A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

North Nottinghamshire Area from April 1967

Page - 49 -

Jul 1975

Ernie Corcoran U/m left and Ged Mason appointed North side Undermanager from Assistant Undermanager Clipstone

Tues 1 … Office … Drawing out 62s and 59s assumed sections in advance … Surface picked up fences and rail track. (RB*) … Office … Extension to plan for Parkgate Powder stores. Discuss AVG re 62s again!! Boring for 40s with extendable rods. Discuss JAD and RCW. Discuss G Mason U/m re 20s dipping.

Wed 2 … Surface … with Lou Scrivens measured up various arches (RB*) … Office … Plotted same. Amend to Junction plan. General. 62s Face Management Meeting. AV Goodwin re sections etc.

Thurs 3 … Office … Calculating levels. Discus F Middleton and JAD 62s and 59s. Amended section drawing. Planning out graphs for Sunday's Meeting for 62s ... Surface … to Lound Hall to fetch graphs transparencies etc. and arrange overhead projector (RB*).

Fri 4 … Drawing graphs on transparencies … Surface … to Lound Hall in pit van to fetch projector (RB*). Discuss F Middleton same. 

Sat 5 … Office … Finished off graphs etc. 8am to 1pm. 11674 tons

Sun 6 … Meeting 9am … JA Daniels … Meeting 10am in Canteen 62s men … Colliery results and 62s face … F Middleton Production Manager … me RB* working the projector and displaying graphs that I had made etc. 8.30am – 12.30pm.

Mon 7 … U/g … 62s LG line check … 4 men (RB*, SC, JG, MJ) then with JA Daniels, AV Goodwin, P Davies, M Young to observe Joy Ram Packer in 62s LG packhole. Gate heights, sections etc. Then to 59s AW and 59s LG to check on survey done by SC (RB*) … Office … F Middleton discuss 62s. Form with KFG Grade A+. (245 + 2 u/g)

Tues 8 … Office … Plotting 45s. F Middleton Production Manager re Surface Strategy, made out 3 more sheets. G Ison phoned re Laser beam visit on Monday. 59s face start Uni-di in afternoon.

Wed 9 … Office … With JAD Supports for proposed system of ripping in line at 62s AW. Also re F Middleton wires for underground sighting line. Discuss KFG Parkgate Intake drift heading substation. SNW phone re Parkgate. D Lawson re supports (coal in 45s AW). 110s small fault in AW end. Steve Lunnon same.

Thurs 10 … U/g … to Mansfield … Deep Soft 136s and 103s TG ripping in line Also to 250 tons Cowlishaw Bunker … (RB* with AV Goodwin, Peter Davies, Les Boyles Deputy plus 1) General discuss.

Fri 11 … Office … General. Info. Meeting re last 3 months progress and development F Middleton, JA Daniels and Frank Radford. Plan for Parkgate Sub station and drive house. 20s water sample to Laboratory for analysis.

Sat 12 … Office … Working plan copies. Levels etc. Supports for 45s AW amended. Manager’s Wall plan. 10946 tons

Mon 14 … U/g … Visit to Parkgate drifts and Laser beam in Intake drift at 1in6 dip. 600 ton bunker. 110s panel on South side (RB* with Gordon Ison) … Office … JAD re Salvage instructions … then …. Pre Accountability Meeting F Middleton 3.45 to 5.30pm (This is where he was asking for ideas round the table and a remark by an Undermanager saw him put his head in his hands and leant forward, saying ‘If we do that we are heading for ******* disaster’. I smiled and some sniggered as he looked up then realised what he had said and gently told Irene the clerk who was taking the minutes that she could knock off now and we would manage. After she had left Frank Middleton glared and set into us all for laughing at his expense and therefore kept us an extra hour for our failings. Some of us laughed about it for weeks afterwards.

Tues 15 … Office General. Geological folder. Discuss KFG and Derek Stephenson salvage. Phone Bill Taylor at the Laboratory re 20s water samples. Alan Blyton re Methane boreholes to date.

Wed 16 … Office … Plan and info to Ian Fox new Asst Elec Engineer. Salvage details with RC Watson. Jack Lyons re surface cable route. Distributed plans… Conference Room, Deputy Manager etc. Calculated bearings of closed theodolite traverse 25s to 10s. Phone AEB re Gyro and Distomat. Drafted letter to HMI requesting permission to use underground.

Thurs 17 … Office … Info to KFG. Surface Strategy meeting with Frank Middleton Production Manager with amends. Info for Accountability and meeting for same. Amends for 62s Support Rules at LG drafted out. Writing up notes for Surface Strategy.

Fri 18 … Office … With RCW planning 110s turning LG and fly cutting.                           

Sat 19 … 8505 tons
Brian Cooper Deputy at Thoresby appointed Surveyor at Sutton.
Colliery Investigation by Method Study, Safety department and Mechanisation department re poor results for the colliery … (they set the dogs on us!)

Mon 21 … Office … Surface … Marking out car park lines (RB*) … Office … Meeting G Mason 45s AW. Small fault at 20s AW. Levels in Pit bottom plotted. Discuss JAD 62s cover to 40s. Mr HM Spanton says less than 5. 45s section. Steve Lunnon phoned 45s psi.
Meeting in afternoon … 45s AW … Ged Mason U/m (RB*)

Tues 22 … U/g … Visit to 44s snicket, 45s headings, 20s panel, 59s AW end, 62s LG and check line, Bunker heights to arches … morning.

Tues 22 … Office … Meeting … Progress and Control … JA Daniels … afternoon 3.15pm – 7.10pm (RB*).

Wed 23 … U/g … I Escorted JP Berry, Deputy Director Mining, R Scott Chief Mining Engineer, F Middleton Production Manager, P Hallam Area Safety Engineer and Gerry Kirkpatrick, Ventilation Engineer to 58s face via LG picking up details as called out by JP Berry. He went over the top at the face lip entry where some panzer chain was lying and started shouting that this was impeding the ventilation! The panzer was staked, by 3 big falls on face that we had to precariously clamber over. An open glow heating in the goaf … men filling bags of red hot coals in 5 minute spells and quenching them with water. Gerry took air samples. After watching for about 15 minutes we made our way out to the paddy via 58s AW. I chatted with Frank Middleton re various on the paddy and he reminisced of his days as a Survey Linesman. I had arranged 622s and 25s paddies inbye and outbye. Decision to stop the district off and abandon the Dunsil / Waterloo entry from that area … Fortunately I never needed to plot anything and 58s stoppings completed 12.15pm on Saturday 26.

Thurs 24 … Office … Re-plotting Co and ratio graphon larger size. DR Mounsey re sections etc. Plan for a panel between 40s and 42s from 25s end … 66s. Discuss Frank Lee, frank Radford re same. Made 6 inch Ventilation neg. Coloured a print of same. All info required to Rescue Room and Area HQ.

Fri 25 … Office … General. Amends to M&QA re Dust Regulations ... Surface … Levels etc. on No2 Dirt tip for shunt … (RB*, SC) with Ted Hodgson, Surface Superintendent and Freddie Longden Surface Mechanical … Office … Plotted same and sketch. JAD progress. Tried to contact G Fryer Civil Engineer … no answer.

Sat 26 … Office … 6 inch Ventilation plan in Action programs. 58s graph. JAD discuss. Info to Electrical. Norman Wood Scientist. Fan house. 58s stopped off. 9213 tons

Mon 28 … Surface … Practising with the ‘Revealer’ (RB*) … similar to divining … Office … Info to Ray Keeton Mechanisation. HMI re ventilation figures for 58s. … Surface … Marking out Car park. ... Office … Drafted out and sent to HMI for Distamat for underground. Coloured R & FF plan. Info to S Lunnon re 66s. Tried to contact G Fryer Civil Engineer re prices.

Tues 29 … Office … WE Brian Barlow came, exchanged Working plans … Surface … to look at shafts etc. … Office … Borehole info from books. Looked at proposed panel at side of 20s. Looked at amends for 62s LG and Support Rules. Rep from Clarksons re instrument. Tried to contact Gordon Fryer. S Lunnon re 20s. Drawing of trowel for Blacksmiths to make for Linesmen for seam sections. Discuss GM.

Wed 30 … Office … Parkgate Return steel needs holes for Laser frame. General. Surface Strategy finished and sent for typing Supports amended at 62s LG. Discuss D Lawson Safety Engineer, Discuss John Hickling Mech re 36” and 48” G for Bunker. Meeting … Parkgate and wind up of Dunsil / Waterloo project … F Middleton Production Manager (RB*)

Thurs 31 … Surface … Using the ‘Revealer’ from Civil Engineer to locate pipes etc. (RB*) It had a wide range of items and minerals etc. … Office … Plotted results.

Thurs 31 … Office … Meeting Colliery Review … HM Spanton Area Director (RB). Pros and Cons for roadway from Parkgate Return to 400s. 110s turning. Discuss JAD and AVG.

Aug 1975

Fri 1 … Office … General. Discuss JAD and Jack Kniveton ATT re Parkgate Return roadway. Phone G Ison re old shafts in Meden Valley. 110s turn plan.

Sat 2 … 8443 tons

Mon 4 … Surface … to Meden Valley at Stanton Hill with Gordon Ison and Dr Griffin … Old Wharf pit shaft exposed with 2 inches of encrusted soot on sides. (RB) Area Tunnelling Team examining shaft. To Teversal office to examine old plan and to Sutton to examine old plan

Annual Leave Tues 5 to Thurs 14. Mudeford

10008 tons

Fri 15 … Surface … First in North Notts Area to measure a shaft with D10D Distomat on its side through a hole in the cage floor. The Blacksmiths had put a baulk across the opening of No2 to rest the cage on and sand bags to anchor the instrument. CW Standage gave me permission for 15 minutes extra after snap time before materials to be sent in. The exercise was completed in the said time 10.00am to 10.35am. Measured surface bases also and to No1 headgear station. (AE Betts, WEB Barlow, RB, DWT, ANM) … note the Surveyor Ken Gray at Annesley was the first to use it in South Notts Area but like all other pits the measuring was done at weekend when the shaft was not being used fully … Office … Manager’s Wall plan.

Sat 16 … 6309 tons
New Staff Car Park open behind the Green Hut

Pit Holidays Mon 18 to Sat 30.

Mon 18 … Surface … Survey of No8 lagoon with Kern Tachymeter … 3 men … (RB*, DWT, ANM) … Office … Plotted same. 2 winches collected for Rufford.

Tues 19 … Survey of No4 Dirt tip and start of lagoon No9 with Kern Tachymeter … (RB*, DWT, ANM) … Office … Plotted same. Frank Radford Planner re Pit bottom roadways. Also re Surface Strategy. Brian Barlow general and discuss.

Wed 20 … Office … Calculation for No2 Shaft measurement. Discuss CW Standage various. Info re all panels for CW S re visit next week from Hobart House in London.

Thurs 21 … Office … Completed same. General. Electrician from Area HQ came for the ‘Revealer’. J Volko, Engineer from Rexco Plant came for part of an O.S, sheet.

Fri 22 … Office … General. Plan from Rexco. Frank Radford Planner, I signed 110s turning plan. He brought old Surface Strategic plans back. Amended same. Using Coradi planimeter for areas of coal worked. Discuss AVG, JAD, CW S re 62s 50% quartz in silt ripping.

Sat 23 … Nil

Mon 25 … Bank Holiday

Tues 26 … U/g … Gyro theodolite observations on main pit bottom base on old Loco Road and South Trunk Road … 6 men … (AE Betts, WEB Barlow, RB, DWT, ANH, SC) 9am – 5pm (250 + 2 u/g)

Wed 27 … U/g … Gyro theodolite observations on 25s LG East side K1-K5 … 6 men (AE Betts, WEB Barlow, RB, DWT, ANM, SC) 9am – 3pm.

Thurs 28 … U/g … Theodolite angling from main base up 200s, down the Bunker Road and South Trunks to Gyro base inbye, then back round C4 curve to main Gyro base … 4 men (RB*, DWT, ANM, SC) 9am – 2pm … Office … Calculations.

Fri 29 … U/g … Gyro theodolite observations on 20s CG, North side … 5 men (AE Betts, WEB Barlow, RB, ANM, SC) 9am – 3pm.      

Sat 30 … Office … Calculations. Plans to date. Info to Alan Blyton Ventilation Officer.      
Nil
Keith Shaw DCME left to NCB National Exploration Engineer. Sister Brenda Davidson started. W Tom Grainger started as Projects Planner (Les Kerry had died earlier)

Sep 1975
Bob Pickering (RP) linesman left to coal face, John Woofe (JW) temporary linesman.
Group change … Ollerton, Bilsthorpe, Bevercotes, Blidworth and Harworth … Robert (Bob) Anderson new Production Manager. J Ray Greasley Senior Surveyor, Planner John Herbert.

Mon 1 … Office … General. Amends to 62s LG Support Rules and signed by CW S. Plan of 10s for Jim Kerr, Special duties Production Manager … Surface … Visit to Dirt tips etc. with CJ Whyte Area Chief Surveyor, (RB) … Office … R & FF negs., 58s ventilation removed. Contacted P Noone re Electrical info to date.

Tues 2 … U/g … Theodolite angling from 41s / 42s Junction to 45s AW … 5 men *(RB*, DWT, SC, KP, MJ) … Office … Discuss CW S and RCW re HM Spanton visit.

Wed 3 … U/g Visit to Parkgate drifts etc. with CW Standage, Leo Kirk and Tom Grainger new Projects Planner … Office … 110s turn plan. Amended R & FF negs. (255 + 2 u/g)
Thurs 4 … Plotting and calculations, levels. Discuss Dick Horton Annesley re shaft measuring details using Distomat on side. Amended R & FF prints and Ventilation plans. Discuss S Lunnon faults etc. Parkgate and 45s. Discuss Jack Kniveton, E Gillfillan and Ken Hartwell ATT. WE Brian Barlow brought 1/5000 flat sheet from Area HQ. Took Tavistock 1” theodolite back.

Fri 5 … Office … General. Calculations re Barometer pressure etc. in Pit bottom for Distomat. Copy of Job sent to Dick Horton at Annesley. Sections, dates etc. on Working plans.               

Sat 6 … 7760 tons

Mon 8 … Office … General. Info to CW S, R Anderson Production Manager and JP Berry Deputy Director re 20s presumed fault etc. Discuss RCW re 66s. Finished plotting info off old 2 chain Roll plan.

Tues 9 … Office … General. Inking in plans for grades, levels, roads etc. to date. Thoresby workings and stippling all to date.

Wed 10 … U/g … Theodolite angling continued from 59s snicket, 59s LG and NE connection. Checked 66s LG position. .. 4 men (RB*, ANM, DS, MJ) … Office … Info to CW S for St Bv German Mines Layout Committee.

Thurs 11 … Office … With German Mines Layout Committee … I gave a Talk and prepared some plans for them and discuss again afterwards. Calculations. Discuss RCW re 66s Junctions.

Fri 12 … Office … CJ Whyte came to discuss Assistant. Levels to date. Amends to 45s face gate plans for exemptions to HMI and prints.

Sat 13 … Office … Began new Support Rules booklet … Title page. Notices for 59s/62s paddy times and panel leaving times. 10757 tons

Mon 15 … Office … Support diagrams for faces. Began amending 62s Support master neg. Method Study discuss.

Tues 16 … U/g … Dial survey 110s district and new LG line check o.k. … 4 men (RB*, DS, KS, KW) … Office … Amends to 62s Support Rules. Calculations.

Wed 17 … Office … General. Workings to date. Plotted 110s, 45s, 62s and 59s. R & FF neg. Began up dating info on same. Tom Grainger re Pit Bottom haulage for Parkgate Battery loco. Derek Stone Asst Planner re 66s.

Thus 18 … Amends to 45s face gate Support Rules. Finished R & FF negs. HMI J Rushton re further amendments to 45s Support Rules … 8 prints sent. To Medical Centre to meet new Sister Brenda Davidson, discuss plans of the pit. JAD re Covered Accommodation in Deployment Centre.

Fri 19 … Office … R & FF negs with John Hayter Fire Officer. Pump info with Sam Pepper. Haulage info with Bill Woodcock, Phones John Clapperton. Negatives to date. Medical plan info John Leivers.

Sat 20 … R & FF Statistics form. Supports M&Q 204. Emergency procedure with CW S 11372 tons

Mon 22 … Office … Coloured Pit Head Sketch plans. Amendments and prints 110s Support Rules. D Lawson check. Emergency Egress negs. R & FF print coloured. Amends and negs to Area HQ via Brian Barlow. Parkgate distances for driving to CW S. 45s yardages to RCW. KFG re notices.

Tues 23 … U/g … Survey of 45s LG head and 20s panel and lines adjusted … 4 men (RB*, DS, ML, JG)
Office … Calculations. KFG re 110s AW end fault … Office … CJ Whyte came to discuss Assistants advert. Calculations for 45s.

Wed 24 … U/g … to 110s AW end, measured slips with Harry Bradley Overman and a Turkish student, line extended under lip … Office … Plotted same. Calculated 45s and plotted. Info to Turkish students. Discuss JAD 110s turn … 3 degrees. Cleaned and adjusted Watts 5 min dial.

Thurs 25 … Office … Calculations. Finished neg for Dust Control, Dust Zones, Ventilation on 6 inch. Coloured R & FF prints … Surface … with George H Jackson, followed route of Boughton Dyke from old Brickworks to Kirton.

Fri 26 … Office … Plans for Turkish students. R & FF prints in folders and all distributed, new cases also … Surface … with George H Jackson and Alan Kirk Scientific dept to take water samples at Boughton Dyke below to Sewage works and up to Rexco plant coal stocks … Office … 622s Paddy turn.

Sat 27 … Plans. Calculations. Amended 110s LG Support Rules. 622s Paddy turn point. 11632 tons

Mon 29 … Office … Discuss Dirt tip survey with DWT. Colouring various 6 inch prints and distributed. Made up all negs and amends. Discuss RCW re Action Program.

Tues 30 … Office … Amended 6 inch Development plan neg. Parkgate foundations for Return drift drive with DWT. Support Rules, new style, for 59s, 62s to finish.
KF Greaves Nights, P Hoare Days and G Weeks Afters … Assistant Undermanagers

Oct 1975

Wed 1 … Office … Amends on surface negs 1/500 and 1/1250 … Surface … Measures to new Time / Wages store … 2 men (RB*, DWT) … Office … Meeting … Conveyors P Davies, M Young, A Potts Area Mech, Laurie Paterson Method Study requires all gearheads checking. Meeting R Anderson, all the team … General discussion and comments. HMI K Couldwell Rescue info etc.

Thurs 2 … U/g … Theodolite survey into Parkgate Intake drift and laser beam check. Theodolite extension in Parkgate Return drift and grade line check. Ready for laser installation. Marked out dinting required in Return drive house ...4 men (RB*, DWT, KW, RS) … Office … Filled in Stats form for Walking and riding distances to faces. Phone J Storr Thoresby.  (260 + 2 u/g)

Fri 3 … Office … Second copy Working plans to date. With David Lawson … all distances to Junctions to DC and UC shafts in metres.                                                                       

Sat 4 … Office … 62s / 59s new style Support Rules, discuss CW S and AVG. Manager’s Wall plan. 59s check line. Conveyor belt line. 10918 tons
DW Thorpe (DWT) left to Area Survey Office

Mon 6 … Office … Second copy plans. 62s Support Rules. Discuss CW S Trunk conveyor lines, also P Davies. General. Stippled plans to date.

Tues 7 … Office … Preparing new Parkgate flat sheet … Pre-Accountability Meeting … R Anderson, Production Manager. Discuss 46s with Derek Stone Asst Planner. 44s turn out plan and prints.

Wed 8 … Office … Discus CJ Whyte re Assistants. Info to RCW. JAD re 110s AW fault. Parkgate Meeting 3pm … CW Standage. Discuss various people … Planning, Method Study, Projects, Engineer etc.

Thurs 9 … Office … Slides etc. for Parkgate development heads for Lecture. Info to Method Study re conveyors … D Rodden ex Manager now NUM Safety Inspector re 59s LG supports, same with CW S.

Fri 10 … Office … Control of Airborne dust folder. Calculations and plotting 110s levels. Colliery plans and folding. General. Slides for RC Watson.                                                        

Sat 11 … Surface … with Barry Shephard Dust Suppression Officer … Measured up old Screens … Office … Drawing large plan of same. Geological folder. Discuss RCW re slides. 11922 tons
Annette Wyld new Lady Tracer started on Mon 13 and shown duties etc. by Paula L Lesh.

Mon 13 … Office … Ray Greasley brought Annette Wyld … discussion. Paula Lesh to give her tuition. … Surface … Measured screens … Office … Finished 1/125 plan and prints. Drawing of a bolt for Engineers and prints.

Tues 14 … Office … HMI Chief Inspector’s Report 1974. … Surface … Dirt tip No4 inspection moving to Dirt tip No2 next Mon 20 (RB*) … Office … Surface plan to Philips Electrics showing areas of flood lighting. K Soar re turning 110s AW 2 degrees more. Discuss CW S, JAD, AVG same. 20s chock line re G Mason. Info to rep from Bretby re 62s and plans.

Wed 15 …. U/g … With RC Watson, Assistant Manager, Tom Granger Projects Planner, Laurie Paterson Method Study … Inspected Proposed Parkgate supplies route and circuit (RB) … Office … Plan to Method Study. Colouring plans. Parkgate drift interpolations.

Thurs 16 … Office … General. Finished stencilling Airborne Dust Control diagrams for faces and headings. Jack Lyons Elec Engineer re Radiation store. J Ray Greasley changed plans and discuss. Parkgate intervals with S Lunnon and plotting.

Fri 17 … General. Office … Meeting … Jack Lyons, Electrical Engineer re Radiation store. Also re Engine house.1/2500 plan of surface. Plotting 45s. Geological folder. Diagram of Parkgate drift scheme for the ‘Pitman’.                                                                                              
Paula Lesh left on Fri 17 after 1 week overlap for tuition.

Sat 18 … Office … 45s chock installation plan. Discuss AVG various and check lines. Discuss Eric Fletcher O/m. 12803 tons

Mon 20 … Office … General. Discuss RCW. Discuss GM ere 45s chock installation plan finished. 45s face thirling marks. John Clapperton and Elec Board re cable route … started … Surface … Tacheo survey No9 lagoon, sand base, etc. … 2 men (RB*, ANM)

Tues 21 … U/g … Theodolite angling and catenary measuring in 110s AW and 110s LG and line checks … 5 men (RB*, ANM, DS, SC, RS) … Office … Calculations. Jim Hanson, Silverhill phoned re visit. Discuss JAD 59s Isopachytes of sections.

Wed 22 … Office … Discuss JAD Parkgate, 110s Aw and Laser beam…. Surface … Measured up new electric cable trench and exposed pipes etc. … (RB*) … Office … Calculated and plotted 110s survey. 110s check line made out. Amends to R & FF plans in Rescue Room with Annette Wyld.

Thurs 23 … U/g … Surface and Underground visit to Parkgate drifts to see laser beams … (RB*, Joe Manion, Mick Parker and Doug Hickling from Silverhill) … Office … Calculations of levels to feet. Plotting 110s levels.

Fri 24 … Office … Discuss John Herbert Planner re new panel at side of 20s. Discuss JAD same. General. Laser info. Sketches for Peter Davies re shafts. Repairing tapes. Stats form for conveyor belting. Plotting Parkgate drift levels.

Sat 25 … 11445 tons

Mon 27 … Office … General. Plotting progress with Annette. Plans to date. Coal tonnages for Area HQ. Discuss John Herbert Planner re panels either side of 2s? 45s coal sections etc. Same JAD. Info to Cost Clerk. 66s Face Design Meeting cancelled.

Tues 28 … Office … Planning panels at side of 20s. Saw CW S and JAD re same. Parkgate Return Drift Laser installed (ANM, DS and SC). Phone Geoff Austin Bilsthorpe re Parkgate work and various.

Wed 29 … Office … General. Discuss RCW 45s snicket. Appraisal sheet for A Neil Mason. Planning with Derek Stone … Surface …with Engineer for Workshops, also new Electric cable trench. … Office … New bulbs in Printing machine and cleaned same. Discuss Sam Pepper re pump lodge at North No1. Stencilling.

Thurs 30 … U/g … Visit to Welbeck with RC Watson to Top Hard Pit bottom to see Battery loco house and invited by Overman to drive Clayton Pony battery loco round the Pit bottom circuit (very simple handling forward and reverse) … Office … Info to J Lyons. Info to CW S re 59s, also for position of borehole off 20s LH to prove fault to left at 100 yards? Laurie Paterson Method Study re proposed Loco route to Parkgate Return drift.

Fri 31 … Office … Discuss Chris Thorne and Steve Lunnon Geologists re proposed panels and seismic survey. Plotting out same. Workings on 6 inch prints. Discuss CW S 59s and 45s etc.

Nov 1975

Sat 1 … Office … Discuss CW S and AN Mason Appraisal. Discuss Maurice Lamb Boremaster re boring and Tropari Pjari borehole survey instrument. 11032 tons

Mon 3 … Office … Discuss GM re 20s. Addition to 45s face installation plan and prints. Bearings re Gyro.

Tues 4 … U/g … Visit to 45s, 20s LH borehole site, 20s AW end to measure slips and boreholes (RB* and Ged Mason, Undermanager). Then theodolite angling in 20s LG … 4 men (RB*, ANM, SC, KW) … Office … JAD re 110s AW fault and borehole site. G Ison, J Ray Greasley and M Lamb with Tropari Pjari Borehole surveying instrument.

Wed 5 … Office … Info from Reg Smart Deputy re 20s slips. Discuss JAD. Progress Meeting 11.15am … R Anderson Production Manager. AA Grainger and P Davies re Bunker alignment. AE Betts re Interview for First Assistant. Discuss S Lunnon 20s faults. Bearings to AEB for Gyro.

Thurs 6 … U/g … Offset survey of 600 ton Sutcliffe bunker (RB*, ANM, SC, DS and Jack Shaw and Geoff Bacon Area Engineering Drawing office). Also offset survey of 200m inbye Parkgate Intake drift along South Trunks … Office … Info for Elec HMI re 62s. Copying up notes. Discuss 110s AW going to left more with turn at 8 degrees. Also re 20s faults. Co-ordinates to AE Betts. (265 + 3 u/g)
Thurs 6 … Sadly Jim Kerr spare Production Manager committed suicide at Holborn Underground station in London.

Fri 7 … Office … Drawing out Bunker offset survey and inking in. Job appraisal CW S *** Proposed 22s with R Anderson.

Sat 8 … Office … Drawing out Junctions for proposed 22s with G Mason. Measured up arches and plotted. Discus JAD and GM. 12501 tons.

Mon 10 … Office … Finished Bunker plan and prints. Meeting … Parkgate project … R Anderson. Plotting Pit bottom roads on 1/5000. Discuss Leo Kirk and Tom Grainger re proposed Vertical Bunker in Pit bottom. Discuss JAD 66s.

Tues 11 …U/g Morning … Offset survey round 400s Empty Road & 400s Main, check (RB*, ANM, DS, SC)
Tues 11 … U/g … Afternoon … Moved laser beam mount inbye in Parkgate Intake drift successfully … 4 men (RB*, ANM, DS, SC) … Office … Discuss AEB and JRG by phone. Discuss Walter Hulley Chief Draughtsman and G Bacon re Bunker survey again on Wednesday.

Wed 12 … Area HQ … sat on Interview panel … 9am – 1pm with CJ Whyte, AE Betts, John Walters Staff Manager, John Grayson and self. AN Mason Ollerton to Mansfield and Mick Parker Silverhill to Ollerton … Office … Info from DW Thorpe and to Walter Hulley.

Thurs 13 … Office … Plotting sections, and made negative for proposed Materials route. Discuss R Scott CME, DR Mounsey DCME and CW S same. Manager’s Wall plan.

Fri 14 … General info sheets to adte for all panels to CW S re HM Spanton. Finished off plan of Pit bottom Run round. Re yardages etc. Discuss J Herbert re future development and Parkgate Intake reaching coal.info for CW Standage re HM Spanton Director visit.                    

Sat 15 … U/g … To Cleveland Potash Ltd Boulby Mine, near Whitby … escorted by Jack Hall ex Thoresby Undermanager and Maurice Cormes Area Mechanisation Engineer. Deepest shafts in UK at 1150m and temperature 103'F. Rode the Rock shaft that had rigid guides giving a rather rattling ride. Ride in Jeep into working headings, Potash overlain by a bed of salt. 11494 tons

Mon 17 … Office … Checking Dirt tip forms etc. Plotted Parkgate drifts sections o.k. John Herbert with 46s layout. Discuss RCW 66s and Parkgate. Sorted out conveyor belt lines into new folder.

Tues 18 … U/g … Levelling Parkgate Intake and Parkgate Return drifts … 2 men (RB*, MJ) … Office … Copying up and plotting section.

Wed 19 … Office … Plotting and inking in levels on all panels. Calculated and plotted 20s surveys. Discuss AEB over phone. Rep from Clarksons discuss. Discuss proposed Vertical Bunker and plan of Parkgate Materials Road to Tom Grainger Projects Planner. Walter Hulley re Bunker. To Area HQ … Film on Meco Moore.

Thurs 20 … Office … Access drift drawing for proposed Engine house … Surface … Measured up location of fire on Dirt tip … Office … Plan of site. Discuss JAD re weekend figures. Figures to Cliff Rhodes Asst Cost Clerk. Discuss Steve WH Lindsay Cost Clerk and CW S. RCW re 45s supports. Made 1/5000 R & FF negs to date plus amends.

Fri 21 … Office … General. Dirt tip forms, copies. Emergency Egress negs to date.

Sat 22 … Office … Dirt tip plans coloured, 2 sets. Plotting 20s faults. 10199 tons

Mon 24 … U/g … to 20s to measure up fault. Also to 44s stopping sites and doors … just completed (RB*) … Office … Meeting 2pm – 5pm … Colliery Accountability … R Anderson.

Tues 25 … Office … Drawing for 110s AW to go onto 8 x 9 arches. Drawing of turn for Parkgate Intake. Phone JRG re Radiation Store plan … discuss J Lyons and E Hodgson. RCW discuss. Ordered set of Level legs and a staff to be repaired. Electrical plans to date. Kevin Gaydon int.

Wed 26 … Office … Drawing of 45s face supports for Ged Mason U/m. Drawing out Conveyor at back of Bunker. Discuss Parkgate with S Lunnon. Co-ordinates in dial book.

Thurs 27 … Office … Continued and finished same. Parkgate discuss RCW and ANM. Calculated and plotted 59s survey … Surface … with John Hayter Fire Officer re the route of proposed new surface fire fighting range … 2 men (RB*, J Hayter). R & FF plans changed. John Harrison re Bunker.

Fri 28 … Office … Discuss Junction at Parkgate Return. Plans to date. General. Manager’s Wall plan. Geological folder. Discuss 59s JAD, Ted Lilley NACODS Sec ... sections. AVG re 110s fault.

Sat 29 … Office … Drawing Parkgate Return Materials Road Junction. Discuss RCW. 10006 tons
A Neil Mason (ANM) promoted from Ollerton to Mansfield Deputy. D Mick Parker (DMP) from Silverhill promoted to Ollerton as Deputy.

Dec 1975

Mon 1 … Office … Turns for Ged Mason. JRG Surface plan. Phone Steve Lunnon. General discuss D Mike Parker (DMP). Discuss RCW and T Grainger Parkgate Junction and catenary and back work.

Tues 2 … U/g … Grade line on Bunker tight side using theodolite … 4 men (RB*, Mick Parker (DMP) DS, SC) … Office … afternoon … Meeting … 66s Face design … R Anderson. Discuss S Lunnon. Parkgate and CW S. D Stone re 66s. (270 + 4 u/g)
Graham Hall (GH) transferred from Welbeck to Ollerton as 2nd Assistant.

Wed 3 … Office … General discussion Graham Hall (GH) … Surface … Measurements at Washery and screens for proposed fire fighting pipe range … 2 men (RB*, DMP) … Office … Discuss RCW. JAD re proposed Rescue Practice on 15th. General.

Thurs 4 … Off

Fri 5 … Office … General. Geological folder. Dosco Dint header drawing started. Discuss same.

Sun 7 … Phoned Borers re Parkgate borehole for catenary … 49 feet 7 inches to coal. 10194 tons

Mon 8 … U/g … Visit to 45s and 20s panels… (RB*, DMP and GH) … Office … Parkgate borehole result 49ft 7in to coal plotted. General.

Tues 9 … Office … General. Meeting … Progress … R Anderson Production Manager. Drawing Parkgate Materials Junction. Discuss.

Wed 10 … U/g … Leg catenary measuring from Loco Road base, up 200s along Bunker to Parkgate Intake Junction ... 5 men (RB*, DMP, GH, DS, KP) ... Office ... General. Discuss R Anderson Production Manager. Discuss Leo Kirk, Tom Grainger Parkgate.

Thurs 11 … Lecture on mining and some items for hands on for school children at St John Houghton Roman Catholic School, Ilkeston, teacher Jack Woodland (friend and ex Teversal workman and Deputy) … Office … Copying Catenary notes and checking distances. General discussion R & FF plans.

Fri 12 … Office … General. Plans to date. Manager’s Wall plan. Info to JAD re 45s water. R & FF info with John Hayter Fire Officer. Discuss John Herbert Surface Strategic plan amends. Discuss J Ray Greasley re Dirt tips and Water boreholes and copy of Covenants.   

Sat 13 … 11672 tons
Sat 13 … Office … Calculations for 20s, 62s, 66s and Parkgate heading and plotted same 8am – 1pm.

Mon 15 … U/g … to 110s panel measured up fault and discuss AV Goodwin to turn gate again … (RB*, GH) … Office … Meeting and the practice R & FF procedure (open fire on South No2 conveyor). JAD etc. Discuss CW S re Parkgate.

Tues 16 … U/g … Levelling Parkgate Intake drift … 3 men (RB*, KS, HH) … Office … Calculations. Ken Hartwell ATT re moving laser frame inbye. Discuss RCW re Access drift haulage site. Discuss Tom Granger Projects Planner.

Wed 17 … U/g … Theodolite angling and lines check in Parkgate Intake and Return headings …5 men (RB*, DMP, DS, KP, MJ) … Office … Calculations. Tom Grainger re proposed amendments to Parkgate Intake drift catenary?  (275 + 4 u/g)
To Great Northern PH

Thurs 18 … U/g … Catenary measuring Parkgate Intake and Return drifts … 5 men (RB*, DMP, GH, DS, SC) also put clips in line in Return heading for laser lay up by Area Tunnelling Team … Office … Calculations.

Fri 19 … Office … Calculations for Parkgate. Discuss RCW, Bill Woodcock, Percy Hinds re Parkgate haulages. 

Sat 20 … Accident plan started for K Matthews 62s (DS measured) 3538 tons

Mon 22 … Office … General. Finished accident plan as far as possible. Monthly Management Meeting … CW S. Discuss George H Jackson.

Tues 23 … Office … General. Accident plan. 3255 tons

Wed 24 … Colliery Rest Day
Thurs 25 … Christmas Day
Fri 26 … Boxing Day
Mon 29 … Tues 30 … Wed 31 … Colliery Rest Days

Output 547,586 tons. Manpower 963 u/g, 289 s/f
Brian Cooper left Sutton to Inland Revenue Mineral Valuer, Taunton, and John Nightingale, Deputy at Mansfield appointed Surveyor at Sutton