.

Wed 10 … Office … Calculations. 10s face head plan on 1/500. Plotted 44s. Measured up new Booster fans and plotted. Copies of M&C Boom Ripper machine from Matt Marshall, Storekeeper.
Evening … Mining Engineering Society … Talk by Dr Alan Griffin (Area Industrial Relations Officer and Curator for Lound Hall Museum).

Thurs 11 … Sections etc on 44s for D Rodden. Support Rules for 10s. Discuss supports JA Daniels. Discuss Ron Hays re Dirt tips etc. Sections on plans from old records. Discuss Joe Manion various.

Fri 12 … Office … Continued with Support Rules. Ted Hinde re new Office accommodation. Plotting levels on North side and checking previous values.

Sat 13 … 15000 tons

Mon 15 … Office … Calculations and plotted out new thirling line from 25s / 42s connection road back into 25s LH old gate. D Rodden’s Wall plan. Calculation of levels for 25s / 42s connection … 6½ inches difference … an excellent closure for 5½ mile circuit.

Tues 16 … Office … Firefighting plan with Brian Perry ex Manager at Mansfield. 1/2500 plan for progress for same.. New Progress negatives for 10s and 44s. Calculated levels. Discuss 62s development with JA Daniels.

Wed 17 … Office ... 25s AW grades etc for Wilf Pearson, Mechanical Engineer.

Job Appraisal with Mr D Rodden … 3 *s … Triple increment … He was full of praise for my achievements at the pit that were very noticeable by many he said. 20s face Design Meeting. Cannel coal area on East side, sections etc on plan for Derek Stone, Assistant Planner, started. Salvage diagrams from Frank Radford, Planner.

Thurs 18 … U/g … (34) 25s pulley turns, 10s face, 25s AW and new thirling point heading … 3 men (RB*, HAR, ANM) … Office … David R Mounsey Production Manager discuss drivages, levelling and Dirt tips. He had noted the vast improvement in gate lines etc.

Fri 19 … Office … Booster fans with Doug Shields (Group Ventilation Engr. Continued plotting Cannel coal area on East side. Discuss JA Daniels D/m and V Brown U/m. Calculated manshifts for check levelling … 11¼ miles North and East sides and 3¾ miles on South side.

Sat 20 … 15377 tons

Mon 22 … U/g … Dial survey and measurements 57s panel and measured face … 5 men (RB*, HAR, ANM, DE, JG) … Office … Calculated and plotted same. Calculated levels. (65 u/g)

Tues 23 … U/g … Levelling from top of Paddy down the South side for check levelling … 2 men (RB*, HAR) … Office … Calculated same. New Tip Regulations.

Wed 24 … Office … Plans to date for progress. Dirt tip info sorted. New plans in folders. Discuss cannel coal with John Raine, Geologist.

Thurs 25 … Office … Drafting out new 1/2500 Dirt tip plan for metric heights. Discuss 600s etc with D Rodden and Joe Callinan Planner.

Fri 26 … Office … Routine. 116s turn plotted.

Sat 27 … 15522 tons

Mon 29 … Surface … Called at Sherwood for plans … (RB*) Office … Plotting levels on blank plans ready for metric conversion.

Tues 30 … U/g … Abandonment survey of 109s panel through face line, South side … 5 men (RB*, ANM, HAR, DE, SB) … Office … Calculated and plotted same, calculated levels.

Dec 1971
Interview for post of Surveyor …. 12 other First Assistants plus Gordon Ison, Sutton … David Rodden, General Manager, Walter Thouless Admin Officer and J Arthur Morley, Area Surveyor.
Billy Humphries (WH) left, Jack Lyons, Deputy at Thoresby appointed Electrical Engineer. John Clapperton appointed Deputy. Jim Goodwin, Deputy Electrical Engineer transferred to Thoresby.
John Ross Assistant U/m on Days, Albert Littler on Afters and Derek Stephenson on Nights.

Part 4  Appointed Surveyor for the mine
More and more jobs and / or advice would be required of me in the future with staff changes etc and many new ideas, Ollerton seemed to be a pit were new projects were tried and I would have dealings in some way about all of them. When I refer to the diary I sometimes wondered what the rest of my staff were doing. They would be carrying out most lof the Levellings that would be done on a quarterly intervcal as well as dial surveys for all panels and more so for developments I instigated a system where all development headings were checked on the doubling up method. First a measurement mark would be made for the junction centre line. This would be checked also from a theodolite mark either side to make sure that a distance had not been transposed. From the agreed mark the entrance chocks would be marked out and the centre line marked on the bearing girder and made sure it was square. Once the heading was started a dial survey would be done from the nearest base and the bearing of the heading marked on front and rear and when the gate had advanced 5m another dial survey was done to check the bearing and line pins established with a backsight pin or mark. At 10m advance a similar dial survey and at 25m another and so on at 50m then 100m and thereafter at every 100m advance. Where possible a different person iwould do the survey in turn. The system never failed and evey panel was in the correct position as signed for, all ecept for one pamel 116s related later. Not my fault, but by then I was in the hot seat when questions were asked as to why 116s AW had collided with 114s AW and why had I allowed it to happen. The surveyors before me had completely ignored the panel as no surveys were done after about 70m advance and the panel went about 800m and the AW went off line to the left and had never been checked. The linesmen told me afterwards that there was a big bend in the gate to the left. This was the only criticism I ever got even though I had warned the Manager about the problem earlier … (see).

Wed 1 … Office … Plotted levels at 109s. Copied up survey. Shaft measure from Area HQ 1588.57 feet depth … o.k. Discuss HMI G Weston re Support Rules.

Thurs 2 … Office … Amendments to Support Rules.

Fri 3 … Office … Continued with Support Rules. D Rodden’s Wall plan. ‘Talk In’ notices for V Brown U/m.                                                                                                                                                               
Sat 4 … 17096 tons

Mon 6 … Office … Office … Routine. Inking in on Working plans, 109s levels etc … Surface … Levelled Poplar Street … 2 men (RB*, DS) ... Meeting … Development … John Ross. 10s Waffler Support Exemption for Principal HMI Dilwyn Richards.

Tues 7 … Office … Continued with Support Rules plans, 10s. Plotted metric contours on provisional Dirt tip plan from 6 inch scale contour plan from AE Robinson. Meeting D Rodden … Overtime.

Wed 8 … U/g … Check line on 2s face ready for abandonment … 2 men (RB*, HAR) … Office … Plotted same. ‘Talk In’ notices. Calculations.

Thurs 9 … Office … Finished off notices for V Brown. Amended Support Rules. Planning out for Action Programme plans for new Deputy’s Office as per instruction.

Fri 10 … Office … Stencilling coal sections on plans. Plotted levels on South Main Roads.  

Sat 11 … Bill Prothero Safety Engineer left … Clive Morris (CM) started as a Linesman. 17882 tons

Mon 13 … Office … Continued with stencilling. Plans to date. Development plan for Jack Lyons, new Electrical Engineer.

Tues 14 … Office … Plotted 1/5000 and 6 inch plans to date. Info re 10s to method Study. Coal sections continued. 3 Notices for Angling Club re Eric Barton O/m.

Wed 15 … Office … Plotting boreholes. Sorting out Geological info. Notice for Welfare re Prize Draw

Thurs 16 … U/g … (35) Catenary measuring down 3s Main and 26s CG … 5 men (RB*, ANM, DS, HAR, RS) … Office … Discuss Arthur Morley Area Surveyor re would I accept Stuart Whittle as Assistant sooner than advertise the job ... agreed as Stuart had worked at Ollerton for 5 years as Apprentice before moving to Thoresby and I thought he could be very useful. He turned out to be so …

Fri 17 … Office … Routine. Plan and measures for Emergency stopping using bulk head type doors for 2s. Discuss Ron Hays, Group Surveyor. Continued with boreholes.

 Sat 18 … 18067 tons

Mon 20 … Office … Continued with boreholes info. Plotted plans to date. Moved the Printing Machine and furniture round and a general tidy up. New form for weekly line reports.

Tues 21 … Office … Discuss Stuart Whittle. Emergency doors, amendment and prints. Checking and plotting 20s development headings.

Wed 22 … U/g … (36) Completed catenary measuring down 26s Main … 6 men (RB*, DS, ANM, HAR, DE, DG) … Office … Copying up catenary measuring. (70 u/g)

Thurs 23 …Office … Completed same … Lunch at the Hop Pole … Office … Plan showing withdrawal of chocks on 109s face.

Fri 24 … Office … Progress up to date on plans. Party with Mr D Rodden and other management … notified him with letter about 116s AW being very close to old 114s AW … then Dave Rodden on his own … we both got drunk and had to be taken home in the pit van. Fell asleep on the settee and didn’t wake up till next morning, Christmas Day. Mary and the girls had to take the Christmas presents around without me … not pleased!
11376 tons

Sat 25 … Christmas.
Mon 27 and Tues 28 … Statutory Holidays.

11392 tons

Annual Leave Wed 29 Dec 1971 – Sat 8 Jan 1972 - Benidorm, Spain