A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

North Nottinghamshire Area from April 1967

Page - 50 -

Jan 1976

Thurs 1 … New Year’s Day Holiday

Fri 2 … Colliery Rest Day - Nil

1976 subsidised transport at 4.5 p to 4.9p / mile = £160.37

Mon 5 … Office … General, correspondence etc. JAD re 45s Dosco and 66s Dosco Dint header plan. Ted Hodgson re Winter Dirt tipping. John Herbert re Surface Strategic plans fin. Info to P Davies rem/c. George H Jackson came re workings under Kirton Brickworks, checked tracing etc. Calculated and plotted 110s survey. JAD re 110s finish. And 100s LG also 20s to finish this weekend. Plotting plans to quarter end and book to date.

Tues 6 … U/g … Laying up laser beam bracket in Parkgate Return drift … difficulty with screws … 5 men (RB*, DMP, GH, DS, SC) … Office … Discuss on phone Jack Storr 45s and 93s layout. Sent Support plans to Area HQ for reductions.

Wed 7 … Office … Sorted out Parkgate plan file. Meeting … Development, Manpower Savings … R Anderson … Surface … Measured up machines for check sizes with GH. Discuss Ged Mason U/m re 20s finishing and Support Plans for chock withdrawal. Discuss AE Betts re Gyro observations and comparison of results. CJ Whyte phoned re visit.

Thurs 8 … Office … Plan of 20s chock withdrawal finished and approved. General. JAD re cable work under Time / Wages office, contacted Civil Engineers. Inking in Working plans and also updated second copies for Area HQ. Phoned CJ Whyte re staffing e.g. Graham Hall to go to Area HQ and Steve Chapman to move to another colliery.

Fri 9 … Very bad storm … blew half of one of the cooling towers down and hundreds of trees in the surrounding woods plus many thousands nationwide and much other damage.                      

Fri 9 … Office … General Prints off 20s withdrawal plan. Plan. 1/500 tracing of 45s layout for Haulage Meeting. Checking up on 46s layout etc., plotting for setting out details.                    

Sat 10 … Office … Calculations for 66s setting out. Prints of Junction. Checking Parkgate layout plans. Supports - 12138 tons

Mon 12 … Office … Geological folder to date. Sorted out Progress Development plans in order in the folder. 6 inch scale negatives. Deputy’s Districts and Pit head Sketch plans posted.

Tues 13 … U/g … Visit by CJ Whyte Area Surveyor … to Drapers paddy, 45s LG face end, across NE connection Road and thirling point to 59s LG across the face and back down AW. Travelled outbye along Trunk belts, Bunker and Parkgate 1in5 drift. (RB, CJW)… Office … Lunch … discuss … Surface … to Welfare examined cracks etc. and met the new Steward. General discuss. Proof read through the Strategic plan document.

Wed 14 … Surface … Visit to tips with (Ted Hodgson, JR Greasley, Peter Watts and Malcolm ? from Notts. County Council and self RB) re environment, consents etc. Levels for Peter Longden CPP … Office … Parkgate Intake drift plan with levels for Peter Davies. Discuss same with JAD by phone.

Thurs 15 … Office … General. Amends to Strategic plan notes with John Herbert. Plan of 45s Dust control layout for Barry Shephard. Discuss Parkgate shotfiring with Colin Wynne ICI Rep. Haulage lengths and grades for P Davies. Plotted 62s and 59s levels. Conversions.

Fri 16 … Office … Write up for CW S. Manager’s Wall plan to date. Info to and from Jack Storr, Thoresby. Chock info to Albert Gascoigne Mechanisation. SM1 form and plans coloured for 110s approaching boundary and Thoresby workings. General.                                                    

Sat 17 … Office … Support plan. Sketches for CW S. 12501 tons
Steve Chapman (SC) Apprentice transferred to Rufford and Steve Barnes (STB) transferred from Rufford to Ollerton.

Mon 19 … U/g … Abandonment survey of 20s panel … 5 men (RB*, DMP, DS, MJ, KW) … Office … Calculated and plotted same and copied up.

Tues 20 … Office … General. Discuss Steve Barnes (STB) re general work routine etc. Parkgate Pumping scheme plan and prints for P Davies. Stencilling on Deputy’s Districts neg. Made new shotfiring pattern for stable holes. Meeting … Discuss Parkgate scheme and lasers with Eddie Gilfillan, Area Tunnelling Team and Des Thompson, Surveyor from Harworth

Wed 21 … Office … Instructing STB how to update Ventilation plans etc. Finished Deputy’s Districts plans. Continued updating Electrical plans. Calculations, contours etc. Ray Greasley came to exchange second copy Working plans. Discuss GH Jackson dates etc. for working under Kirton Brickworks. Discuss 45s section with JAD. CW S re Dr Whittaker from University visit Friday re 62s LG crush …

Thurs 22 … U/g … Measured up arch distortions, back rips etc. in 62s LG. To 66s AW and 66s LG developments. Parkgate Intake drift 1in10 grade change and section … 2 men (RB*, STB) … Office … Made sketches for 62s and 45s face sections and distributed. (280 + 4 u/g)

Fri 23 … Office … Meeting … CW S, Dr Whittaker from University of Nottingham, John Herbert Planner and self RB re gate distortion … joined later by R Anderson Production Manager. Discuss in afternoon with Dr Whittaker re other panels and info re convergence.

Sat 24 … 12045 tons
Sat 24 … Office … Plotted Parkgate drift levels. Info on sheets for Dr Whittaker re gate distortion.

Mon 26 … General. Tom Grainger re Parkgate Materials Road. And plans … Surface … Measured up coal stocks (RB*) … Office … Made plan of same for CJ Whyte. Coloured sketch of cables in Parkgate drift Intake drift. Discuss CW S re Pargate Materials Road. Continued with Electrical plans … in afternoon … Surface Strategic Plan Meeting … Arthur A Grainger (now Chief Engineer in charge of Mechanical and Electrical depts) … absolutely slated the team !!!

Tues 27 … Office … Amended Surface Strategic Plan minutes and typed but, originals to stay. J Herbert same with CW S. Amended Parkgate Intake drift fan in line on R & FF plans with STB. New plans in Deputy’s office. Discuss JAD re 400s / 600s , also Ted Lilley asking about turns etc. George Noble, Manager phoned re query … had Teversal shafts ever been plumbed etc? Nobody at Teversal survey seemed to know !!! No … measured and surveyed … yes by BT Bailey and self RB.

Wed 28 … Office … General. Correspondence. To Area HQ with CW S … Strategic Plan Meeting … Surface and Underground … HM Spanton, Director 10am – 1pm … Office … General. Info on various.

Thurs 29 … U/g … to new Materials Road Junction back of Bunker. Discuss Dougie Pettinger Deputy (returned from South Africa mine) Parkgate Intake drift laid up line and grade. Borehole to coal and also exposed coal in heading at 890m, 1.4m below grade. Brought out sample of coal and roof … 2 men (RB*, DMP) … Office … Plotted section. Discuss JAD re notice Face to Surface Communication

Fri 30 … Office … General. Finished Electrical plans. Discuss Jack Lyons re amends to 66s introduction of electricity. Discuss S Lunnon re Parkgate Intake. Discuss Ged Mason John Goldsborough Linesman re-incident with paint on 45s!

Sat 31 … 13003 tons
Read Houghton Main N Yorks Explosion Report by HMI

Feb 1976

Mon 2 … Office … General. Bar chart for 20s salvage. Meeting … Development and Manpower Savings … 11.30am … R Anderson. Geological folder to date. Updated 1/5000 and 6 inch plottings. Updated R & FF negs to 1/2/1976.

Tues 3 … U/g … Catenary measuring in 59s AW and 59s LG … 6 men (RB*, DMP, STB, DS, KS, RS) … Office … Calculated and plotted surveys.

Wed 4 … Office … Stone Dust Barrier Scheme sketches for all districts. Folders being prepared. Coloured 66s Installation of Electricity plans. Info to Peter Hall, Mechanisation. Meeting Development and Manpower Savings R Anderson, Production Manager.

Thurs 5 … U/g … Leg catenary measuring from main base on Loco Road to new Gyro base on South Trunk Road … 5 men (RB*, DMP, DS, STB, MJ) … Office … Calculations. AE Betts came re check angles for Gyro bases of Aug 1975. Also re Sewage pollution in Boughton Dyke from Newark Road Pumping station.

Fri 6 … Office … General. Parkgate plan 1/500 scale. Amends to 66s Installation of Electricity with STB.
Parkgate Intake drift down to floor of seam but going deeper due to the catenary I had planned …

Sat 7 … Office … Progress. Sorted out plans. Stone Dust Barrier folders. Plotted new Parkgate Working plans to date.
13574 tons

Mon 9 … Office … HMI Guy DR Adamson re 66s dint header, 66s AW shotfiring, Parkgate Dosco, 66s Introduction of electricity, 2 fans in one airstream for 66s and Parkgate Materials Road in Pit bottom … CW S and RB. Water at 24s C Overcast to 27s Ramp ! Ventilation plan amends for fans in Parkgate Return and 66s LG. Contacted Bevercotes re Support Rules for Dosco Dint header.

Tues 10 … Office … Inking in and stencilling on new Standard mine plan sheets for Parkgate. Discuss RCW and D Stone re Parkgate plan and signed for 1s panel. 66s development. General. Discuss CW S re Bevercotes plan. Contacted Markham Colliery, North Derbyshire Area re Dosco Dint header. Contacted Graham Woodrow at University of Nottingham.

Wed 11 … Office … Amends to 66s Installation of Electricity and copies coloured. AE Betts brought copies of Gyro results.

Thurs 12 … Office … Ventilation plans. Meeting 1s Parkgate face design … R Anderson. HMI suggested contacting Blidworth re Dosco Dint header plan.

Fri 13 … U/g … Visit to Parkgate Intake drift … measured seam and grades and cleavage of seam ... Office … Plan of Discharge point from Dirt tip for JR Greasley. Calculations for 62s and Parkgate Materials Road. JRG brought Sutton and Sherwood Strategic Plan for JA Daniels. Also took a print of Surface Discharge point.
14600 tons
Penry Hoare Assistant Undermanager moved to Area HQ Method Study department. John Woofe (JW) Linesman left to haulage. Jim Aitkin (JA) new Linesman

Annual Leave 1 Week Mon 16 – Sat 21

Mon 23 …Office … General. Correspondence etc. (As mentioned before, all staff and Dougie Stockham read the correspondence and initialled and dated it. No excuse for not knowing what was happening or instructions etc). Discuss Parkgate. Plotted C4 turn from new measurements. Discuss J Herbert Parkgate. Gullick Rep re info. Meeting re haulages for Parkgate … Tom Grainger, Peter Davies, Laurie Patterson, RB. 1 chain to the inch plan of old Loco circuit. AVG re 62s LG and borehole 9/2/1976 – 18/2/1976 with piece cut out of the side, but roof falling in!

Tues 24 … Office … General. Calculations for Parkgate and 66s (3) and plotted same. Progress to date. Shotfiring pattern for Parkgate Return drift using ½ second delay. 3 copies coloured for D Lawson. Discuss RCW. Penry Hoare now with Method Study re Loco circuit.

Wed 25 … U/g … Levelling for check from 425s to new Parkgate Return Materials Snicket Road. Took DMP round all old roads … Office … Calculations. Discuss info required for Kirton Brickworks Meeting on 9/3/1976 with George H Jackson. J Herbert Planner re possible amendment to Parkgate thirling position along slant gate. (285 + 4 u/g)

Thurs 26 … Office … Geological folder workings to date. Info for Kirton Brickworks … panel under etc. Progress, plottings of same. Sorting out Support Rules for same. Discuss Parkgate with AA Grainger and P Davies, grades etc. Stippled 43/6868 plan again.
Accident V Sylvester at Drapers Paddy scissors (DMP)

Fri 27 … Office … Sorting out Support Rules for Kirton Brickworks. Calculations for 45s, unfinished. Inking in 6 inch plan flat sheet. Updated workings on 43/6868. HMI Guy DR Adamson and CW S re accident to V Sylvester at Drapers Paddy Scissors on Thurs 26 and re 24s Trunks Overcast. Discuss Geo H Jackson plans required for Kirton Brickworks Meeting.                                     

Sat 28 … Office ... Info for Kirton Brickworks. Plotted plans to date. 12855 tons

Sun 29 … Office … Back dating Quarterly book.

Mar 1976

Mon 1 … Office … Backdating Quarterly progress in book … Surface … to Area HQ Photographic department … Jack Chapman … photos of flat sheets.

Tues 2 … Office … Geological folder. Sorted out old Support Rules. JR Greasley and Graham ? British Rail re workings. JRG and Alan Kirk Scientific re discharge point from Dirt tip No2.
U/g in afternoon … Visit to see Laser beam in Parkgate Return … o.k. with Charles J Whyte Area Surveyor, Trevor Taylor National Surveyor and Ken Smith Unit Surveyor in South Midlands. They had been down Bilsthorpe in the morning. Trevor Taylor was impressed what he had seen but went on to say that he had never been down the pit twice in one day and 2 different pits at that.

Wed 3 … Office … Drawing of holding down pulley for G Mason U/m. Searching through old note books for face information. Meeting … Manpower 1.30pm … R Anderson.

Thurs 4 … Office … Plotting old surveys from calculations. Calculated and plotted 45s. Info to John Clapperton Deputy Electrician re Washery. Info re grades for HMI GDR Adamson. Copies of 62s Support Rules for Undermanagers from Newstead..

Fri 5 … Office … General. Progress etc. Info stencilled on Working plans. 20s inked in and 45s stippled. AEW and STB in Galleries. Ged Mason re roller drawing.                                       

Sat 6 … Office … Info for University of Nottingham re Kirton Brickworks subsidence. Sections on plans. Worked out sections for Parkgate drifts. 14100 tons

Mon 8 … Office … Graham Woodrow University of Nottingham re observations for roadway convergence for 20s, 45s North side 58s, 59s, 62s East side and 110s South side 9am. G Jackson re info for Kirton Brickworks.

Tues 9 … Office … Meeting re Kirton Brickworks subsidence … Messrs Tyrell, Lloyd and Piggott, CJ Whyte, George H Jackson, RB … discuss and info supplied. Stencilling panel numbers on copies of 43/6867 for Mr Piggott. In afternoon … Plan of accident in 62s AW and Support Rules plan for Mr Johnson Claims Inspector. Discuss Pit bottom circuit G Mason U/m and A Blyton , locos. Discuss AVG U/m re 62s Support Rules.

Wed 10 … U/g … Final visit to 20s panel to measure up AW stable hole and ripping lips etc., North side and also to 66s LG Dosco dint header drivage on East side … 2 men (RB*, STB)

Thurs 11 … Office … Inking in panel numbers on Working plans completed. Meeting … Parkgate seam … R Anderson 2pm

Fr1 12 … Surface … adjusting bubbles on CTS 300 level and main bubbles on Watts 20 second theodolite (RB*, STB). Info to CW S and R Anderson and JP Berry re Parkgate Materials circuit. Calculated 62s survey. Geological folder. JAD phone re Cannel coal in roof at 62s AW end.

Sat 13 … 14044 tons
Sat 13 … Office … Drawing out Loco House. Plotted levels and co-ordinates for 62s and 59s.
Sat 13 … Parkgate Return heading ... boring hole down to seam for catenary calculation.

Mon 15 … U/g … 62s, 66s and 59s observations and measurements of gate distortion with Graham Woodrow from University of Nottingham (RB and GW) … Office … Meeting Parkgate and Top Hard Pit bottom haulages etc. Meeting 46s haulage system. Plotted Parkgate Return borehole etc.

Tues 16 … Office … Sorting out work for 66s … to Area HQ … Unit Surveyor’s Meeting … CJ Whyte. I gave a talk on laser beams and installations … Office … Read report left by Graham Hall.

Wed 17 … Office … Info re Parkgate Return drift to RC Watson and Ken H. Plotting same. Discuss CW S. Info for meeting. Policy Meeting CW S … I took the minutes.

Thurs 18 … Office … General. Butterley Bunker plan to CW S from Russ Worsey Planner. Drawing up proposed Loco house in No2 Pit bottom. R & FF negs. Info with John Hayter Fire Officer re-form. Discuss Eric Barton O/m re 46s Junction. Discuss Colin Wynne ICI Rep re firing in Parkgate seam and stone. Parkgate Materials Road thirled to 425s o.k.

Fri 19 … Office … Drawing Junction for 46s Cross Gate. Sam Pepper re pipes. Phone Frank Lee, Area Planner re 66s face head line amendment. Discuss Butterley Bunker Rep.                 

Sat 20 … 14620 tons
Sat 20 … Office … 110s Withdrawal of chocks Support system. Discuss CW Standage various.

Mon 22 … U/g … Square line in 66s AW. Established face centre line at 90 degrees in LG with dial. Pit bottom new Materials road … 3 men (RB*, JG, KW) … Discuss CW S re 400s. Plotted info re grade. Plotted Parkgate Return 2nd borehole down to seam for catenary. Discuss Jimmy Mayne Geologist re sections. Discuss Derek Stephenson, Mechanisation.

Tues 23 … Office … Drawing turn for Materials Road and 400s. Tom Grainger Projects Planner re grades of same and Parkgate catenary. Info to RCW re Parkgate.

Wed 24 … Office … Discuss JA Daniels Loco Road and back work. Discuss Jack Lyons lighting and proposed Loco Engine house. Drawing out proposal for re-rip etc. round by the water tanks. Discuss R Anderson Production manager. Coloured print to JAD and discuss.

Thurs 25 … U/g … Theodolite angling for check survey from Parkgate Return to head and to Parkgate Intake Junction and check on snicket … 4 men (RB*, GH, STB, KP). (290 + 4 u/g)
Office … Calculations … Info for HMI GDR Adamson for 62s … Thurs 25 … Office … Meeting 4.15pm … Proposed Parkgate loco tracks etc. … R Anderson.

Fri 26 … Office … General. Discuss CW S various Demarcation. 59s Cannel coal also JH, LP, RCW Parkgate locos. Snicket investigation from old Roll plan. Progress.                          

Sat 27 … 15637 tons
Output 1975-1976 = 550, 709 tons Loss £1,322,000 1267 men on books

Mon 29 … U/g … Theodolite check survey into Parkgate Intake drift and line check and levels … 4 men (RB*, GH, DS, KS) … Office … Calculations. (290 + 4 u/g)

Tues 30 … Office … Calculations and plotted Parkgate and sniket. Calculated and plotted Intake grade … rising at 1in19.85. Calculated and plotted 110s final levels. Discuss P Davies Pit bottom turns. Discuss Derek Stone Asst Planner new 1/5000 development plans.

Wed 31 … U/g … Abandonment survey of 110s panel … 5 men (RB*, GH, DS, STB, KP) … Office … Calculated and plotted same. Name stencilled for J Higginbotham.
John A Daniels promoted to Manager Sutton Colliery. John Higginbothamj new Deputy Manager promoted from Creswell.

Apr 1976

Thurs 1 … Office … Plotting plans to date 1/2500, 1/5000 and 6 inch and inking in. Calculations etc. Met John Higginbotham (was ex U/m at Ollerton previously) and RC Watson and discuss. 1/5000 negs to date. CW S and HMI GDR Adamson discuss. Info re 45s and exemptions. Panel sketches to date and a set for J Higginbotham.
HP65 programmable hand held computer … £400 each.

Fri 2 … Office … Two 1/5000 plans coloured, 1 for CW S and 1 for JH. General Discuss J Higginbotham various. Pit bottom plan.                                                                          

Sat 3 … Office … Area HQ and JH progress. Discuss CW S Parkgate locos. 3 total for Top Hard and Parkgate.
14197 tons
Bobby Crawford (RC) started as a Linesman

Mon 5 … Office … New shotfiring pattern for Parkgate Return, 3 prints for HMI GDR Adamson. Parkgate layout Negative and 3 prints coloured for route for R & FF practice 7/4/1976 … Surface … Levelling up Midland sidings, coal stocks etc. … 2 men (RB*, DMP) … Office … Discuss G Weeks. Calculated 45s survey. Info for 66s etc. Derek Stone program and 1/5000 amends.

Tues 6 … Office … Colouring R & FF plans. Inking in Working plans. Distributed 13 week charts. Calculated and plotted 45s and also plotted Parkgate Return drift, catenary etc. and Materials snicket over Loco Road. Calculated and plotted 66s.

Wed 7 … Office … Area HQ progress folder … to Area HQ … demonstration of Wild EDM DS3 9.30am - 11.30am … Office … Finished Working plans. HMI John Jones re Support Rules and exemptions for panel life … CW S, RB

Thurs 8 … U/g … Catenary check measuring in Parkgate Return drift …. 5 men (RB*, GH, DS, KS, KP) … then visit to Materials slit and new centre line on 400s … Office … Calculated distances. General.

Fri 9 … Office … General. Meeting 9.30am … Pre-Accountability CW S. Discuss JH 46s. Sorting out RCW plans. Finished second copy plans. Discuss CW Standage.

Sat 10 … Progress Area HQ and JH. Colouring 1/5000 plans 1 hung for AV Goodwin U/m. Discuss JH and G Weeks. 14810 tons

Mon 12 … Office … General. 1/5000 plan for Ged Mason U/m. Stencilling levels … Surface … to Welfare … Subsidence levelling … 2 men (RB*, GH) … Office … New Ozalid tracing of Parkgate 43/6666 for second copy. Evening, called to see Ged Mason at home, off work with back problem.

Tues 13 … Office … General. Plans … Surface … to Joiners with plan of 400s turn to make template. … Office … Sam Pepper discuss pumping. Discuss Doug Raisbeck 5 year layout plan and geological info and seismic survey results.

Wed 14 … Office … Parkgate yardages and info to JH, RCW and Jack Kniveton ATT. Inking in Parkgate plans, boreholes, grades etc. Plotted Parkgate levels on 1/200 scale … Meeting … Parkgate … then discuss J Herbert and SN Whittle.

Thurs 15 … Office … Shaft information tabulated. Info sorted for CW S for Accountability. Discuss Frank Lee Area Planner re various. JR Greasley and Susan ? re second copy plans. Phone to Geoff Austin, Bilsthorpe re T16 theodolite. Ken Hartwell ATT re borehole at Parkgate Return. 20 men exemption for headings.

Fri 16 … Office … General. Progress. Discuss JH re Strategic Plan. Order form. Pargate LG turn. Figures for CW S. Calculated amount of water in the emergency drinking water tanks, 1,000 gallons per 3 tanks. Tonnage calculations. Seismic survey, print of the lines. Doug Raisbeck, Geologist re appraisal of 20s North side Seismic survey.

Sat 17 … Office … Progress. Manager’s Wall plan. Parkgate grades. 13502 tons

Mon 19 … Easter Monday and Tues 20 … Holiday.
Annual Leave 4 Days Mon 19 – Thurs 22

Parkgate Materials snicket thirled to 400s.

Fri 23 … Office … General. 1/25000 plans. Info for CW S … Surface … to Bilsthorpe for Wild T16 theodolite with GH. Discuss Geoff Austin and Graham Kemp.
Fri 23 in afternoon … to Area HQ … Signing of 1/5000 5 year layout plans … JP Berry Deputy Director Mining … (CW S, RB) … Office … Checking T16 theodolite.

Sat 24 … 7726 tons

Mon 26 … U/g … Check theodolite angling from Main base to Parkgate Intake and Parkgate Return drifts with T16 theodolite. Checked 400s thirling o.k. Checked grades on 400s Empty Road. Checked above Junction at end of Tank Road in No2 Pit bottom … 5 men (RB*, GH, DS, KW, MJ) … Office … Discuss JH, RCW, Eric Barton O/m. Discuss T Grainger Parkgate grades. P Davies re Manrider grades.

Tues 27 … Office … Manrider plans finished. For P Davies. 1/5000, lengths, grades, angles etc. Info Alan Blyton Vent Officer. Discuss S Lunnon and D Raisbeck re Parkgate.

Wed 28 … U/g … Investigating old roads on South side of 400s for stopping sites … 2 men (RB* and Alan Blyton Ventilation Officer) … Office … Calculations. PG return grades. Calculations for 400s Back Road and grades. D Stone info re machine changes from May 1974 to present for all panels worked during that period. (290 + 4 u/g)

Thurs 29 … Surface … Measuring features, limestoned areas, new workshop and plotted on 1/1250 … 2 men (RB*, DMP) … in the afternoon … P/G on 1/500 and also 66s.
Thurs 29 … Observed Solar eclipse with theodolite and smoked lens … to Bilsthorpe to take tackle back … (RB*, DMP) … Office … Discuss CW S re 400s Back Road dint. General. Calculations for PG drifts check.

Fri 30 … Office … General. Calculations for P/G turn. Calculations of grades for 400s and 400s Back Road.                                                                                                  
Finished tipping on No2 Dirt tip for Summer period Oct 1975 – Apr 1976. Start on No4 tip Mon 3 May … discuss RB* and Ted Hodgson, Surface Superintendent.

May 1976

Sat 1 … Office … Progress, Calculations. Plottng P/G and 66s 13451 tons

Mon 3 … U/g … Establishing line for Parkgate Intake turn, section, grade line and section in Parkgate Return drift … 3 men (RB*, KS, MJ) … Office … Calculations. Dirt tip figures to date from Ted Hodgson, Surface Superintendent. (295 + 4 u/g)

Tues 4 … Office … Prints of Washery from diagrams for Peter Longden. Amendments to Surface negs, additions etc. Plan. 1/5000 R & FF negs workings to date. Info to JRG re plan updating. Discuss RCW grades and substation etc. … new format for reporting. Peter Longden re bad coal samples in CPP … brought me a very large piece of Pyrite and heavy dirt.

Wed 5 …Office … 1/25000 negs, stencilling etc. Discuss RCW re PG grades, Junctions. 45s check line. Info re 59s to HMI GDR Adamson and JH … Meeting … Development and Manpower Savings … R Anderson Production Manager. JH re-floor dirt. Discuss RCW and Derek Stone.

Thurs 6 … Office … 1/25000 prints. PG grades. Fred Smith (retired Time Clerk) discuss.

Fri 7 … Surface … Tacheo survey of No2 Dirt tip … 3 men (RB*, DMP, GH) … Office … Calculation of levels.

Sat 7 … Office … PG calculations, grades etc. Plotted No2 Dirt tip survey. JH progress. Manager’s Wall plan.
12154 tons

Mon 10 … to Area HQ … Tuition on use of HP 65 hand-held computer / calculator (RB*)

Tues 11 … Office … Stats for conveyor belting in use. Info to RCW re P/G Return and 62s. Info to KF Greaves re P/G yardages. Turn out plan for J Walters.

Wed 12 … Office … S Lunnon P/G grades and anticline, Plotted levels. Discuss CW S various, P/G development and Pit bottom. Meeting … New rolling stock. Meeting … Parkgate (RB*) …. Discuss Leo Kirk, T Grainger and J Herbert gradient of seam. Discuss SL re PG sections.

Thurs 13 … Office … Info to Tom Grainger re Pit bottom grades. Amends to 59s Support Rules for AW stable hole. Tuition on HP65 with Graham Hall. Sections etc. Tony Turner and John Faben Strata Control re PG.

Fri 14 … Surface … Continued with Tacheo survey of No2 Dirt tip … 3 men (RB*, GH, SC) … Office … Calculations and plotting. HP 65.                                                             

Sat 15 … Office … Plotted Dirt tip survey. Calculated levels. 12517 tons

Mon 17 … Office … HP 65 programs. Calculations. New co-ordinate sheet devised. JH progress and Wall plan. Discuss 59s sections. Plotted 59s check line, 1/250 for CW S o.k. WE Brian Barlow phoned re Auto plummet for August pit holiday.

Tues 18 … Office … HP65. Calculations. 59s survey. Info to KFG 875mm P/G Return for tension of Manriding structure and GR6 position. PG levels to Tom Grainger … Surface … Measured up incident to 19RB Clamshell on coal stocking site area near Newark Road … HMI Farmery instructed me to contact the Area photographers Jack Chapman and Don Brown. They were not happy because it meant staying overtime and to start with they refused to come but HMI Farmery was most insistent.

Wed 19 … U/g … Theodolite angling in Parkgate Intake and line check … (had to come out of heading for 2 hours whilst the fan was changed.) To 400s Main, 400s Empty Slit and Bobby’s hat Junction measures … 3 men (RB*, STB, JG)
Wed 19 … afternoon HMI Farmery, Mechanical Inspector re Incident with 19 RB. Wanted more info and extra photographs …. With CW S discuss. Info to Tony Turner Strata Control re PG roof and floor …. Surface … Levelled the site of the incident … 2 men (RB*, STB) … Office … CW S and JCH Longden re planning work etc. and 46s drift. Phone to photographers re extras photos required. KFG discuss.

Thurs 20 … Office … Office … Plotting 19RB crane plan. KF Greaves discuss 66s etc. HMI Farmery re plan of Incident … still required more extra measurements … 2 men (RB*, GH)

Fri 21 … Office … Finished off Dangerous occurrence plan. Surface … to Area HQ for extra photographs for 19 RB. Surface … Measurements for new trench for UNOR and Telephone cables. Also measured rails for new turns into new Mechanical workshop.

Sat 22 … 13700 tons

Mon 24 … Office … Plotting Dirt tip surveys on negative … Tacheo survey of No8 Lagoon on No4 tip … 2 men (RB*, GH) … Office … Calculations. Discuss CW S re PG coal and Junction. Discuss RCW re Pit bottom Junction.

Tues 25 … Office … General. 66s progress. Discuss S Lunnon 1s PG 6’ 8” coal re 6’3” o.k. Discuss K Hartwell ATT grades. Fan drift plan to D Lawson. HP 65 calculations. PG Return Junction plan. D Stone Asst Planner re PG Ollerton / Bilsthorpe boundary co-ordinates and 1/5000 signed 5 year layout plans. Phone JM Storr Thoresby re 85s Top Hard approaching 33s North side.

Wed 26 … U/g … Centre lines and measure marks checked for 66s AW and face heading thirling … 2 men (RB*, DS) … holed through on Sat 29
Wed 26 … Office … Meeting … 1.30pm 1s Parkgate Coal face design. Meeting 3pm … Development and Manpower Savings R Anderson

Thurs 27 … Office … Dirt tip neg. Discuss Bernard Charles Area Safety dept and D Lawson PG Intake Manriding getting on and getting off platforms. Discuss J Herbert PG conveyors and Return Drivage turn. Also phone Tom Grainger re same.

Fri 28 … Office … General. Sorting out PG Return Junction point etc. 66s thirling point. Plan. Dirt tip print coloured. 46s Cross Gate section.                                                               

Sat 29 … Progress. Wall plans to date. R & FF negs to date. 66s thirling plotting … hole through o.k. AV Goodwin U/m discuss. 13095 tons
Ceased generation of electricity with steam turbines at Power house

Mon 31 … Bank Holiday Pit Holiday Tues 1 – Fri 4

June 1976

Tues 1 and Wed 2 … Annual Leave

Thurs 3 … Office … Discuss DM Parker. Discuss JRG re various. And stools! Correspondence. Electrical plans. Borehole info from 45s.

Fri 4 … Office … Discuss CW S. Finished off Surface negative for Demarcation.               

Sat 5 … Office … Electrical plans to date, discuss Ian Fox, Asst Elec Engineer. Nil

Mon 7 … Office … Ventilation and Firedamp Drainage plans to date. Meeting … 1s Parkgate Face Design. Phone AE Betts re DI 10 and Autoplumb o.k. for August. Discuss J Herbert re 46s Overcast?

Tues 8 … 46s Cross Gate? ... discuss RCW and CW S. … overcast? Also later with CW S, JH and RCW. Sorted out Work in hand drawer. Introduction of Electricity into 46s neg … rough copy prepared for Electrical Engineer. ‘Hole in One’ for RCW. Surface Levels for proposed Discharge point from Settling ponds to end of Dirt tip into Boughton Dyke … (RB* and Annette Wyld, Tracer). Drawing for same. Sent application to Chief Electrical Engineer at Doncaster to be able to use DI 10 measuring instrument underground.

Wed 9 … Office … JRG re Boughton Dyke and Lasers, and surface operations. Lou Scrivens Materials Officer re Junctions materials. John Sproston and Doug Shields, Ventilation Engineers, RCW, J Herbert re possibility of altering 46s development re constructing an overcast, and Frank Lee phone, DR Mounsey and CW S re same, turning gate towards fault and making a natural overcast. John Mansfield Deputy Storekeeper re 10” x 10” steel stock. KF Greaves re Junction. Parkgate grades with STB.

Thurs 10 … Office … 1s Parkgate snicket Junction. Discuss RCW and T Grainger 400s / Jack Hoare’s Junction. Inventory of surveying instruments. Discuss P/G Return drift Manriding structure. P Davies and RCW re Junctions.

Fri 11 … U/g … Measured up Junction on 400s and Jack Hoare’s Doors … 2 men (RB*, STB) … Office … Plan. Junctions. Sorted out a Laser for Harworth. JRG various. Brian Wormald Training Officer re 59s to be Group Training face.      
This was the day when 5 of us were in the shower room when Bobby Watson and Ted Hodgson, both keen cricket fans were discussing cricket and how a team could be set up on staff to play a colliery team. Bobby said to me ‘Will you play’? I nodded, then he said to Ged Mason ‘Will you play?’ Ged said ‘I can do, I’ll be longstop’. At this Bobby expostulated …’ Long stop, long stop, there’s no position as long stop’. Anyway I had finished showering and dressed and went next door into my office. Suddenly there was an almighty bang, it was the shower room door so I looked into the corridor to see what was happening. There was Bobby Watson, stark naked banging on the door to be let back in. By all accounts Ged had got that fed up with him droning on and on about his lack of knowledge of cricket that he had grabbed Bobby, slung him out into the corridor naked and slammed the door. Bobby continued to bang on the door and shouting to be let in. I beckoned to Annette Wyld, the lovely young tracer who was at the far end of the office printing and had not heard the rumpus. For a laugh I said ‘Mr Watson wants to see you’, so she went into the corridor only to see Bobby stark naked still banging on the door. She shrieked and Bobby looked at her and ran off down the corridor, anywhere to escape her gaze. She went bright red with embarrassment and I couldn’t stop laughing. When Ged and Ted and Alan came into my office as Bobby was creeping back up the corridor to sneak back into the shower room we all fell about. It was a right laugh for several days and of course the tale spread. For a couple of weeks Bobby used to squint through the crack in the door jamb to see if Annette was in and didn’t come in for his usual development update until she had gone home!

Sat 12 … Office … 1s PG Connection Snicket Junction plan finished. Location plan for Discharge point into Boughton Dyke. Ged in Galleries. Pit bottom Junction / 400s. 12100 tons.

Mon 14 … Office … General. Peter Thompson and Des Mapley Electrician came from Harworth re transfer Laser from Electrical workshop. Discuss also programs using HP65. Meeting with Linesmen 2pm – 3pm … Procedures, methods etc. (RB*)

Tues 15 … Office … General. Tom Grainger re Junctions. Coloured 2 copies Surface Demarcation plan. Shotfiring pattern for PG Return. Sketches of PG. Phone T Grainger re roadway widths. … Surface … with Eric Spencer Admin Officer and Billy Bracegirdle NUM to Nos 33 / 35 Forest Road re view to convert to a Physio Clinic. Phone Estates dept re same. Sketches for regarding PG Return, structure and road.

Wed 16 … Office … PG plans. Info re PG arches to J Higginbotham and Tom Grainger. Another shotfiring pattern with Colin Wynne ICI Rep. Discuss T Grainger PG grades etc. General. New Levelling staff delivered.

Thurs 17 … Office … PG grades etc. continued. Discuss CW S re same. CJ Whyte came re staff changes … re Graham Hall (GH) and Eric Fretwell (EWF) to replace him. Charlie Robinson to Area HQ from Sutton. Rob Cox Asst at Sutton. Stencilling on 43/6666 plan.

Fri 18 … U/g … Checked Junction and girders No2 pit bottom (RB*, DMP) … Surface … A lorry tipped over near Cooling towers … Office … Plotted metric levels on PG plans 43/6666 and 43/6667, checked grades etc.                                                                         
Sat 19 … Office … Progress JH. Manager’s, Deputy Manager’s, Undermanager’s Wall plans to date. Construction of 2 x 1/5000 and 1/10560 and a 1/10000 plans of Parkgate. Plan for every year for history of Ollerton Top Hard working on 2½ in to a mile … CW S discuss. 13207 tons
A Neil Mason, Deputy Surveyor at Mansfield left to Western Australia coal mine.

Mon 21 … Office … General ... Discuss Ron Gillott Laboratory Coal Prep info re Lagoon No8 1972 to present. Info re past from Consultative minutes. Peter Davies Mech Engineer re Meco B3 No2 Parkgate Intake. Discuss RC Watson and Ken Hartwell ATT re Parkgate Junctions.

Tues 22 … U/g … Statutory dial survey of 45s panel. Checked raft position in AW drift. Established line in 46s Cross Gate … 5 men (RB*, DS, KS, KW, MJ) … Office … RCW and Tom Grainger re various Junctions alterations. Sorting out Meco B3 drawing for setting out position. (300 + 4 u/g)

Wed 23 … Office … General. Calculated and plotted 45s and 46s. Various info sorted … Surface … Eric Spencer Admin Officer, Bill Bracegirdle, Jack DeLacy NUM plus Newark Council Officer re proposed Car park for 33/35 Forest Road, for a Physiotherapy Clinic (RB) … Office … Discuss CW S PG grades for connection. Discuss same again CW S, JH and RCW. Agreed with me to stay at same level below seam in Return up to Junction.

Thurs 24 … Office … Calculations. Discuss Ken Hartwell ATT re grading in PG Return. Various info … to Area HQ Physiotherapy centre with Bill Bracegirdle and Jack DeLacy NUM for measurements etc. (RB)… Office … Tonnage figures and acreages etc. and monthly section sheets. Cost Clerk re PG coal being disclosed and recorded. Discuss same with JR Greasley. PG grades with DMP and STB.

Fri 25 … Office … Office … General. 1s Junction re-drawn again. Prints for RCW. Progress figures.
Fri 25 … U/g … afternoon … Parkgate Intake drift levelling, now dipping at 1in40 near to Junction turn. Also checked 400s slit re-ringing, all girders set plus 7 number of 8ft / 9ft arches o.k. … 2 men (RB*, STB)

Sat 26 … Office … Parkgate calculations and plotted grades. - 13673 tons

Mon 28 … Office … Discuss Ray Flint, General. Calculations etc. for grades of PG Return. Various drawings for NUM re 33/35 Forest Road. Discuss Ken Hartwell ATT. Folder compiled for History of Ollerton Colliery, discuss same CW S. PG Return Conveyor house. Discuss T Grainger re Junction and grades.

Tues 29 … Office … Ray Flint re P/G Engine house at Access Drift.
Tues 29 … U/g … met Peter Davies, Mechanical Engineer plus A Carr … Put lines on for Parkgate drive in Second drive house. Pit bottom re-ringing check … 2 men (RB*, DMP) … Office … Ray Flint re Overcast for 100s RH 25 feet floor to floor. Red Lion PH … Copies of PG Intake Connection Junction for RC Watson.
Wed 30 … Office … Drawing out P/G Second Conveyor drive house with reference to original with RCW and T Grainger, amends for 400s / Jack Hoare’s Junction. Colin Waller Charge Elec re Telephones. Ken Ollerenshaw Elect re various. Ventilation changes during course of 46s development and discuss. Phone Eric Fretwell. Sorting out Second Conveyor drive house, discuss Mick Young and RCW re differences … Surface … Checked new Gees staff … 8mm wrong … therefore all levelling in Parkgate Return drift wrong !!! Had to do it again with a different staff. It was a good job I was keen on checking staffs occasionally due to spring action … Office … Sorted out PG development plan folders.
Graham Hall (6025) promoted to Bevercotes as Senior Assistant to Ken Mirfin and Eric Fretwell transferred from Bilsthorpe to Ollerton as Second Assistant