A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

North Nottinghamshire Area from April 1967

Page - 44 -

Jan 1973

Mon 1 and Tues 2 … Colliery Rest days.

Wed 3 … Office … Making working plans up to 31 Dec 1972. Putting plans on Deputy Manager JA Daniels office wall. A Eddie Betts, Deputy Area Surveyor came to discuss Gyro results etc. Ray Greasley Senior Surveyor brought Rescue & Firefighting plans back and past acreages worked etc.

Thur 4 … Office … Mr D Rodden’s wall plan to date.  Inking in sections on working plans. Rest of updated plans for yearend distributed to the various departments.

Fri 5 … Office … HMI Geoff Weston discuss 10s half head system of support. Planning etc. re Parkgate seam proposed layout.

Sat 6 … 10,200 tons.

Mon 8 … Office … Discuss Mr D Rodden re Parkgate drifts scheme.  Continued working on same, grades, boreholes etc., several plans.

Tues 9 … Office … 1/5000 plans plotted to date. Ray Greasley re working plans to date, exchanged copies.  Ted Hinde Asst. Area Surveyor re Boughton Dyke re slurry problem in farmer’s fields.

Wed 10 … Office … Info. and write up on Parkgate seam project. Mended Levelling staff, need a new one. Discuss JA Daniels same.

Thurs 11 … Office … Info. for Parkgate development with Joe Callinan, Planner.

Fri 12 … Office … 2 notices stencilled. With Joe Callinan, continued with development into Parkgate. Info. to Mr D Rodden for Accountability. Sorting out notices.

Sat 13 … 18,300 tons.

Sun 14 … Inspectorate change, Guy DR Adamson replaced Geoff Weston as HMI.

Mon 15 … Going through Parkgate scheme with Alwyn ‘Oscar’ Coulson, project planner.  Updating 1/5000 plan.

Tues 16 … Prints of Stable Hole shotfiring pattern … o.k. now onwards from Hole … Hole shotfiring pattern for HMI GDR Adamson. Discuss same and with D Rodden. Discuss 10s with Linesmen re changes. Ken Ollerenshaw Surface Elect Info. for East side.

Wed 17 … Office … Colouring 6 inch print with all Info. for HMI GDR Adamson. Info. to J Higginbotham re 10s. Plotted 10s survey.

Thurs 18 … Office … Info. re surface Galleries to D Rodden. 58s sections to Ray Greasley. Electrical plans to date for East side.

Fri 19 … Office … Amendments to Working plan section. Info. re 58s sections to Coal Survey. 20s sections to Ray Greasley. Plotted 10s LG profiles. 62s electrical info. Discuss J Higginbotham U/m re 10s measurements.

Sat 20 … 18269 tons.

Mon 22 … U/g … (55) Check theodolite survey of 10s from bottom of East Paddy 622s along 10s LG and through the face … 3 men (RB*, DS, HAR and met ANM, plus 2) in 10s AW.

Tues 23 … Office … Copied up and calculated same. Discuss Roy Bland, Strata Control re Dowty chocks. Sorting through old books and referencing same.

Wed 24 … Office … D Rodden’s Wall plan. Sketch of Pit bottom Electrical sub-station. Checking through old books. Info. and plan of Parkgate scheme for TJR Sales. Info. re shaft pillar and calculated the size. Checking through old records and plan of 114s (note 116s supposedly struck old goaf). Saw management re same.

Thurs 25 … U/g … Dial survey of 116s AW from 100s for 100 yards survey … 5 men (RB*, DS, HAR, DE, RS). I noticed a 4% methane flame on the back sight lamp. I ran back and checked it. From my experience it was correct, there was 4% in the general body. Checked with Deputy, advised him to stop the panzer and machine and clear the panel except for survey team. We were on the intake side of the gas emission. This he did. A methane hole was being drilled up and over old 114s goaf with a mini hydrack boring machine. Phoned Mr D Rodden re same. He said the Deputy had told him there was a ‘bit of gas’… a 5 feet borehole in face fast end had hit 114s goaf and a man was slauming hardstop with his hands to hold back the gas! Phoned SN Whittle in the office, relayed survey Info. … he phoned back after calculating and plotting same about one hour later and it was necessary to turn the AW 10 degrees to left, shortening the face length and 6 chocks to be taken off. Phoned D Rodden with the news. He said he would have to inform Area HQ. Put a direction line on. Carried on dialling and measuring across the face that was stood and into 116s LG and completed the dial survey and tied onto a base … closed to 1 minute of arc, so no error in surveying. I was extremely relieved. Finished measuring etc and made my way out of the pit. Upon entering the Survey Office in my pit clothes, breaking my own rule, I was confronted by Keith Shaw DCME, J Arthur Morley Area Chief Surveyor and J Ray Greasley Senior Surveyor. ‘What have you been doing?’ was the question. I opened my desk drawer where I had a series of plans showing the work carried out by me since being transferred to Ollerton in February 1971. ‘That’s what I’ve being doing’, and almost threw the plans at them. The plans showed in colour the various type of survey such as Theodolite surveys and catenary measuring down every panel gate and main roads, dial surveys and measurements at the Statutory 100 yard intervals and levelling and taping on every working panel and development and closed dial and levelling across 2 old face lines plus 100 feet measure marks created up each gate and from pit bottom on all main roadways. All these surveys were coupled onto the major 42s / 25s thirling survey. This major check survey was precisely measured by catenary using a 50m band suspended from dial legs having a measuring cross on each ‘carrot’ with a 20lb pull for sag correction and vertical angles using a Watts 5’ dial. 5 miles plus was completed in 5 shifts during normal dayshift working. Similarly the angling was done, 2 on each face using a Watts 20” theodolite with a single tripod setting and sighting to targets at the 61 settings, was also completed in 5 shifts. No overtime or weekends shifts necessary.

I then went on to say that I had informed D Rodden and J Higginbotham of the possibility of striking the fast end in December, D Rodden did remember something about it he said. I eventually found the letter that had a beer glass ring on it, evidence from a party. They all listened to my explanation of the situation and requested I put it in writing with a copy to the Production Manager TJR Sales and the Deputy Direct (Mining) JP Berry. After showering I began writing the report.

Unfortunately after the chocks had been taken off and the panel advanced using the new turn then the gate turned parallel to the LG and the face had advanced, the fast end clipped the very end of the goaf of 114s where the face had finished and released a large amount of gas. Of course the panel had to be stood whilst the gas was controlled. I was shattered, not expecting it of course.

I was once more summoned from Area HQ and again had to explain what had happened again and was told that my explanation was accepted but the Deputy Director JP Berry would be keeping a close watch on me in future. Fortunately there were no further mishaps whilst I was Surveyor at Ollerton as each job was checked as it should have been in the past, but even so several panels were set out to work between old panels either side and it had been proved by the check survey that certain parts of the pit had been wrongly plotted, so much so that it required me to make two new pagra flat sheet plans and the checking of the old workings was done by plotting the survey observations documented in the survey note books using a Bocking Protractor, as survey calculations were found to be erroneous and could not be trusted. It was impossible to check 114s panel as there were no surveys carried out in the AW after 200 feet advance although the panel had advanced about 800 yards. A paddy had been installed in the AW and it was stated by several that there was a bend to the left at the inbye end, of course proven when 116s AW end encroached and collided. At 114s LG several turns had been made due to faulting but no evidence was found of surveys other than Doug Stockham stated that he turned the gate using the dial but only locally from the last bend.

It was also seen that although the quarter end face lines and gates had been inked in on the plan many surveys were not done until later and then finding that they were in error and not wanting to rub the work out and re-plot, as the Group Surveyor Albert E Robinson or Ron Hays had already been to the Colliery and traced the workings to date, to keep as a second and emergency copy at Area HQ. So as not to explain each time why the workings were plotted wrongly it was found that a bearing to the face finishing position was drawn and followed so that the finishing point would be correct even though the gate would be bent between. Of course on the plan the gates were shown straight. The face lines were drawn straight and there were no surveys or levelling taken through the face to couple the 2 gates to close the polygon to see if there was any error. There were 2 faces open that had finished so I carried out a dial survey through the faces and proved they were not straight. The levels were coupled through and an error found requiring further check levelling to be done from further outbye. I realised after searching through the levelling books that no check levelling was apparent. So, I decided that I would arrange for a full levelling survey would start at the Pit bottom bench mark, checked from the surface by wire. Over the next month or so levelling was done down all the main roads to the North districts via Drapers Paddy and 20s CG and later 20s LH and values obtained at bench marks inbye were proven to be wrong as the levelling down the East Paddy coupled through to North side via 25s/42s connection. Every open gate was levelled and every panel gate re-levelled and tied back to the Pit bottom bench mark. New accurate bench marks established at every junction and inbye in every panel gate. When a panel finished a levelling was taken through the face from one gate to the other as a check. The new results tied in excellently. Some levels plotted on the plans previously had to be altered as they were wrong.

Over the next 18 months or so when convenient every open gate in the pit was surveyed by theodolite and measured using the catenary string method and numerous polygon checks obtained. Apart from proving every gate to be plotted correctly it was excellent practice for my assistants and apprentices to get instrument practice and become efficient, once I had carried out the initial theodolite surveys myself into all working panels using the major thirling survey bases. On the South side of the pit a theodolite base was located and tied in excellently to about 30 seconds from the Pit bottom Gyro base proving that the older work was correct. Unfortunately all surveys carried out afterwards into panels were by dial using the 5 pins in line and loose legged to a further base of 5 pins in line but only ground taped by Silverline tape or other tape but not check measured. Again errors were found. I could find no survey notes or calculations for 108s panel that was worked along the boundary line to Thoresby. A verification survey should have been carried out and also a check survey as it was a boundary line between 2 collieries!

Fri 26 … Office … Getting out Info. re old 114s and 116s etc. Discuss D Rodden and JA Daniels re same. And also with AE Betts. Discuss same re borehole in 10s LG 28 ft 6in fast end … no goaf! Keith Shaw DCME came to read my report and discuss.

Sat 27 … Office … Referencing note books.
19005 tons.

Mon 29 … Office … Checked through report and took 2 copies to Area HQ.
This left my staff of Deputy, Assistant, Apprentice and Tracer plus Supervisory Linesman and 6 Linesmen to carry out all the other surveying duties and some plan work. I did like to be involved with all parts of the job so occasionally to keep my eye in I would carry out a job arranged for another. Checking through old panels for face lengths, bearings etc.

Tues 30 … Office … Checking positions of old gates and notes taken from books. Calculations.

Wed 31 … Office … Re-plotting old 28s surveys with protractor. Info. to Method study re face details for w/e 27/1/1973. Calculations. Inking in over print of O.S. plan of Ollerton 9 updated edition of June 1972 received 25/1/1973.

Feb 1973

In the next few years the number of meetings I had to attend increased dramatically plus the number of almost every day discussions, either singly or group, carried on as usual. Note: It was if the pit revolved round me… every department at the pit and most at Area HQ wanted some Info. or a decision about something either direct or by phone … Electrical, mechanical, mining etc, etc, etc. Many a time one of them would come through the door saying ‘We’ve got a big problem’. I used to reply ‘You haven’t’. ‘We have’. ‘No you haven’t, youv’e just brought the problem for me to solve otherwise you wouldn’t have come in here’. ‘Well yes, err, could you help us please?’ Many a time as they blurted out the question I would know the answer or note whether the answer was important and to get the answer straight away or know where to look for the answer if I didn’t know it straight off. My little blue book had about every formula or bits of information to suit about every subject you could think of. ‘How long will you be? was the next question. If it was easy I would say about half an hour, providing of course it was nothing to do with production when I would sort it straight away, otherwise I would keep them waiting! I had realised early on that most thought and found out that surveyors generally retained the knowledge gained after qualifying whereas all mining people such as Undermanagers and Deputy Managers forgot what they had learnt straight away and any decision they had to make was to pick up a phone and ask somebody else, that way they had got rid of the problem and they were waiting for an answer from somebody else should they be asked from on high for an answer. Just note the number of queries daily from Deputy Managers particularly and Undermanagers and Manager. Quick short answers were generally required. Sometimes if the question or task was futile and not necessary at all, I found out after a few years … just tell them anything, more right than wrong of course, but they never came back, or said it was wrong, so why did they need to contact me in the first place? Just something to do. When a Deputy Manager kept pestering and coming into my office, after a bit I remarked that they hadn’t got a job unless the Manager was off, because they were always in my office. By law they were only Undermanagers. I never failed to get as quick and correct answer as possible to the Manager of course.

Thurs 1 … Office … Calculations. Info. from Powder magazine and PPM Eric Ricketts for 116s for Scientific dept. Info. to Charlie Raybon, Method Study re 44s face details.

Referencing old note books in the office or at home most evenings and weekends until all were done. Paula Lesh would cover them with linen backed printing paper and stencil the title and file in numerical order the year, right from the sinking of the pit. I found that there was only one survey book missing and that was for 1927. The books were found in a box in the Area Survey office strong room at HQ whilst doing some reorganisation. They were listed under Butterley Co Info. and must have been sent to Area HQ before or at Nationalisation 1947. I was overjoyed that I now had a complete history of the pit and over the next year as time allowed I would pore over the information and surveys and plot them all by Bocking protractor, even finding a few mistakes that had been overlooked. I corrected them all after double checking of course that the information was correct. I surveyed down all the gates that were open by theodolite to confirm that they agreed with Bocking protractor results and they did. I would check as many panels as possible in the future, particularly panels either side of a new panel set out by me that would be working between the two. I found errors and by arranged boreholes to prove gobbins I proved that the plottings I had done were correct but not the gates shown on the plan. On the North side Top Hard the major traverse proved several junctions were several metres out as shown on the plan. These were noted by AE Robinson and AE Betts and Ron Hays. I decided that 2 new flat sheets needed to be made again when time allowed with the workings in the correct position.

Fri 2 … Office … Continued referencing old note books. Discuss J Higginbotham U/m progress etc.

Sat 3 … Sun 4 … at home … Referencing old note books.
19046 tons.

Mon 4 … Plotting old 40s and 42s with Bocking protractor with SNW. Discuss KF Greaves re 20s.

Tues 6 … Plotting old 111s, and 114s panels with Bocking protractor. Began same with 24s and 28s for 10s panel with SNW. With D Rodden and Neville Wood, Divional Scientist re Surface Galleries, cost etc. Invited to Woodhouse Laboratory on High Street. Discuss Ken Greaves and Derek Stephenson.

Wed 7 … U/g … Survey of 116s panel and through face into AW. Turned AW 10 degrees to left … 4 men plus 1 (RB*, DS, HAR, HH) and Derek Stephenson in AW … struck 114s goaf again! … Office Discuss same with Arthur Morley Area Surveyor and Ray Greasley Senior Surveyor same … 6pm. (110 u/g)
BACM Group V meeting.

Thurs 8 … Office … Plotting 28s with Bocking Protractor with SNW.

Fri 9 … Office … Made a temp 1/25000 plan for D Rodden showing areas and tonnages of coal worked during his 2 reigns as Assistant Manager and General Manager. At that time there was no post of Deputy Manager.

Sat 10 … 19400 tons.
Party in afternoon for David Rodden.
David Rodden (51) General Manager ‘retired’ and found a job at Boughton Camp Fuels, later NUM Agent … John A Daniels acting Manager for 6 weeks.
John Higginbotham acting Deputy Manager, Derek Stephenson acting Undermanager.
John Ross Assistant U/m transferred to Harworth as Safety Engineer.
John Hayter appointed Fire Officer. Whilst I was making a new surface Fire Fighting plan and checking pipe ranges etc for plotting on the plan when I asked his predecessor Bill Hallam why there were several fire hydrants on the pit top that were either not working or disconnected stated ‘There’s nowt on this pit top that’ll bon’. No answer to that, but John soon put things right and the plan was completed.

Mon 12 … Office … Manager’s Wall plan. Sketch of gradients along 20s CG for Wilf Pearson, proposed paddy. Making a plan for David Rodden’s presentation.

Tues 13 … Office … Continued and completed plan. Plotted surveys up 54s, 28s, 24s, 40s, and 42s for checking positions of gates.

Wed 14 … Office … Discuss Ken Greaves, Jim Hooley 62s panzer. Discuss JA Daniels and J Higginbotham. Info. re same. Discuss AE Betts re old survey plottings, he agreed … Surface … Measured up accident to Lorry and wagon near tippler (RB*, HAR) (1a) … Office … Electrical Info. for North side.

Thurs 15 … Office … Discuss JA Daniels 24s B extension. Thoresby workings put on 6 inch negative. Put 6 inch (1/10560) plan on office wall for quick reference for all. Getting Info. out re East side swilleys.

Fri 16 … Office … Continued and completed same. Discuss JA Daniels. Discuss Parkgate scheme with Les Kerry Projects Planner, Leo Kirk Deputy Area Planner, JA Daniels D/m and J Higginbotham U/m.

Annual Leave 1 Week Mon 18 to Sat 24      
19002 tons

Sat 24 … 18002 tons.

Mon 26 … Office … General discussion. Meeting TJR Sales … Development.

Tues 27 … Office … Meeting JA Daniels … proposed boring at 20s.
Old Friden calculating machine from Wages office but not suitable.

Wed 28 … U/g … Survey of tackle lying about, heights etc of trunk belts from East No1 to 24s to 25sA (RB*, SNW) … Office … Plotting 41s faults etc. Discuss Sam Cole, Safety Engineer re Fresh Air bases. Discuss Ken Greaves Asst U/m 110s. Meeting NUM and JA Daniels re pit problems.
Electric Facit machine given from Cost dept for calculating … it replaced a hand wallowed machine.

Mar 1973

Thurs 1 … Office … Plotted 41s rib sides on Bocking protractor plottings. Sorted out list of surveys to plot check. Check calculations using Electric Facit machine. Architect came for final check on new office. Jack Lyons re sketches of same. Sam Coles re Fresh Air bases again.
Farewell Party for David Rodden at the Welfare … Eric Spencer presented him with my plan. The panels worked whilst Assistant Manager were coloured blue and the panels worked whilst he was General Manager coloured pink. At a quick glance it appeared to be half the pit and he exclaimed ‘I’ve raped the place’! (In later years I was in conversation with him many times as an NUM official and then in retirement he phoned me only weeks before he died to tell me my plan was still hanging on his bedroom wall and how it had brought back memories for him over all those years). I was so pleased to have known him. He said likewise of me.

Fri 2 … Office … Design Meeting … TJR Sales … 110s panel. Sorting out 116s AW calculations. Meeting Parkgate project … JA Daniels, J Higginbotham, Ken Greaves and Les Kerry Projects Planner.

Sat 3 … 20003 tons.

Mon 5 … U/g … Check dial survey 116s RH AW turned gate parallel to LG … 4 men (RB*, DS, HAR, JA) … Office … Calculated and plotted same.

Tues 6 … Office … Check plotted 116s AW with Bocking protractor. Sorting out calculations. Borehole at 20s AW hit dirt at 45 feet … dirt?

Wed 7 … Surface … to Thoresby for plans and returned later (RB*) … Office … Check calculated and plotted 116s LG … o.k. Borehole at 20s AW lip at 140 feet still in coal. Suface … To Thoresby to return plans.

Thurs 8 … Office … Check calculations … Surface … Location of surface borehole and levelling at Acre Edge Road near Laxton … 3 men (RB*, ANM and Ray Greasley) … Borehole at 20s AW at 30 yards back drilled 190 feet and still in coal.

Fri 9 … Office … Check calculations and plotted 116s … o.k. Discuss JA Daniels and J Higginbotham and John Raine Geologist re 110s proposed development and 62s development, sections etc and 20s boreholes. Discuss Brian Wormald Training Officer re staff coal face training. Phone AE Betts re borehole on surface.

Sat 10 … 18001 tons.

Mon 12 … U/g … (56) Catenary measuring 116s LG and old 100s LH AW …5 men (RB*, SNW, DS, HAR, KW).

Tues 13 … U/g … (57) Catenary measuring 116s AW … 5 men (RB*, SNW, DS, HAR, KW).

Wed 14 … Surface … Tacheo survey of Lagoon No8 … 5 men (RB*, SNW, HAR, Bernard T Bailey and a student).

Thurs 15 … U/g … North side booster fan site, old 41s LG, measured fault and Combe horizon. 62s AW measured to lip and coal … 2 men (RB*, DS).

Fri 16 … Office … Plotted 41s faults etc. Inking in Working plans … 58s AW u/g borehole … coal 2’ 0” dirt 5”, coal 2’ 0” … Dunsil / Waterloo seam.                                                    

Sat 17 … 19507 tons.

Mon 19 … Office … Meeting … Booster fan house JA Daniels, Ted Lilley NACODS Sec … Surface … Resection for borehole site at Acre Edge Road … 3 men (RB*, ANM, HAR) … Office … Plotting rays for same. Area HQ progress plans with swilleys, faults etc.

Tues 20 … Office … Numbers on drawers. Checking 400s levels etc on old Roll plan, kept on shelf on wall. Meeting 110s development chart J Higginbotham, J Lyons, P Noone, J Hooley, KF Greaves.

Wed 21 … Office … 20s Support Rules … Surface … 2 point observations at surface borehole … 2 men (RB*, ANM).

Wed 21st Inrush at Lofthouse Colliery … a panel working near 3 old shafts when one collapsed as a borehole unknown at the time had been drilled deeper from the bottom of the shft whilst sinking and had been weakened by the close working and water and debris broke in and flooded the face … 7 men killed, only 1 body was extricated. I man escaped. Eventually the Emergency borehole procedure was put into practice and a hole was partly drilled on the Surveyor’s marked out position, however it was abandoned when it was realised that it would have been impossible to find anyone alive and that the roadways and face line were blocked off with mud and water and other debris. It was impossible to pump this material with the existing equipment. Rescue men would be trained in future with the use of diving gear. It was assumed that working that seam in that area was safe even to undermine the old shafts but no one was aware that a borehole had been drilled below the shaft bottom and only came to light in an old survey notebook of the 19th Century, All old notebooks were checked where old shafts were known and a system set up where each Colliery Surveyor, a Group or Senior Surveyor would go to the Institute of Geological Sciences to examine all their colliery take in detail.

Thurs 22 … Office … Proposed bar charts etc. Plan for P Noone for ¼ mile radii round pylon for Eng re radios on locos … Surface … Measured up for accident outside canteen dirty side steps … (RB*). (3)

Fri 23 … Office … Dirt tip plan to date for HMI. Finished accident plan. JRG re plans of pit yard 1/500 enlargement and SM1 forms etc. KF Greaves re 20s Support Rules. JAD and JH re Main Bright and Pit bottom, they were very interested in the proposed visit I had arranged. Info. to Peter Longden Coal Prep Manager re surface data … Surface … to Borehole site … (RB*, DS and Ken Greaves).

Sat 24 … Office … Plotted plans.        
19510 tons.

Mon 26 … Office … Sketch of Main Bright seam and prints. Surface … Measured up accident to Lou Scrivens Materials Officer at No2 pit top doors (of last Tuesday) … (RB*) (4) … Plotting accident plan. Area HQ progress. Drew out proposed site for Chock repair shop. 6 inch print with Info. for CW Standage the new Manager. Family tree for departments.

Tues 27 … Office … JAD progress folder. Drawing accident plan … stopped …. Surface … to Squatter’s land and culvert (RB* with Wilf Pearson and Jim Hooley).

Wed 28 … Office … Sam Pepper in charge of Pumps on phone re water in 28s. Info. from John Hayter, Fire Officer re Info. for plans. Sections to Bill Stafford Dust Suppression. Repaired a tape with rivet set. Chock Repair shop. Discuss JAD re water at 28s LG in relation to 10s. Meeting … Security, including Chock repair shop.

Thurs 29 … Office … Negative for surface borehole and 58s AW borehole sites. Made new future development plan on Ozaloft for General Purpose, print and coloured.

Fri 30 … Office … Colouring prints. New set on wall for Deputy Manager. Manager’s Wall plan to date. 42s Overcast steps. Met DR Mounsey new Group Manager and discuss … again I was warmly welcomed and he reminisced of his time when he was Manager at Ollerton. TJR Sales was transferred to a different Group … (he had objected to the appointment of CW Standage but was overruled and it was thought appropriate to transfer him along with Joe Callinan, Planner) … Surface … to Clipstone for printing paper … Office … Amended Support Rules plan.
19117 tons.

Sat 31 … U/g … I had arranged a visit to the Main Bright seam exploratory headings accessed by an inset in No2 shaft. The drop platform at the horizon was rusted and seized up so with Blacksmith Eric Harrison’s help, he grabbed us one at a time as we had to jump from the cage to the landing. None of us relished the return journey back onto the cage as we had to jump again and as one did you could see the lights of the Top Hard pit bottom about 100 yards below. We investigated and measured all the roadways and including waterlogged headings and I checked the lengths of the roadways by tape with help … the visit was very worthwhile and most interesting and levels were taken later the following week to confirm those on the plan found. It would prove that there had been some floor lift.

The seam was a very good coal about 3 feet thick but being nearer to the water-bearing strata above the roof was wet and constantly dripping and would not have made very good working conditions. It was a good job there were a few of us to prise open the airdoors on the steep 1in2 drift, of course the full pressure of intake to return air was only baffled down by the hole in No1 shaft. The party was RB* with oil lamp and tape, John A Daniels, Acting Manager, John Higginbotham, Acting Deputy Manager, Wilf Pearson, Mechanical Engineer, Jim Hooley, Deputy Mechanical Engineer, Alan Blyton Ventilation Officer with canary and smoke tubes and methanometer, Eric Harrison Blacksmith / Shaftsman.

The inset in No2 shaft would be bricked up and the hole in No1 shaft also, for although the seam was not working, a Deputy should have examined the roadways once a month as all other roadways in the pit. That had not been done!

I made a new aluminium backed Working plan on 1/2500 scale and deposited it as part of the Top Hard abandonment plan in 1979 so that no awkward questions would be asked why a plan of the abandoned Main Bright seam workings had not been deposited not later than 15 months from the Feb 1946 date when development heading was stopped, nor had notification by form been given to the HMI that should have been sent after 2 weeks of discontinuance, notification ishould have been given after 12 months when the seam was deemed to be abandoned and within 3 months of that date the plans should have been examined by HMI and then deposited at the Mining Records office. Percy Hett the Mining Records Officer at Eastwood Hall was in complete agreement with my request … better to have the plan than not at all … and at that time a 35mm coloured copy was made to be kept at the office of the HMI as a precaution against the plans being destroyed. None of the 3 previous Surveyors, John Hipkiss, Ken C Mirfin or Keith W Houghton had either ignored the problem or were unaware of the working? I only found out about it myself when unrolling some old plans whilst emptying a plan drawer to check and re-reference all plans. At the time I was quite shocked and to start with my initial reaction was that it was a proposed development until another plan showed weekly advances and finishing dates of the headings. After enquiring through various avenues and asking around by chance Billy Bracegirdle NUM Secretary said he had worked in the headings and was able to furnish me with and verify some information to complete the plan. (115 u/g)

Around that time John Daniels, John Higginbotham and me used to smoke King Edward cigars and either of them on occasion would ask if I could lend them one. Usually at that I would send Paula to the shops to fetch 3 packets, one each.

Output for 1972-73 … 922, 520 tons 995 u/g, 331 s/f Profit £526,000 (53 weeks)

Apr 1973

C Walter Standage General Manager, promoted from Deputy Manager Rufford, Production Manager David R Mounsey changed for TJR Sales. Alan Goodwin Assistant Undermanager transferred from Harworth. Ted Hinde Assistant Area Surveyor retired. Senior Surveyor now George H Jackson. Jim Barnett Geologist. Joe Callinan Planner transferred with TJR Sales ... Frank Radford and Alan Elliott

Mon 2 … Office … Tracing of 10s and swilleys etc. Ventilation Info. for plans and copies. Discuss George H Jackson new Group Surveyor (ex Surveyor at Harworth). Discuss Jim Barnett Geologist (ex Assistant Surveyor at Williamthorpe).

Tues 3 … Office … Met Mr C Walter Standage new General Manager. Continued with preparation of 10s swilley plan. Discuss BT Bailey Dirt tips. Sent borehole plans to Area HQ.

Wed 4 … Office … Continued with plan and section for 10s Notice of Approach to swilley and 650s approach to old 10s RH. Discuss J Higginbotham. Phone BT Bailey re Dirt tip. George H Jackson came with prints and discuss.

Thurs 5 … Office … Finished SM1 Approach notice. Discuss JA Daniels. Coloured prints.

Fri 6 … Office … Plotting on plans. Discuss BT Bailey … Surface … Measurements to new railway line for Dirt Bunker … 2 men (RB*, HAR) … Office … Discuss CW Standage and discuss George H Jackson.

Sat 7 … 19005 tons.

Mon 9 … Office … Inking in plans to Quarter end. Decided to carry on plotting both 100 yards and Quarter dates until Top Hard finishes. Discuss BT Bailey Dirt tip. Colouring new 1/5000 Wall plan prints.

Tues 10 … Office … Continued colouring prints. Discuss CW Standage re his new plan. Info. to Austin Brown DPT. Inked in Thoresby adjacent workings. Made some JP clips with reflective tape for linesmen.

Wed 11 … Office … Info. checked re Repair work done for last Quarter. New style SM1 / SM2 forms ? Whoever designed it didn’t know what SM meant … Surveyor to Manager and the reply was MS1 notice from Manager to Surveyor to acknowledge the notice … SM2? Work on plans. Checking 116s levels. Meeting … pre-Accountability … Keith Shaw, David Mounsey.

Thurs 12 … Office … Plotting on plans. 42s Overcast steps for 44s AW, Eric Barton Development Overman. (Put into operation 26/5/1973).

Fri 13 … U/g … Measured up accident at Jack Hoare’s doors in pit bottom … (RB*) (5) … Office … Plotted same.                                                                                                

Sat 14 … 19005 tons - Bought a 1972 Morris Marina, White

Mon 16 … Office … General, correspondence. Tracing. Info. to management re Yardages etc and 10s and 650s approach. Discuss CW Standage re SM2 form for 650s Scour and 10s.

Tues 17 … Office … General. Discuss Ted Giles various. Surface … Levelling stockyard site … 2 men (RB*, Austin Brown AB) … Office … Plotted same. George H Jackson came for plans to date for Area HQ.

Wed 18 … U/g … Check thirling survey for 62s face heading and pins established … 4 men (RB*, DS, AB, CM) … Office … Calculations. Discuss Ken Greaves and Ted Giles. Discuss CW Standage re 44s sections.

Thurs 19 … Office … Plotted out sections and isopachytes for 44s. Discuss same CW Standage. Plans etc in folder. Drawing out 110s Face heading Supports. Check 110s bearing.

Fri 20 … Office … Sections etc for 110s and check. Plotted 10s with Bocking protractor. Colouring 110s Installation of Electricity plans. Copying up catenary measuring. General. Jim Kerr, spare Production Manager phoned re 110s.

Sat 21 … 16142 tons.

Mon 23 … Easter Monday, Tues 24 … Holiday

Wed 25 … Office … CW Standage signed 110s face heading Supports Rules. Putting Parish names on boundaries on Working plans plus levels and dates in preparation for photos. Info. to J Higgingbotham re 110s.

Thurs 26 … Office … Continued and completed plan info. Assisted Hadi with calculations for 10s.

Fri 27 … Office … Notice re Wages coding … Surface … to No1 Pit top skip plant measurements … 2 men (RB*, SNW). 

Sat 28 … 9223 tons.

Mon 30 … Surface … to University of Nottingham with John Grayson, Mansfield, Jim Hanson, Silverhill, Peter Robinson, Rufford … 9.30am … Tuition by Dr Doug Hodges on GAK1 Gyro theodolite, reversal point method … 34 miles claimed.

May 1973
David Evans (DE) head linesman left to coal face. Andy Roguz (AR) new linesman.

Tues 1 … Surface … to University of Nottingham continued with Gyro theodolite observations … 34 miles claimed.

Wed 2 … Surface … to Teversal then to University … Seminar of Hewlett Packard Electric Distance measurer. To Basford Hall with RICS to see exhibition of instruments (RB*) … 34 miles claimed.

Thurs 3 … Office … General, correspondence. HMI G Adamson re 110s supports (and 10s for waffler exemption). Making drawing of Draw bar coupler for Matt Marshall, Storekeeper for 45 cu ft Mine car. Clips for arches for centre lines. CW Standage Wall plan to date.

Fri 4 … Office … Completed the drawing. 1/5000 sketch of theodolite stations to show polygons.    

Sat 5 … 18123 tons.

Mon 7 … U/g … Dial survey 58s and measurements and set up new centre line markers CB90 Hilti clips … 4 men (RB*, DS, RS, JA).

Tues 8 … Office … Thoresby adjacent workings to date. Meeting 10am … Staff policy … CW S. To Medical centre. Discuss Sister Barbara Hoyland. Made out survey book for 58s. Calculated and plotted 44s AW theodolite survey.

Wed 9 … U/g … (58) Theodolite angling from 20s CG up 44s LG and centre line check … 5 men (RB*, SNW, ANM, HAR, DS) … Office … Calculations of same.

Thurs 10 … U/g … (59) Catenary measuring 44s LG and to North Booster fan house … 4 men (RB*, SNW, HAR, DS) … Office … Calculations for same. 2 notices for Canteen. Repaired double hole punch. (120 u/g)

Fri 11 … Office … Calculations continued. Discuss CW Standage as I outlined re old panels 28s, 40s, 41s, 54s, 111s, 114s etc that were plotted wrongly. Frank Radford Planner re set of plans required of progress for Area HQ.

Sat 12 … 19003 tons.

Mon 14 … Office … Made a start on Electrical plans. Sections etc through Surface boreholes and underground workings for DR Mounsey Production Manager. George H Jackson brought J Russ Smith and discuss. Alwyn Noble Planner on phone re panel numbers 22s to be 43s (DR Mounsey).

Tues 15 … U/g … 110s face heading survey with Waffler and Snicket … 3 men (RB*, SNW, ANM) … Office … Continued with Electrical plans and finished South side.

Wed 16 … U/g … (60) Check theodolite angling and catenary measuring from Drapers Paddy along 20s CG to 44s LG. To 650s borehole in floor … top coal 3ft 6in below Combe coal. Discuss Jim Barnett, Geologist … 5 men (RB*, SNW, ANM, DS, HAR).

Thurs 17 … Office … Continued with Electrical plans. Discuss DR Mounsey Production ManagerDirt disposal … Surface … Dirt tip visit … 3 men (RB*, Ted Hodgson Surface Superintendent and Sam Cole Safety Engineer, later with Jim Barnett Geologist on Dirt tip. Discuss 10s sections J Higginbotham U/m. Discuss DR Mounsey Production Manager various.
Evening … North Notts. Mining Engineering Society … Sid Carter talk.(ex Manager Creswell).

Fri 18 … Office … Finished Electrical plans. Discuss Jim Barnett. General and correspondence.

Sat 19 … Visit to Mining Supplies factory Doncaster to see equipment to be installed. 20750 tons
Sat 19 … Undermanager changed office from Green Hut to ground floor end office in Office block … John Higginbotham.
Jack Allen (JA) linesman left.

Mon 21 … Office … Progress. Sections on plans. Checking through Computer calculations of outside polygon o.k. Scaling tracings from 1940 to 1952.

Tues 22 … Office … Scaling from 1952 to 1954. Checking up odd points from old progress plans.44s check line made out. Discuss same CW S and JAD. Manager’s Wall plan to date. Discuss Alan Elliott Planner re Dunsil / Waterloo proposal. Jack Chapman Area Photographer came re grids on standard mine plans.

Wed 23 … Office … Thoresby adjacent workings. Notice. Discuss Dunsil / Waterloo development with Frank Radford Planner.

Discuss JA Daniels Deputy Manager various. Then he came down into my office later with a list of questions about Dunsil / Waterloo panels in the next 10 years and other irrelevant questions. I had the very thing waiting for such an opportunity as this. From my drawer I pulled a square piece of black velvet and placed what was the top of a glass ornament on it that looked like a crystal ball. I sat staring into it as he watched with fascination for a few seconds then said ‘What are you doing?’. I replied ‘I’m looking for the answers to all those daft questions you have just asked. How do you expect me to know all those things? Such as where did the thick coal lay and its thickness, would there be problems ripping the gates, soft floor, gradients etc, etc, etc. and these possible panels were some 2 miles in front of the proposed drifts to the seam’. He looked aghast when I told him I wouldn’t do it, I was far too busy doing my own survey work to spend time working out such stupid things. I then said ‘You’ll not be here when all this happens so it would be a futile exercise, anyway, that’s a Planner’s job not mine, ask them and the geologist’. He gave one of his hesitant starts to a reply and then the phone rang and as I answered it he decided to drop it and left before I found some other scheme. He never came back with any more stupid questions after that.

Discuss Stuart Farnsworth Cost Clerk re new ordering system. In future to go through him instead of Eric Spencer Admin Officer then to CW Standage and costed.

Thurs 24 … Office … Discuss Matt Marshall Storekeeper re ordering tackle etc. Plan work. Generals correspondence. Drew out sections of 20s seam along gates for DR Mounsey.

Fri 25 … Office … Discuss Blacksmiths re Main Bright seam. Discuss George H Jackson who brought copies of Standard mine plans. Discuss calculations.                                         

Sat 26 … 19744 tons.

Mon 28 … Spring Bank Holiday, Tues 29 … Colliery Rest Day.
Annual Leave Wed 30, Thurs 31, Fri June 1.  
North Wales  
10678 tons

Jim Hooley Deputy Mechanical Engineer left to Dosco. Ted Giles to Creswell as Assistant Undermanager

June 1973

Mon 4 … Office … General, correspondence. Tracing. Made 6 inch master negative to date for Ozaloft copies. Discuss Jim Barnett re North side faulting.

Tues 5 … Office … Info. for Policy Meeting … cancelled.SNW and party re Main Bright levels and check measures. Plotted sections of Main Bright on old Progress plan. CW Standage re possibility of Top Hard panels off 58s … I thought doubtful! Finished off sketches for Computer calculations file.

Wed 6 … U/g … 20s sections and offsets and 650s scour … (RB*) … Surface … Discuss management same. Plotted Drapers section opposite Scour.

Thurs 7 … Office … Plotted progress on plans. General 1/25000 plan with boreholes. Started a diagram of 44s machine operation for J Higginbotham U/m.

Fri 8 … Office … Plan continued. Sorting out difference in headgears. Saw Freddie Longden Surface Mech re books. Sorted out ordering system. Jim Barnett re sample of water from 116s. Finished off 44s sketch for J Higginbotham U/m.            

Sat 9 … 18330 tons
George H Jackson Senior Surveyor promoted to Assistant Area Surveyor. J Russ Smith took over as Senior Surveyor from Planning department. He had only been an Assistant Surveyor at a Colliery.

Mon 11 … U/g … Incident with tubs at 100s LH 1in4 drift… 3 men (RB*, SNW, Sam Cole Safety Engr) … Office plotted levels of Main Bright seam. Plotted incident plan, calculations etc.

Tues 12 … Office … Calculations. Discuss J Higginbotham 58s check line and Kevin Soar on line staff. Info. re No2 Pit top to Method Study department. Sample of water from 116s AW by HAR.

Wed 13 … Office … Plotting surveys and progress on 1/5000 and 6 inch to a mile plans … Surface … to Rufford Lake re water. Info. to Mr West Insurance officer re 116s snicket.   

Thurs 14 … Office … Reading through borehole reports from Scientific department. Amended 58s Support Rules title on prints for 116s for Jimmy Pickering Safety Officer. Boreholes on 1/5000. Amends on 1/2500 plans. Plan. Instructions to linesmen re measuring in metres instead of feet and inches. A start made in the pit with 20 metre marks.

Fri 15 … Office … Measuring areas with Allbrit Planimeter (from Area HQ). Plan. George H Jackson came to collect Planimeter. Taking Ozalofts for 20s Support Rules amendments.          

Sat 16 … 19500 tons.
J Higginbotham U/m transferred Kevin Soar from haulage to linesman, as he was uncontrollable on other duties. He said I would be able to straighten him out. Did take a long time.

Mon 18 … Office … Amendments to 20s AW Support Rules and prints. Manager’s Wall plan. Went through amendments to Surface R & FF Info. with John Hayter Fire Officer, plan to date and prints.

Tues 19 … Offce … Contours, levels, sections etc on Working plans. Tracing of Layout of Coal Preparation Plant and prints for Jack Lyons Electrical Engineer.
John Higginbotham tripped and sprained his ankle in No2 Pit bottom and would be in his office for several weeks with no underground visits.

Wed 20 … U/g … (61) Catenary measuring from 10s LG, 26s, 25s CG to 58s AW snicket … 6 men (RB*, SNW, ANM, HAR, DS, KW) … Office … Calculations. Discuss CW Standage re development etc. (125 u/g)

Thurs 21 … Office … Calculations… catenary measurements checked against previous. Progress from Bilsthorpe plotted on 1/5000. 116s fault projections etc. Pit bottom development copied from Planner’s copy and sections of strata, discuss CW Standage and copying up.

Fri 22 … Office … Rang Stan Brunskill re borehole for 116s AW to prove fault refer to CW Standage and to Keith Shaw DCME re same. Plans for students. Coloured Surface R & FF plans, 2 for J Hayter. Jimmy Pickering re shotfiring pattern for 62s. Discuss CW Standage and Ken Greaves re same.

Sat 23 … 20443 tons … the only Colliery with budget forecast.

Mon 25 … Office … Plotted progress on plans. … Surface … Measurements in Ollerton village … 2 men (RB*, ANM) … Office … Calculations. Plan. Check calculations of 62s LG Scour thirling to 58s LG Junction. Discuss Frank Radford planner. Discuss CW Standage, JA Daniels and J Higginbotham re fault on 114s.

Tues 26 … U/g … Measured up turn and junction at Drapers Paddy Engine house and 600s … 2 men (RB*, SNW) … Office … Phone to Dick Elliott Geologist re Pit bottom strata. Message for Stan Brunskill to contact Manager. Amended proposed development negative.

Wed 27 … Office … Discuss and Info. with CW Standage and DR Mounsey re development. Going through Levelling books from 1939 and plotting same. Plan from Les Kerry Projects Planner showing levels in Pit bottom … however these were wrong!

Thurs 28 … Office … Checking 62s Scour proposed thirling on 1/500. Amendments to 10s Support Rules at LG end. Discuss Info. with Frank Radford Planner.
Surface … to Basford Hall with SN Whittle … Exhibition of Surveying instruments by Zeiss.

Fri 29 … Office … Reading through New Code of Surveying Practice just received … comments. Sketches for Maurice Lamb Boremaster for a borehole at weekend in 116s AW end for fault proving. Ordered a Planimeter.

Sat 30 … 18344 tons.