A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

North Nottinghamshire Area from April 1967

Page - 48 -

Jan 1975

Wed 1 …. New Year’s Day Holiday

Thurs 2 and Fri 3 … Annual leave

Subsidised transport for 1975 at 3.9p / mile = £92.80

Sat 4 … 8181 tons
NUM Extra Weeks Holiday

Mon 6 … Office … General correspondence etc. Updating and inking in Statutory mine plans Plans etc.

Tues 7 … Office … Continued with plans and completed levels etc. Phone AEB re photos of plans. Discuss Linesmen Dicky Bryan O/m and E Corcoran U/m. Meeting … CJ Whyte and AE Betts re 110s SM1 form and discuss.

Wed 8 … U/g … Booster fan Junction measures. 57s AW and 59s face headings, Parkgate Intake heading, and Drive house … Discuss John Jenkyn … dark stone etc. ... 2 men (RB*, DS)
Wed 8 … Office … Meeting … Pre-Accountability CW Standage … no one came from Area HQ!

Thurs 9 … U/g … Theodolite angling on South Paddy Road and South Trunk Road, established new bases and Parkgate Intake heading check … 4 men (RB*, DWT, DS, SC) … Office … Calculations. HMI K Couldwell re 10s AW end supports.

Fri 10 … Office … Drawing 10s AW end supports in 2 stages with Dowty 6 leg chocks and Gullick 5 leg buttress chocks. Salvage figures for 116s and 58s. Discuss Alan Goodwin U/m re R Pickering as Linesman.

Sat 11 … Office … CW S re 10s supports, 116s and 58s salvage. 13342 tons
Sat 11 … U/g … Measured up (Fatal) accident to Roy Kilner, fitter, 20s face, shearer drum slipped off and crushed him to coal face (13) … 8.45 am to 3pm (220 + 2 u/g)

Sun 12 … Office … Plotted accident plan for Roy Kilner Fitter. Fatal died 10.30am. Discuss CW S and David Lawson. 8am – 12 noon.

Mon 13 … Office … Continued with Fatal accident plan. Measured up various parts on drum etc. Discuss Peter Davies Mechanical Engineer. Discuss HMI Ken Couldwell and HMI John Rushton also with same interviewing witnesses. Prints etc. Finished 7.15pm.

Tues 14 … Office … Measurements for drum disc etc. and drawing up same. Finished plan and supplementary plan and 2 copies of extra plan for HMI … sketches of extractor plate modification. Amendments to 10s AW supports, 6 prints to HMI. Discuss Alan Goodwin re same.

Wed 15 … Office ... 110s info re bad work and boreholes from Overman’s book. Phone Les Kerry and SNW Planning re Bunker line 1ft 6in to right. AE Betts discuss, brought back R & FF plans. Phone to Peter Robinson, John Grayson, Geoff Austin re Bilsthorpe Support Rules. Discuss Doug Raisbeck and Steve Lunnon. Discuss Ken Hartwell to assist Eddie Gilfillan Tunnelling Engineer (ATT) in Bunker Road.

Thurs 16 … Office … Finished Salvage returns for 116s and 58s, Plant information for Eric Ricketts PPM. Filing system amends. Checking boreholes on 6 inch sheets. … Surface … to Welfare with ANM and SC. Levelling to previous marks … Office … Discuss AVG re water in 10s AW from the roof. Started plotting Geological folder.

Fri 17 … Office … Colouring R & FF plans. Drew out 59s AW turn and prints. 20s half head shotfiring pattern for HMI exemption, amended date and prints. Discuss JAD re 44s snicket. Discuss Les Kerry Projects Planner re Parkgate. Discuss RCW 10s AW water sample.                          

Sat 18 … 12212 tons

Mon 20 … Office … Plotted Parkgate heading. Sorted out plans for photography. Discuss Frank Radford and 6 inch scale print. 110s water sample, phoned Bill Taylor Mansfield Woodhouse Laboratory. Discuss JAD 59s AW re 6 feet borehole down to coal.. Finished inking in new 1/5000 metric contour negative. Discuss Ken Hartwell ATT re Parkgate Return drift re ripping etc.

Tues 21 … U/g … Theodolite angling from 10s AW through scour into 10s LG … 4 men (RB*, ANM, KS, RP) … Office … General. (220 + 2 u/g)

Wed 22 … U/g … to 59s borehole through overcast o.k. … 3 men (RB*, DWT, DS) … Levelled 59s face head from 500 feet to 657 feet, using line bubble by myself (RB*). To 10s AW lip to measure up accident (RB* met up with ANM, MJ) (14) Discuss RCW and Ian Waugh … Office … Plotted accident … missed the Parkgate Meeting.

Thurs 23 … Office … Discuss JAD re accident and 59s. Tracing accident plan of M Romaniewicz 10s AW lip. Info to Eric Taylor Method Study re manriders. Discuss Stuart Whittle Parkgate. Discuss JAD 44s snicket. Discuss Eddie Gilfillan and RC Watson Pit bottom borehole for pipes. Plotted levels on 1 chain to an inch plan.

Fri 24 … Office … Finishing accident plan and amends for HMI J Rushton. Discuss JAD 45s development and seismic survey. Discuss 59s AW and borehole 11ft 3in down to base of seam.

Sat 25 … 14607 tons

Mon 27 … U/g … RB* with Eddie Gilfillan, Ken Hartwell and RC Watson to borehole through Bunker Road to Loco Road (for cable) … Office … Plotting various … Surface … to Kelham Hall Mr Tyldesley.

Tues 28 … Office … Area HQ progress Prints off 110s to date for fault info, struck last night at 32 feet. Drew out proposed turning 2 x 9 degrees. Discuss AV Goodwin and JA Daniels and Henry Swan. Water sample from 10s AW.

Wed 29 … Office … Drawing out 110s fault info. Discuss Bill Stafford, Dosco firm. AE Betts brought plan reductions 1/10000, 1/10560 and 1/5000. Checked same. Meeting of Officials and men 110s proposed turn … AV Goodwin (RB*). General discussion. Plotting Pit bottom info.

Thurs 30 … Area HQ … Annual Meeting of Surveyors … CJ Whyte … discuss HP computer machine, Support plans by Roy Stubbs Area Safety, EDM Electronic distance measurer … Office … Plotting Pit bottom with ANM. Plotting all water sample on 1/25000 plan for Geological hazards file.

Fri 31 … Office … General. Alan Elliott Asst Planner re changes at 45s development also re 110s, 10s and 58s. Contacted George H Jackson re same.
14150 tons

Feb 1975

Sat 1 … Office … Discuss JAD and RCW 59s snicket & 44s snicket. Support plan for 9s face head coming back towards drift down. Drawing out Junction etc. To turn 110s on Monday. 8.30am – 1.15pm.

Mon 3 … Office … Continued with 59s and 44s snickets. Explained to AVG U/m re 110s AW turn and prints. General. Discuss RCW re developments off grade!

Tues 4 … Surface … Visit round Dirt tips with DWT. Searching for main surface base … destroyed! … Office … Discuss John Leivers Ambulance tubes underground. Discuss Joe Callinan Planner … Manpower survey re Ollerton to Thoresby. Discuss CW S re 110s fault etc.

Wed 5 … Office … 59s AW turn and face back, prints. Sections for 6 to 9 months on 44s drawn out. Support Rules for Stables mid bank with Peter Hallam Area Safety Engineer. Discuss CW S. Discuss RCW and IW. Gave a line level to Les Gray Parkgate chargeman.

Thurs 6 … U/g … Visit to 110s, extended first turn line and measures to borehole, etc. … fault at 2 feet. To Parkgate Intake and Return headings and 600s / 400s turn … (RB*) … Office … Discuss same CW S and 110s turn.
Thurs 6 … Meeting at Area HQ 2pm … Dr B Whittaker from University of Nottingham … systems of support for gate protection etc

Fri 7 … Office … Discuss Ken Greaves 110s. Ventilation info re methane holes to date and tuition to Steve Chapman (SC) how to update plans. RC Watson’s folder to date. Junction plans and prints for 59s and 44s snickets.

Sat 8 … 13287 tons
Sat 8 … Office … Plotted 20s check line. 110s AW turn, faults etc. Steve Lunnon Geologist re Parkgate and 45s AW Dunsil seam? Discuss CW S, EC and RCW.

Mon 10 … U/g … to 45s LG, 45s AW, section of coal 1ft 6in. 20s face dirt. 59s face heading coming back 33ft 6in and 59s AW heading 3 feet of coal … (RB*) … Office … Discuss 45s with Steve Lunnon. Discuss 45s, 59s and 62s with CW S. (225 + 2 u/g)

Tues 11 … Surface … to Thoresby 89s workings within 125 yards (RB*) … Office … Plotted same anso plotting sections, swilleys, projections for 45s area.

Wed 12 … Office … Continued plotting 45s. Discuss F Radford re Surface Strategic plan re Rufford also. 10s LG back ripping and plan of same for JP Berry Deputy Director. Info to HMI J Rushton re 44s supports etc. Asked him about Gyro and EDM use underground. Discuss CW S, EC, Cyril Murphy Area Mechanisation Engineer and Jack Daubney re 44s machines, sections etc. re 62s.

Thurs 13 … Office … CW S re Parkgate grade 2 feet too low. Temporary support of Stable hole cut with machine. Area HQ folder.

Fri 14 … Office … General. Plan … Surface … with Peter Noone Deputy Elec to measure Transformer compound and proposed extension. Plan. Phone CJ Whyte re Dirt tips. Plotting 59s. Plotted Geological folder to date. Discuss Ted Hodgson Dirt tips.

Sat 15 … JAD folder. Area HQ progress. Manager’s Wall plan. Support Rules plan for 110s AW. Discuss CW S. 11554 tons

Annual Leave … Mon 17 – Thurs 20

Fri 21 … Office … General. Progress. Discuss Support Rules. Discuss CW S.

Sat 22 … 10704 tons

Mon 24 … Office … Support Rules for 62s AW and hand-filled stable.
Mon 24 … U/g … Section at 45s AW heading … on top of 1st Waterloo – Dunsil in roof. 44s snicket, North side 59s face and 59s AW and 59s snicket East side. Parkgate Return heading … (RB*) … Office … Discuss CW S and RC W.

Tues 25 … U/g … Theodolite angling 425s, measures to borehole from Bunker Road to Loco Road. (RB*). Called out of pit for info for JA Daniels for Eric Taylor, Method Study department re Paddies. I went spare! I set into them. Drawing of 45s AW for RC and copies. Support Rules for 62s AW and amends. Discuss CW S same.

Wed 26 … Office … Drawing of 45s LG for EC and copies. Area HQ and JAD progress. Plotting borehole in Pit bottom. Discuss J Lyons and Peter Davies re Surface Strategy. CW S re same and Rufford write up. Discuss Ken Middleton, Hollybank re 45s AW section.
BACM Meeting at Sherwood.

Thurs 27 … Office … Amends to Surface Strategic plan. Drawing of Electrical workshop. Prints to J Lyons and P Davies. New Coal Industry Bill from Ray Greasley. Phone Jim Sterland, Dosco re LH side discharge for machine. With HMI J Rushton, CW S and DWT discussing Support Rules for 62s. Discuss JAD general and 20s check line. Meeting … CW Standage and HMI J Rushton, RB and DWT re Support Rules for 62s

Fri 28 … to Sheffield Coroner’s Court … CW Standage, RB, Peter Hallam, Area Safety Engineer and David Lawson Safety Engineer … Inquest re Roy Kilner 20s face. (Note 2 accidents whilst I was away on leave) … Office … Plotting 100s RH AW accident. Figures for Cost Clerk. Info to Peter Hallam.
Fri 28 … 10312 tons
George Hartley Deputy Mechanical Engineer on Surface left to Area HQ

Mar 1975

Sat 1 … Plan Peter Crawford U/m Clerk and NUM Support Rules and prints 62s shotfiring pattern 62s AW stable. Plotting and tracing accident plans. Discuss CW S. Discuss RC East Booster fan. 7.30am – 12.45pm

Sun 2 … Office … Plotting and inking in accident plans. Discuss B Wormald Training Officer. Discuss CW S. 8.15am – 12.45pm
Jack Methley Chief Clerk transferred from Wages dept.

Mon 3 … Interviewed at Area HQ for Senior Surveyor … Keith Shaw DCME, Charles J Whyte, Area Surveyor & Minerals Manager and David Allsop Area Staff Manager 9.45am.
Mon 3 … Office … Temporary plan of Drapers Paddy accident to HMI J Rushton and CW S. 16 prints coloured and distributed. 6 inch Haulage plan to Bernard Charles, Safety dept (ex U/m and D/m at Welbeck).

Tues 4 … Office … Info to Eddie (Agar) Gilfillan ATT re Parkgate Return drift. Finished accident plan to P Eley 100s RH turn and prints to HMI. Discuss CW S. Discuss JAD and AVG re 10s AW to go 30 yards in front.

Wed 5 … Office … Booking boreholes. Area HQ progress. Discuss E Gillfillan junctions. Started plan of Parkgate layout for HMI for 20 man exemption (17). 20s check line made out.

Thurs 6 … Office … Plan finished for Parkgate layout for HMI.
Thurs 6 … U/g … East Booster fan, 62s measure marks and face (RB*) and 59s snicket line (RB*, HH and SC) … Office … Info to Frank Radford and RCW. Discuss CW S.

Fri 7 … Office … Plan of 10s back rips for DR Mounsey. General. Info. Parkgate folders to date with references … Surface with JA Daniels D/m to Stockyard to measure up various arches. Discuss Leo Kirk and Les Kerry same … also Lou Scrivens.

Sat 8 … 10658 tons
Farewell Party in Medical Centre … Sister Barbara Hoyland left.

Mon 10 … Office … 20s check line for CW S and JAD. Discuss Ted Hodgson surface. Workshop description from P Davies. Profile of Drapers Paddy. Ventilation plan and info with Alan Blyton. Info to JAD re Parkgate nesh ground in Intake drift. Ditto to RCW and Ken Hartwell. Area HQ progress and JAD and Manager’s Wall plans. Info to Gordon Weeks re 62s. AE Betts came and discuss.

Tues 11 … U/g … Bettisons 400s / 600s turn. Parkgate Return and Parkgate Intake check … Office … Calculated 59s snicket and plotted on 1/2500 and 1/500. Calculated tonnage for 20s panel for CW S ... In afternoon Colliery Review Meeting in Conference Room at the pit … HM Spanton Director … warned … re poor results and the pit could be in jeopardy if results did not improve. Info to D Stephenson.

Wed 12 … U/g … Abandonment survey of 44s panel … 5 men (RB*, DWT, DS, MJ, KW) … Office … General. Discuss Joe Callinan Planner and Steve Lunnon Geologist various. (230 + 2 u/g)

Thurs 13 … Office … Calculated and plotted 44s abandonment survey and levels. Updated 6 inch and 1/5000 workings. Plotted 110s fault on 1/500. Info to GR Dicky Bryan O/m at 44s. Read the underground Colliery Strategic plan. Info from P Davies and J Lyons re same.

Fri 14 … Office … General. Drawing of Parkgate Return Conveyor house arches for E Gillfillan ATT. Updated 6 inch negative for Ventilation figures. Meeting … CW S, RB, Frank Radford Planner … Strategic Plan. 

Sat 15 … Office … Ventilation plan of East and North districts before and after Booster fan installation for HMI. Salvage for 44s and 58s sheet. 9019 tons.

Mon 17 … Office … Discuss CW S Ventilation plan. Salvage descriptions to Cost Clerk. Phone CJ Whyte re Elec Colour coding … 1100 volts brown. F Radford re Surface Strategy. Drafted notice re match found on Drapers Paddy. Tonnage figures. Meeting Surface Strategic plan … CW S. JAD info re 59s face sections ... Ordered Holbro staff, metric tapes delivered.

Tues 18 … Office … Amendments to 10 year Development plan and prints. Ted Hodgson re Dirt tip life (1988 lagoons). Gradients etc. of 622s and Drapers Paddy for Peter Davies.

Wed 19 … Office … Plotting 45s levels. Discuss 45s Steve Lunnon. Plotting various aspects. JAD and HMI J Rushton and Alan Blyton re 45s development and ventilation. Plan of 45s area for HMI. Discuss JAD re salvage operations. Mr Hunt, Manager of Clarksons brought back optical plummet. Ordered a staff.

Thurs 20 … Office … Calculated and plotted 20s survey. Calculated details to date and references. Phone Ted Hodgson re surface drain cleaning. Colouring 10 year layout plan.

Fri 21 … Office … General. Checking Salvage schedules with Cliff Meakin. Info to RCW re 45s. Info to SNW re Parkgate Intake drive house (sandstone and silt). Discuss CW S re NE Connection. Info to Joe Callinan re NE Connection. Discuss George H Jackson discuss with HP45 calculator.

Sat 22 … 9451 tons
HP 45 Programmable calculator on loan for practice

Mon 24 … Office … General. Info to Ian Waugh. Using HP 45. 44s and 58s salvage. Pricing with Steve WH Lindsay Cost Clerk and Derek Stephenson Mechanisation dept. To Joiners, ordered some drawers. CW S re 62s supports… wrong … amends and prints.

Tues 25 … Office … Investigating faults for proposed 207s South side next to 200s panel. Discuss RCW re 59s. … Surface … with Fred Marples set out 29 degree line for 45s second turn conveyor. Saw Bricklayer Dick Clarke re surface theodolite stations, re original ones destroyed. … Office … Meeting … 20s Face management. Discuss RCW re 59s sections etc. Discuss10s JAD. Discuss Ken Hartwell various.

Wed 26 … Office … Calculated using HP45, 45s survey and plotted. Coal sections on plans. All panels to date with levels etc. Discuss Linesmen re Time, reports etc. Copies of machines from Mech Engr’s.

Thurs 27 … U/g … 400s / 600s, Parkgate Return and Parkgate Intake drift section. Loco circuit … (RB*) … Office … Discuss CW S 400s / 600s grade to 400s. Discuss JAD and Ted Lilley general. Boring hole at 59s Overcast.

Fri 28 … Office … General. O.S. grid reference for July Fete at Comprehensive School for Bill Bracegirdle. David Rodden phoned re formula for a cone. Discuss Surface strategy and HP45 with George H Jackson. Discuss RCW and Colin Wynne ICI 45s shotfiring pattern amends. Cliff Meakin re 58s salvage. Discuss salvage JAD. CW S re 62s AW supports for Ripping machine. Manager’ Wall plan. Phone CJ Whyte re John Goldsborough tuition.

Sat … 9947 tons
Boring hole in Pit bottom and reaming out.
Jack Kniveton Manager of Blidworth to Area Tunnelling Engineer. R Siddall appointed Manager from Deputy Manager Rufford.
Output for 1974 - 1975 = 618, 833 tons. Loss £821,000 1247 men on books

Annual Leave 1 Week Mon 31 – Fri 4 … but called in on Wed for Meeting

Apr 1975 Peter Honeywood Deputy Mechanical Engineer Surface, from Arkwright.

Tues 1 … Holiday Annual Leave

Wed 2 … Meeting Area HQ … Strategic Plan underground and surface … HM Spanton … (CW S, RB) 10am – 12 noon … Office … Discuss AE Betts and George H Jackson various. Finished 59s face installation bar chart. Working plans to date and inked.

Thurs 3 … Fri 4 … Annual Leave
Sat 5 … 6657 tons

Mon 7 … Office … General. Statistics forms, various. Info etc. Discuss Ted Hodgson Surface Superintendent surface and underground. Discuss Peter Davies Mechanical Engineer.

Tues 8 … Office … Emergency Egress plans to date. 6 inch negatives. Salvage figures with Cliff Meakin and Derek Stephenson. Updated Second copy plans.

Wed 9 … Office … Sorting out Support Rules drawer … Surface … Fred Marples … Set out 90 degree for 62s LG transfer conveyor TP in Fitting shop … then in afternoon Dirt Tip inspection with AE Betts ... Office Colouring Emergency Egress plans. Discuss Temporary face stables with JAD and D Lawson.

Thurs 10 … U/g … Visit to 110s, Parkgate Return Junction at 200s, 400s / 600s dint and 400s Back Road … (RB*, DS)
Thurs 10 … Office … Meeting … Dirt Tips … Gordon Fryer, Area Civil Engineer, AE Betts, JA Daniels and (RB).

Fri 11 … Office … General. Plotting and converting sections in feet and inches to centimetres. Salvage with D Stephenson Mechanisation. Info for salvage from Cliff Meakin and Dicky Bryan.

Sat 12 … Office … Calculated Dirt tip volume for No2 and life of tip. Continued converting sections to centimetres. Subsidised travel 2.9p / mile. 12501 tons - Bought a 1974 Austin Allegro, 1.5 Special, Gold with Black top.

Mon 14 … Office … Meeting 9am … F Middleton … Surface Strategy (RB). Contacted Leon Sheldon Area HQ Civil Engineer re Dirt tip life. Copies of Rufford Surface Strategy and discussion. Rewriting Ollerton Strategy.

Tues 15 … Office … General. Section conversions continued. Info from BT Bailey re Dirt tips at Bevercotes. Surface Strategy … Surface … examined route of proposed electric cables from Caravan site to old No1 Dirt tip … (George H Jackson, RB)

Wed 16 … Office … Info for meeting. Pre Accountability Meeting … F Middleton Production Manager (RB)
Wed 16 … Surface … to Blidworth … using Wild DM 500 instrument (John Eyre, Trevor Speed, Philip James, RB*)

Thurs 17 … Office … Colouring Action programs. Discuss Gerry Kirkpatrick Area Vent 80s Dunsil / Waterloo development off 58s and connection from 10s. Plus possible connection from Ollerton to Thoresby.

Fri 18 … Office … Info re Dosco etc. and supports for 45s AW end and face head. Discuss RCW and Ken Middleton Hollybank.

Sat 19 … 13005 tons
North Notts. Mining Engineering Society Dinner at Hardstoft.

Mon 21 … Office … Info to CW S for Accountability Meeting. Info to SNW Planning. Info from AA Grainger for Surface Strategy. Info to CW S re 20s, needs a face survey every 10 yards. Discuss F Radford Planner 1/5000 negs and 80s Dunsil / Waterloo proposal.

Tues 22 … U/g … Visit to 45s AW, 44s snicket and 20s face sections, with Ernie Corcoran measuring slips, North side and 59s snicket East side … (RB*) … Office … Drawing out same. Discuss E Corcoran U/m., JAD and CW S. (Surface theodolite station installed by Bricklayers)

Wed 23 … Office … 80s D/Wloo layout. Ken Greaves and Alan Elliott Asst Planner discuss same. Meeting … Drivage design for Dunsil / Waterloo from 58s stop line … F Middleton (RB). Amends to 62s Support Rules. AE Betts brought HP65 programmable calculator. (These were app £400 each and a great asset to Surveyors but originally on suggesting one to be purchased for each pit the higher management and down to the Managers were up in arms over the cost until it was pointed out that such a sum was peanuts to the loss of equipment at a pit every day. They reluctantly agreed the purchase) … Surface … Set out Bunker feed for Fred Marples in Shop.
New HP 65 hand held Programmable calculator £400

Thurs 24 … U/g … Leg catenary measuring Bunker Road, 425s and 400s. Parkgate Return Drift grades 1in10 and 1in5 … 5 men (RB*, DWT, ANM, DS, SC) … Office … Updating second copy Working plans.

Fri 25 … U/g … Levelling in Parkgate Intake drift and grade line check … 2 men (RB*, SC) … Office … General. Geological folder. 58s LG Pumping Range plan to Sam Pepper. (235 + 2 u/g)

Sat 26 … Office … 45s Support Rules.
12174 tons

Mon 28 … Office … CW S re Dunsil / Waterloo layout plan for signing. Surface Strategy with P Davies and writing up same. Salvage records D Stephenson. Discuss Pit bottom snicket from Parkgate Return. Surface Strategic Plan write up.

Tues 29 … U/g … Theodolite angling for check survey up 10s AW from Scour … 4 men (RB*, DS, SC, MJ) … Office … Calculations. Continued Surface Strategic Plan write up. To Doctors for ears syringed.

Wed 30 … U/g … Measured up 62s LG end Joy Packer, check on 59s chocking. 59s snicket line extended. Parkgate Return check. Parkgate Intake 1in6 grade line checked and extended … 2 men (RB*, DS) … Office … Tip tonnages from Ted Hodgson. Info to Ian Waugh re 59s and 62s.

May 1975

Thurs 1 … Office … Info for JAD re pack lengths at 59s. Dirt tip info to Gordon Ison. Sorting out old plans. Calculations for 10s. General.

Fri 2 … Office … General. (Includes correspondence and discuss various with staff on work routine etc.) Plotting stations on new flat sheets for Parkgate. Looking at lasers in Electric shop with Peter Noone. Discuss JAD re Surface Strategy also with Ted Hodgson and Jack Lyons.                            

Sat 3 … Office … Discuss AVG. Progress. Checking up on Developments. Surface Strategy. Les Kerry, Projects Planner died. 12460 tons

Mon 5 … Office … Saw CW S re write up for Surface Strategic Plan. 59s Support Rules to finish. Plotted 45s section to date. Converting sections on Working plan copies. Drawing of Chock sledge for 44s and prints.

Tues 6 … Office … Converting sections. Discuss and info to RCW. Discuss Salvage operations and new style records with Jim Kerr, Spare Production Manager. Management Meeting … CW S … till 6pm

Wed 7 … Office … Discuss Steve Lunnon Geologist. Continued with sections. Manager’s Wall plan. Discuss John Jenkyn. Info to CW S re 20s for Coal News report. Discuss RC Watson Assistant Manager.
Wed 7 … Evening … Basford Hall … RICS … RJ Orchard National Surveyor talk on the Selby project

Thurs 8 … Office … Completed converting sections to metric. Info to JAD re 59s snicket. Discuss CW S re 59s and 45s Support Rules and signed. General. Discuss CW S re exemptions etc. and Selby project. Info to Harold Jackson Dust Suppression Engineer. Drawing of Boxing Ring for Gala re Denis Ryan. Sent Surface Strategy to Area HQ for typing.

Fri 9 … Office … General. Drawing of Boxing Ring and saw Welder. Geological folder. Totalling sections etc. on Working plan copies. Salvage records.

Sat 10 … 12653 tons

Mon 12 … U/g … Site for laser beam in Parkgate Intake drift. Checked grade in both headings … 2 men (RB*, DWT) … Office … Meeting for Laser installation in Parkgate Intake 1in6 drift. Discuss CW S 45s and 59s Support Rules. Plan of Linby workings for Ian Waugh.

Tues 13 … Office … Ventilation and methane drainage info to date. Info to Fred Marples re conveyors. Info to RCW. Checking up surveys of old 40s etc. re 62s panel. General. AVG re request for small blackboard, relayed request to Joiners.

Wed 14 … Office …Plotting 45s sections on 1/500. Cut down posts at back of office and put new gulley. … Meeting … Parkgate drivages and 58s Dunsil / Waterloo drifts … 2.30pm – 5.35pm.

Thurs 15 … Office … General. Drafting out SM1 form for 62s. Discuss RCW. Surface … re Staff Car park at back of Green Hut with Ted Hodgson … (RB, EH) … Surface … to Thoresby with 62s Support Rules … (RB*).

Fri 16 … Office … General. Amends to 45s face / gate Support Rules. Discuss D Lawson re temporary stable hole by machine … plan. Geological sections. Discuss RCW re 58s AW face Junction. Discuss CW S re Forum for Monthly Policy Meetings. Discuss Steve Lunnon re 45s faults.

Sat 17 … 12681 tons
Sat 17 … Office … New sheet for Monthly Policy meeting. SM1 form. Geological section for RCW.
Sacked Alan Wragg (AW) Linesman re non-attendance and set on Robert Smith (RS)

Mon 19 … U/g … Visit to 45s LG, 45s AW and 20s AW and 44s snicket … (RB*) … Office … Discuss faulting with Steve Lunnon and JA Daniels. Plan to come from Doug Raisbeck Geologist at Eastwood Hall.

Tues 20 … Office … Reply from Gordon Fryer Civil Engineer, altered, re Ted Hodgson. New sheet for Policy meeting. New surface station. Policy Meeting 3pm … CW S.

Wed 21 … Surface … to Welfare examined cracks and did subsidence levelling. Completed 62s SM1 form details. (AE Betts called whilst I was out and discussed with DW Thorpe0. Peter Davies re volume of surface buildings and Parkgate Drive house details. JAD re Salvage instructions … (RB*, DS).

Thurs 22 … Office … To Welfare with DW Thorpe. Examined cracks. Drafted letter for same. Saw JAD re salvage etc. Discuss Ian Waugh and JAD re 45s AW struck a fault. General.

Fri 23 … General. Plotting 45s fault 2 feet shown. Geological folder. Discuss.                 

Sat 24 … 12391 tons

Mon 26 … Spring Bank Holiday … Tues 27 … Colliery Rest day.

Pit Holidays Mon 26 May to Sat 7 June.
Annual Leave Wed 28 May to Sat 7 June.

June 1975
Ian Waugh Assistant Undermanager appointed Undermanager Linby. (He would transfer to Undermanager Goldthorpe, Yorkshire later, then to HMI and later Chief Inspector) Brian Barlow appointed Senior Surveyor from Bilsthorpe replaced A Eddie Betts Deputy Area Surveyor doing job temporary. Geoff Austin transferred from Sutton to Bilsthorpe.

Sat 8 … 11352 tons

Mon 9 … Office … General, discuss etc. Discuss 45s with S Lunnon, JAD and CW S. Discuss various RCW. Alan Goodwin on phone re Alan Wragg … Surface … Setting out batter boards for coal stocking … 3 men (RB*, DWT, ANM) … Office … Phone CJ Whyte re A Neil Mason to Area HQ.

Tues 10 … Office … Brian Barlow came, new Senior Surveyor re 62s SM1 form and discuss. Strata Control form with Roy Bland re 62s, same AVG. Discuss 45s RCW. Drafted letter for 44s salvage operations extension.

Wed 11 … Office … Parkgate Return exemption for 17 men … Meeting 12 noon … General Manager’s Office … Policy. Info re Cowlishaw Walker Bunker plans and Rep for Parkgate Intake.

Thurs 12 … Office … General ... Surface … Check measuring and levelling No8 lagoon on Dirt tip No4 … 3 men (RB*, DWT, ANM) … Office … Discuss same Ted Hodgson and Peter Longden … 46% vend … Plotted same and calculation for same. Calculated and plotted survey of old Loco circuit in Pit bottom done by Steve Chapman, Apprentice.

Fri 13 … Office … General. Planning 110s turning etc. 40 degrees for cone of dirt on Parkgate Intake conveyor. Jack Storr, Thoresby phoned to discuss various … Surface … Theodolit angling to new surface bases down full sidings from new main base. Phone G Ison various. AE Betts came for CTS 1” theodolite (Tavistock) re broken screw to get repaired. 

Sat 14 … Office … Geological folder. Manager’s Wall plan. Changed Deputy Manager’s plans. Planning 110s turning. Discuss David Lawson. New Policy Meeting chart draft. Saw Peter Longden CPP re slurry pond figures.
11329 tons

Mon 16 … U/g … Levelling Parkgate Intake and Parkgate Return drifts … grades o.k. … 2 men (RB*, SC) … Office … Copied up. Policy Meeting sheet to date. J Ray Greasley phoned re printing machine at Bevercotes.  (240 + 2 u/g)

Tues 17 … U/g … Sections etc. in 45s LG and 45s AW and to 44s snicket check … (RB* and Steve Lunnon Geologist) … office … Made out 10s check line. Discuss JAD and AVG 20s check line with E Corcoran. Discuss Laser installation with KFG. Phoned JR Greasley re winches for Rufford. (240 + 2 u/g)

Wed 18 … Office … HMI John Jones re Parkgate 17 men exemption. Plotting Steve Lunnon’s section from last night’s borehole at 45s AW. Discuss Alan Blyton, KF Greaves re boring at weekend. Drawing out curves the … Surface … Marking out in pit yard with Lou Scrivens the curve for 622s paddy bottom end. Discuss JAD. Discuss CW S, JAD and KFG 45s.

Thurs 19 … Office … Discuss Eddie Gray Boremaster re borehole at 45s AW. Surface … Morning, location of drunken man accident on coal stocks … (15) then in the afternoon …

Thurs 19 … U/g … Installation of laser beam in Parkgate Intake drift … (RB*, DWT, DS, SC plus 4 including an electrician) … the first installation of a Laser in North Notts. Area

Fri 20 … Office … Meeting 10am … 45s face re-design … F Middleton. 59s snicket thirled o.k. (Plan for Ged Mason Assistant U/m at Clipstone new North side Undermanager, to start soon) and discuss. Maurice Lamb Boremaster re boring 45s AW. 

Sat 21 … Phone to home from JA Daniels, Acting General Manager query re 45s.
11699 tons

Sun 22 … Office … Plotting 45s boreholes and planning out yardages and grade etc. Eric Fletcher O/m re 20s grade.

Mon 23 … U/g … Examined core of Top Hard in 45s AW head and 1in6 grade and 59s snicket … (RB* and Steve Lunnon, Geologist) … Office … Plotted 44s snicket. Dicky Bryan re 44s salvage and 10s check line. Thoresby 89s finishing position plotted on plan. Checking levels.

Tues 24 … Office … General … Surface … With Ted Hodgson plus 2 examining route of proposed cable through pit yard, pipes, cables etc. … Office … and plan made. Emergency procedure to date and plan for tomorrow (HMI J Rushton underground and HMI K Couldwell on surface. Discuss RCW 110s turning and 59s and 62s sections. Discuss KFG 45s and AVG 62s.

Wed 25 … Office … Discuss Jack Lyons and Ted Hodgson re cable route. Meeting Parkgate DR Mounsey DCME and Dunsil / Waterloo Frank Middleton Production Manager.

Thurs 26 … U/g … Visit to 62s and checked sections on face also to 59s same … (RB*) … Office … General. Calculated area of grass on Dirt tips … 12 acres. Discuss JAD seam sections 59s and 62s.

Fri 27 … Office … Office … General. Organised drills for Saturday coal top measures. Ventilation and Methane drainage plans.

Sat 28 … Office … Plotting 62s etc. 59s and 62s sections. 10s face survey. Converting metric levels to feet! Discuss JAD 11690 tons