A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

North Nottinghamshire Area from April 1967

Page - 55 -

Jul 1978

Colliery Allowance started A £770, B £525 and C £350. John Nightingale (5393) transferred from Surveyor at Sutton to Silverhill.

Sat 1 … 15552 tonnes
Ian Orgill Apprentice back from Block Release at Technical College, CA Fegan Apprentice Tech every Wednesday.

Mon 3 … Office … Colouring 1/5000 plan. General. P Noone re electrical tackle in Top Hard … schedules. P Davies re list of mechanical tackle. Shotfiring pattern from Colin Wynne ICI Rep for Vertical bunker sinking. R Flint and E Barton re various. Meeting JH, PD and GM re 2s Building station proposals. Robbins Raise drill pilot hole down 5 rods at 5pm as I left for home.

Tues 4 … Office … General. John Longden DCME, Bert Grime Bevercotes, RB re Vertical bunker discuss. Colouring 1/5000 plans. Calculated bricks for Bunker job … 12,000 plus. Calculated water. Parkgate Meeting 2.30 pm … CW S (RB)… Vertical Bunker meeting 3pm … JH (RB)
Borehole thirled at 4.10pm to bottom chamber over centre line of conveyor as planned … Deputy thought it should have been on centre of gate so phoned out to Meeting to tell CW Standage it was iin the wrong place, but I grabbed the phone and spoke to DM Parker who was down there and checked it … ‘spot on’ he said. I informed the meeting of the correct news. Nobody went out of the Conference Room after I had spoken to DM Parker but within minutes questions were asked of me from the Planning department at Area HQ why the borehole was not in the correct position in the bottom chamber, of course it was correct. I suspected someone in Control centre must have passed a message to Area HQ. Later Leo Kirk and Tom Grainger came across and wanted me to go underground with them. I refused because I knew they had come on a spying visit, to see the borehole had thirled to the bottom chamber.

Wed 5 … U/g … Visit to Vertical bunker base and top to see borehole. Access Junction re recess for conveyor return end (RB, EWF) (410 + 8 u/g)
Met Mike, the American Boremaster … he reamed a 4 feet hole with the Robbins Raise drill … 12 feet by 4pm and 105 feet finish by 7.15pm … late for July 4th American Independence Day celebrations he remarked … Office … Drawing up same and then discuss J Higginbotham. Tom Grainger phoned re pilot hole was in correct position over the conveyor … ! Ready now to ream out upwards at 5 feet dia.
Thurs 6 … Office … JRG phoned various and Vertical Bunker. Discuss and info to CW S and R Anderson re Top Hard inventory. Discuss Tom Grainger.

Fri 7 … U/g … Measured and plumbed Vertical Bunker … excellent check … 4 men (RB, DMP, EWF, CAF) … Office … Calculations. Eric Barton O/m re Conveyor recess for Vertical Bunker conveyor motor. Info to AVG re distances. CJ Whyte called in to discuss Vertical Bunker. It was the first one to be sunk using the Robbins Raise drill. A pilot hole was drilled at 9 inches dia. to the bottom chamber from the top chamber. A large 5 feet dia. drill was fixed on the rods and it pulled upwards creating a five feet dia hole. The debris was loaded out onto a conveyor. When sinking down from the top at 15 feet dia. the strata removed was cast down the hole and removed as before and the ringing and blocking continued down to the bottom chamber. The capacity of the bunker was to be 1,000 tons.

Sat 8 … Office … Progress. Incentive measurements. Wall plans.        
16776 tonnes

Paula Lesh and Ian Orgill holiday Mon 10 – Sat 22

Mon 10 … Office … New Wall plans. Dates etc. on Working plans. Phone Ken Mirfin Bevercotes re info. Began tracing for site of Vertical Bunker for HMI K Couldwell. Info for CW S re Accountability. Info to AVG re salvage in old Top Hard. Bar chart for JH re 10s A and 2s.

Tues 11 … Office … CW S 1s supports and Vertical Bunker supports. Continued with plan for Vertical Bunker site. Amends to R & FF plans with Colin Slater ET. Discuss E Giillfillan and Ken Hartwell ATT. John Longden DCME phoned re info for Vertical Bunker, accuracy, collar etc. Frank Lee Area Planner phoned re Roy’s Bridge borehole info.

Wed 12 … Office … Calculations. Plotted 46s and inked in plans to date with faults and stippling. Discuss E Gillfillan and Sid ? ATT. …Surface … RB to No2 Dirt tip with JR Greasley, Senior Surveyor. Geoff Austin Bilsthorpe phoned re Vertical Bunker.

Thurs 13 … U/g … Dialled through 10s face and checked headings also, excellent closure … 4 men (RB*, DMP, EWF and Colin Slater) … Vertical Bunker sinking 3m down. Also CAF and IO levelling closed. Calculated and plotted. Tuition to Ian Orgill re bearings and levels.

Fri 14 … Office … General. Showing Eric W Fretwell and Chris A Fagin method for weekend Incentive measurements etc. … Colliery Rest Day.                                                

Sat 15 … 12101 tonnes
Kevin Porter linesman left to Bevercotes

Pit Holidays Mon 17 to Sat 29 July

Mon 17 … Surface … Tacheo survey of No4 Dirt tip and Nos 8 and 9 lagoons … 4 men (RB*, DMP, EWF, CAF) … Office … Calculations with EWF. Plotting same with CAF.

Tues 18 … Surface … Tacheo survey of No2 tip … 4 men (RB, DMP, EWF,CAF) … Office … Plotting same.
David Thorpe (5486) appointed Surveyor at Sutton from Deputy at Thoresby.
Retirement Party for Cheslaw Stasiewicz,Teversal

Wed 19 … Office … Plotting Dirt tip surveys, amending neg. Phone CW S re me going to Chalfont St Giles Staff College. Michael Mottram phoned re same.

Thurs 20 … Surface … Continued with survey of No2 Dirt tip … 3 men (RB*, DMP, CAF)… Office … Plotted same.

Fri 21 … Surface … Continued with survey of No2 Dirt tip … 4 men (RB*, DMP, EWF, CAF) … Office … Plotting same.
Nil
Electrification of No 1 Winding engine.

Mon 24 … Office … Sorting out Dirt tip surveys. Plotting levels. Updated Second copy plans. Made brackets for new cupboard.

Tues 25 … Office … Contouring Dirt tip plans with EWF.

Wed 25 … Office … Contouring Dirt tip plans. Reorganised Conservatory.

Thurs 27 … Office … Dirt tip negatives. Discuss Frank Lee Area Planner. Also JRG various.

Fri 28 … Office … General. Discuss Ken Hartwell ATT various.
Nil

Mon 31 … Substitute Statutory Holiday

Aug 1978

Annual Leave Tues 1 – Sat 12. Devon & Cornwall

9750 tonnes
EW Fretwell holiday. CW Standage holiday
Roger Farrow linesman start                                                              

Sati 12 … 13120 tonnes

Ged Mason U/m off work bad back Mon Aug 14 – Mon Oct 23. Ray Flint Acting U/m PG
Mon 14 … Office … General, Discuss work, Correspondence. Discuss CW S. Progress and 1s survey plotted.

Tues 15 … U/g … Vertical bunker checked, plumb line etc., past pulleys and plates etc. … o.k. (RB*, DS) and check on lines at 1s, 2s, 10s. Measured faults in 10s AW. In 2s LG put 90 dgree line on for face heading … Office  ... Calculations for thirling etc. CW S re plan for 17 men exemption sent to HMI. Strata Control info sheet with Alan V Goodwin. Plan of Fines coal stock for Area Marketing dept.

Wed 16 … Office … General … Surface … to Newark Road (JRG, RB) re complaint of pollution, evidence pointed to Rexco Plant … Office … Met Mr M Tucker, Doncaster HQ Mining dept. re CW S plan showing Top Hard and Parkgate seams. Meeting 3pm … 2s Installation … JH (RB).

Thurs 17 … Office … Sorting out template for spiral for Vertical Bunker with Joiners … Surface … Heating discovered at No2 pit top low landing … site investigation (RB)
Thurs 17 … U/g … Late afternoon … to Vertical bunker … put spiral line on shaft wall (RB, DMP)
Office … HMI K Couldwell re same and wanted quick site plan (RB) from old plan with additions.
HMI D Richards discuss same. Measured work done on heating and proposed to do next.

Fri 18 … Office … Making plan for HMI K Couldwell re heating … measurements of grouting area … (RB)
(Found out later that the ground was actually set on fire by welding)
Discuss staff changes with CJ Whyte and Des Thompson Harworth

Sat 18 … Office … Progress. Incentive measurements.
13487 tonnes                

Mon 21 … Office … 3 copies of plan for HMI K Couldwell re heating at No2 pit top (RB). Amendments to Practice FF neg. John Shone with new spiral drawing, different.
Mon 21 … U/g … Later with new spiral drawing from John Shone, Thyssens … marked out spiral on shaft wall (RB, EWF plus 2 foreign students George, a Turk, and Mitte, a Greek. (415 + 8 u/g)
Office … CJ Whyte phoned re staff moves. DM Parker to transfer to Sutton 15/9/1978.

Tues 22 … Office … Plotting and checking Following Intake thirling point. Sketches made. KF Greaves re splitting the pit for Safety Inspections. Meeting 3pm … Vertical bunker JH, RB and Thyssens Rep.
Treasure Hunt

Wed 23 … Office … General. Plan for HMI K Couldwell re 16 man exemption for Vertical bunker development, sinking etc. … Surface … JRG, RB, Ted Hodgson plus 2 from Notts. County Council re Rexco Sports Field and tip entrance. Info to the Greek and Turkish students (note … I had warned them from day one that whilst they were under my care for whatever situation they were not to fall out, the 2 countries being at loggerheads). Discus 1s sections with CW S and JH and Dave Muller geologist.
A 1.6m fault struck at 10s RH AW heading.
Senior Assistant Surveyor now to have title Deputy Surveyor.

Thurs 24 … Office … Phone CJ Whyte re Philip Shaw Assistant at Welbeck to transfer as Deputy Surveyor at Ollerton. I was asked to accept him as he was unhappy at Welbeck with treatment by Surveyor). Saw CW S re same and he agreed move. Notice for Vertical Bunker re Winch Rules … Surface … Drew out 27’ 0” diameter cicle in pit yard for checking timber rings, Sorted out steel requirements for 2s Chock Building station in 2s AW. To No2 Winding house to see progress for electrification. Phoned info to SN Whittle. Boreholes.

Fri 25 … Office … Info re 2s legs etc. … Surface ... Observing CAF and IO, Apprentices Levelling and dialling pit yard and Galleries … Office … Phone JRG re office plan amends and sent. Painter Norman and Alan re cupboards. Auxiliary Ventilation plan amends for 2s and copies to Tony Tryner.

Sat 26 … 13982 tonnes

Mon 28 … Statutory Holiday. Annual Leave Tues 29 Aug – Sat 2 Sep

John Clapperton Deputy Electrical Engineer left to Lybia. Harry Fitzackerly started, transferred from Harworth. (Note … Years later after moving away for promotion he would become Electrical Engineer for Ollerton)

Sep 1978

Fri 1 … 11277 tonnes

Mon 4 to Fri 15 … I attended a Specialist Management Course at Chalfont St Giles, NCB Staff College … SM 36 course, Syndicate A, Group 1… not allowed to come home during the weekend. I was interviewed by Adrian Alderson Senior Lecturer upon entering the premises and I in turn had to interview him as a ‘getting to know you’ exercise and to put you at ease afterwards. Excellent meals, beer and wine etc. and facilities and good companions. I first met Mike Goldsby. He pulled me to one side and asked me not to ask questions or point out any errors thet he may present during his lectures, by adding that I probably knew more about it than him regarding planning and surveying. True. He was moved to Chalfont and missed the step of Production Manager. (He would become DCME Mine Planning & Surveying later in 1986 when I was at Area HQ. His office was opposite and he became a right pain particularly trying to belittle Managers and Surveyors with rejected SM! Forms informing of danger from, water, gas boreholes etc. Didn’t get on with him at all.)

It was an intensive course with lectures into the evening and after a pint or two in the bar on occasion we would suddenly be given an exercise that required someone to present a talk next morning at 9am, each in turn with the results etc. Obviously done deliberately to see if you cracked under pressure. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and several in the group went on to higher positions fairly soon afterwards. They were in a variety of disciplines whereas jobs in Surveying were virtually none existant due to the shrinkage of the industry and where vacancies did arise at times the job was filled by someone who would otherwise have been made redundant.

Chalfont St Giles Tutors 1978

My syndicate group of 7 with our group leader, Director, Adrian Alderson

Sat 9 … 14235 tonnes

Sat 16 … Office … General. Discuss EWF, his turn in for Incentive figures … 12558 tonnes
2s face thirled o.k.
G Weeks Asst U/m 2s and 10s Day shift. Ian Orgill Block release at Tech College.

Mon 18 … Office … General. Discuss CW S re Chalfont course and position of the pit. HMI J Jones re 2s Support plan amends (RB). CW S re 1s LG conveyor survey, info. Correspondence.

Tues 19 … U/g … 2s Chock building station and 2s face thirl, centre line and grade. 1s No2 conveyor survey of road and conveyor etc. Vertical bunker sinking 72 feet down… Office … Plotted 1s conveyor survey. Discuss CW S and JH. Phone CJ Whyte re Paul Wilkinson Not accepting job? I had recommended him through a friend.

Wed 20 … Office … Water report and usage and also George H Jackson assist in filling in form. Phone Michael Mottram Staff department. Eric Ricketts PPM water figures. Phone AE Betts … Meeting 3pm … 2s Kit up … CW S (RB)

Thurs 21 … Office … General, Ted Hodgson re Water report. Calculations … Surface … Measured new water tank and reservoir and pipework … (RB*, EWF and Ted Hodgson). Phone WEBB, staff info to date. AV Goodwin U/m discuss. CW S re 2s Snicket alterations. Terry Jones, Dowty.

Fri 22 … Office … Water form. Peter Longden info. Phone GH Jackson. Roy Bland Strata Control re info for 46s and tonnages etc. J Higginbotham, Mick Bostock Area Vent re 12s development. Fred Marples re 2s. Barry Shephard re water on dust.

Sat 23 … Office … Progress. Incentive figures. JH and RF Plans of Skip pocket underground. Charts for special measures for convergence on 1s panel gates … 13516 tonnes
Mick Parker (DMP) transferred from Ollerton to Sutton Colliery as Deputy

Mon 25 … Surface … RB with John Hayter Fire Officer re new arrangements … Water report finished, advice George H Jackson and Bill Morris Severn Trent Water Authority… Office … 1/500 Surface plans to date. Chart for 1s convergence measures. Meeting 3pm … 2s kit up CW S. Managers 1/2500 plan to date. Pan pushing started on 2s face.

Tues 26 … Office … Continued with Surface plans to date … Surface … Measuring up detail of pipework etc. for plan (RB*) … Office … Continued with Dirt tip plans, sections to date. Discuss CW S, JH, PD.
Tues 26 … U/g in afternoon … Put pan push marks on 2s face and check, counted pans … 2 men (RB*, CAF) … to 6pm

Wed 27 … Office … Continued with Dirt tip plans. Discuss JH. Plotted levels. Calculations. J Herbert phoned various. Discuss Gordon Weeks Asst U/m.

Thurs 28 … Holiday … Jane at Newcastle University

Fri 29 … Office … Harry Fitackerly and Fred Wagstaffe Elecs re cables on surface. Sketches for 2s chock setting and copies. Manager’s Wall plan. Sorting drawers out.

Sat 30 … Began building Chock shields in large building station in 2s AW. 13638 tonnes

Oct 1978

Mon 2 … Office … General. Inking in plans. Top Hard levels to date. Began updating Second copies. Meeting 3pm Parkgate … R Anderson … (RB). Meeting 4pm … 2s Kit up .. JH (RB). Phone CJ Whyte re staff.

Tues 3 … Office … Continued with Second copy plans. Phone JRG. Discuss KFG. Sorting out 2s Chock Shields positions. Meeting 3.30pm JH … Vertical Bunker … (RB) Eddie Kilbane and Harry Bickerton from Thyssens. Gordon Froggatt, Assistant Manager Thoresby rang re info for Chock shield supports.

Wed 4 … U/g … Checked diameter etc. of Vertical bunker with Ken Hartwell … o.k. now only 3m left of sinking.

(RB*, DS). To 2s face, square marks on for Chock shields. Set out halfway panzer mark … (RB*, DS, KS) … Office … Meeting 3pm … Accountability, Manpower Savings and Development … R Anderson (RB). Phone D Stone checking 12s layout on plan.

Thurs 5 … Office … Eddie Gillfillan plus 2 from South Notts. Area and Leo Kirk discuss Vertical Bunker. Phoned J Herbert re 12s layout is different to 5 year layout plan, agreed same as 10s. Also checked setting out measures for 12s and Followng Intake. Peter Noone Deputy Elec re 12s substation extension and Ray Flint discuss. Discuss G Weeks 2s. T Jones and Ken ? Dowty re plan of 2s Building station.

Fri 6 … Office … General and correspondence. Sorting out Paint order for Duracol from Durable Coatings at Nottingham. Leo Kirk re reinforcement at Vertical Bunker. CJ Whyte came. Philip Shaw to start Nov 6 as Deputy.
Martin Jones (MJ) linesman left.

Sat 7 … Office … Progress. Incentive figures. Charts for 1s face convergence. Wall plans and Conference Room plans.
14984 tonnes
Gordon Weeks Asst U/m 2s Installation on Day shift

Mon 9 … Office … P Davies re 1s C conveyor / 14s Junction. Phoned firm re paint. KC Mirfin Bevercotes phoned. JRG phoned. Norman Preater Welbeck phoned. J Herbert phoned. Inking in plans. Info to Sam Pepper re Following Intake Pump house. Discuss KFG. Phone CJ Whyte re Ian Orgill Apprentice. Made neg of 1s C conveyor and substation. Plotted 1s survey. Completed Second copy plans.

Tues 10 … Office … General. Roy Pearse Area Vent re PG temperatures ... Plan and Ozaloft of TH and PG with boreholes and depths. Colouring Deputy’s Districts plans. Discuss Vertical Bunker Eddie Kilbane, Thyssens re Quadrant lines in Vertical bunker.

Wed 11 … Office … General. Eddie Kilbaine re various at Vertical Bunker. Fred Marples and Rep re chute for Vertical Bunker Feed conveyor, 3m drop. Geoff Austin Bilsthorpe phoned. Bill Oliver, Pensions & Insurance re accident to J Lapko on 10s Dec 1977. Manrider form. Meeting 3pm … 2s kit up … JH (RB). R & FF symbols 2 new sheets from Rep.
New Surface fire-fighting range operational.

Thurs 12 … U/g … 2s face and conveyor line, measured chocks and set out AW end pans … (RB*, DS, CAF) also to Vertical bunker finished sinking, checked plumb and measures at base and holes etc. at top … (RB*, CAF) … Office … Checking 1s surveys re face lengths. Leo Kirk phoned re Vertical Bunker. Alan Dennett, Drawing Office phoned re scaffold. Drew out 2 s face on 1/100 scale.

Fri 13 … Office … General. Stuart Warrior re new fire fighting range. Alan Dennett re scaffold. P Davies re 2s. Discuss 2s drawing CW S, JH, AVG, PD and GW.                                   

Sat 14 … 14524 tonnes
Ken Hartwell and Area Tunnelling team left and Thyssens started on Mon 16.
Philip Shaw transferred from Welbeck to Ollerton as Deputy.

Mon 16 … Office … General. Discuss John Eyre Blidworth re staff. Vertical Bunker base drawing … wrong ! Eddie Kilbane, Thyssens. Discuss JH and GW 2s AW end. Sketches for same. Plan for Loco circuits for HMI.
Peter Abram (PA) started as linesman.

Tues 17 … U/g … to Vertical bunker base, then RB with John Shone and Eddie Kilbane square lines and conveyor centre line and plugs in shaft side and also a level line … (RB, EWF, John Herbert and Derek Stone) To 2s face Chock shields with Lemniscate linkage and line for pans. (420 + 8 u/g)

Tues 17 … Office … Meeting … Vertical Bunker … (Leo Kirk, Tom Grainger, Stuart Warrior, RB) … Bert Grime Bevercotes Asst Manager phoned re Vertical Bunker.

Wed 18 … Office … Drawing 2s AW end … Surface … to Workshop measured DERDS. Info re 2s to Cliff Johnson Area Method Study. Roy Bland Strata Control re PG depths, thickness etc. … Meeting … 3pm … 2s Kit up … First ATM Face (Advanced Technology Mining) JH (RB) …. The chocks butted up to one another with only the smallest gap to prevent catching and no roof fill could pass through the small gap and the back shield with lemniscate linkage and sloping back canopy prevented goaf material flowing into the chock bases virtually making it the safest place to be in the pit. JRG phoned. Ray Fish Method Study phoned re Manpower travelling distances and paddies.

Thurs 19 … Office … Constructing new PG R & FF negative with new transfer symbols. Des Thompson Harworth plhoned various. Bar chart for 10s re-development CW S. Checked 1s LG bearing.
Thurs 19 … Last chock shield on 2s, No 146. Lights out at Building station. Fast end blown out 4’ 6”.

Fri 20 … U/g … Marks on 2s AW end for Bishop pack and 3/3 chocks. Checked pans in fast end … (RB*, EWF) To 10s AW … no fault. To Vertical bunker … all new girders in place at base and checked o.k. … Office … Phone R Bland re 2s Shields approximate number. Discuss J Higginbotham. Harry Bickerton re drawings of template and 4 steadying brackets, saw Peter Davies o.k.

Sat 21 … 15184 tonnes
12s to 14s LG to be 480 yards leaving 13s panel 200 yards.
Ian Orgill (IO) Apprentice transferred to Blidworth and Gary Noble (GNWB) started from Clipstone to Ollerton but was on block release at Technical College for 3 months. PL Lesh holiday 1 week
AV Goodwin holiday Mon 23 – Sat 28 then Course – Sun Nov 5

Mon 23 … Office … Discuss Gary Noble Apprentice transferred from Clipstone. Inking in plans, levels and contours, faults etc. CW S discuss.

Tues 24 … Office … General. JH re 2s. L Scrivens re arches for 2s AW end … Surface … Fetched steel templates for Thyssens. JRG re Dirt tip plans and Second copy Working plans. Meeting Vertical bunker … Leo Kirk (RB) … Gradient sections for 1s A and B conveyors for P Davies.

Wed 25 … U/g … Marked out 3/3 system at 2s AW end again! Went through the face with Terry Jones Dowty Rep … first 2 shields had anti -slew device. To base of Vertical bunker … checked on work done, now concreting reinforcing … Surface … To Joiners shop to see template and sinking scaffold with Eddie Kilbane … Office … Checked 1s AW bearing. Meeting … Thyssens Weekly Take Up … JH, TG, GM. E Kilbane, RB.

Thurs 26 … Office … General. M Lamb phoned re co-ordinates of Drapers Scour borehole. Plan. Info re 2s chock pumps for LG to Terry Jones and Cliff Davies, 5 yards apart approx. … Calculations for 1s checking. Discuss John Shone Thyssens Surveyor. 2s first strip.
2s ATM (Advanced Technology Mining) Chock shields with lemniscate linkage cut first strip. First ATM face in the country.

Fri 27 … Office … Finished PG R & FF negative. Discuss Rep from Huwood re Vertical Bunker Access conveyor.

Sat 28 … Office … Progress. Incentive figures. 11880 tonnes
J Higgingbotham holiday Mon 30 Oct – Sat 4 Nov. AV Goodwin Course. G Mason Acting Deputy Manager, Ray Flint Acting TH U/m. G Weeks 10s and 2s Snicket. EW Fretwell holiday

Mon 30 … Office … 1/25000 plan. CJ Whyte phoned. Prints coloured of new PG R & FF plan. Amended TH neg, removed PG workings. Coloured prints ready for changing. Colin Wynne ICI re 2s Snicket. Discuss G Weeks. Amend to 2s Snicket Junction plan, ready for tomorrow setting out.

Tues 31 … U/g … Set out Quadrant holes at Vertical bunker top with dial. Climbed down the shaft to base and check (RB* and John Shone Thyssens) … Office … L Scrivens re 2s Snicket steel requirement. 2s Snicket shotfiring pattern. CW S re plan of 1s C conveyor drive. Discuss Tom Grainger. Discuss Dave Muller PG in general. KFG re accident graph.

Nov 1978

Philip G Shaw (PGS) transferred as Deputy to Ollerton from Welbeck (could not get on with Norman Preater so I was asked if I would have him sooner than advertise the post)

Wed 1 … Office … New 1/50000 key plan neg for R & FF plan folders, now 3 folders in each. Amended TH North side plan. Info for 2s for HMI GDR Adamson and plan. Ray Fish Method Study re plan of Vertical bunker. KFG re-Brian Smith Thyssens Mech Engineer re Vertical Bunker Rules and scaffold. G Weeks re 2s Snicket. General.

Thurs 2 … Office … Plan for 10s LG Junction for new turn … Surface … Measured 2s Chock Shield cradle designed by Johnny Gratton Mech. JRG phone. KFG discuss. Calculated 2s survey. CW S re plans updating. CW S and GM re 2s pans. KFG and Rep from 3M re reflective paint. Bert Grime phoned re send fossils to Bevercotes by van for American visitors.

Fri 3 … Office … Examining 10s levels and projecting faults etc. Geoff Weston previous HMI now with Thyssens. JRG exchanged R & FF plans. Info to HMI GDR Adamson re 2s.

Sat 4 … Office … Progress. Incentive figures - 19581 tonnes
CW Standage holiday Mon 6 – Sun 19. J Higgingbotham Acting Manager. G Mason Acting Deputy Manager. Ray Flint Acting U/m PG 1s. AV Goodwin TH U/m. G Weeks 10s and 2s Snicket.

Mon 6 … Office … Discuss with Philip Shaw new Deputy … Surface … to check foundations for Rapid loading bunker (RB*). Phone JRG. Meeting … Parkgate … last one … R Anderson (RB, and Philip Shaw PGS) … Meeting 3pm … Accountability, Manpower Savings and Development (RB). CJ Whyte came to discuss with P Shaw.

Tues 7 … U/g … Visit to 1s and 2s panel (RB*, PGS) and Vertical bunker, down ladder to base and measures 5 blocks up … (RB*, PGS, EWF) … Office … Meeting … 2pm … with Linesmen … Meeting 3.30pm … Vertical Bunker JH (RB, PGS) … Discuss E Kilbane and Bob Brown overpayment measures. John CH Longden DCME discuss re Vertical Bunker and info.

Wed 8 … Holiday

Thurs 9 … Office … General. GW phoned re 2s Snicket. L Scrivens … record of aggregate and cement etc. sent to Vertical Bunker for the file. AE Betts phoned re various. Appraisals … Chris Fegan (CAF) Apprentice. Eric Fretwell (EWF) Assistant and Philip Shaw (PGS) Deputy. Eric Barton O/m discuss 2s Snicket. Meeting … Development chart for Vertical Bunker finish by Christmas … Ged Mason U/m (RB) Gordon Ison phoned re various.

Fri 10 … Office … General. Sorting out 2s advances. Meeting 2pm … Thyssens Take up … 11 blocks (RB.) G Weeks discuss Vertical Bunker.                                   

Sat 11 … 18376 tonnes
CW Standage holiday Mon 13 – Sun 19. J Higginbotham Acting Manager. G Mason Acting D/m. AV Goodwin Top Hard. Ray Flint Acting U/m PG 1s. G Weeks Vertical Bunker, 10s and 2s Snicket

Mon 13 … U/g … Visit to 46s North side and East side for fossils … 2 men (RB*, PGS) Meeting Vertical Bunker 3 pm JCH Longden. Discuss John Shone and Eddie Kilbane, Thyssens, quarter lines fixed in bunker etc. Info to Phil Coward and John Woofe Deputies re 10s panel. Discuss JH and GM. (425 + 8 u/g)

Tues 14 … Office … Ken Mirfin Bevercotes phoned re Vertical Bunker info again. Info to date from Lou Scrivens, Materials Officer … Surface … Levelled to manhole on old brick culvert … 3 men (RB*, PGS, EWF).

Wed 15 … U/g … Checked holes at top of Vertical bunker and down ladder and set 3 spirals … measures for overfill. (Info to Eddie Kilbane) … To 600 ton bunker … 2 men (RB*, PGS) … Office … Discuss Roy Bland Strata Control.

Thurs 16 … Office … 1/25000 plans. Thyssens Rep preparatory volumes and discuss. G Mason re 2s AW Supports ... temp plan showing pan to be taken off. D Muller discuss geology.

Fri 17 …Office … 1/25000 plan. General. Info for JH re 2s advance. Discuss T Grainger and E Kilbane re Bunker. Discuss GM geology of Parkgate seam, faulting etc. Meeting … Thyssens take up (RB).

Sat 18 … Office … Progress. Incentive figures. Wall plans. Discuss GM 2s cutting. 20303 tonnes
Ray Flint Asst U/m on Night shift

Mon 20 … Office … Old development plans. Des Thompson Harworth phoned. Contours and faults on 1/10000 and 1/10560 PG plans. GW re 10s progress. P Davies re proposed radius turn 10s and 2s snicket. Discuss Zep (Austrian) and Eddie Kilbane Thyssens. Mick Young Deputy Mech re Godwin Warren retarders … P Leivers to see. Discuss CW S 10s etc.

Tues 21 … Office … General discussion 10s faults Jim Barnett, Dave Muller, John Herbert, Derek Stone. Then Meeting with JP Berry Deputy Director, DR Mounsey DCME and F Lee Area Planner (RB).

Tues 21 … U/g … With J Herbert (JHt) and D Stone (DSt) 2s AW end and supports etc. and Vertical Bunker measures etc. ... Office … Meeting … Graham Woodrow University of Nottingham 2 books on gate distortion. Meeting … Vertical bunker … JH (RB) Thyssens Rep.
Fitters on strike on 1s panel

Wed 22 … Office … Correspondence or general. Discuss KFG. Job Appraisal … CW S … excellent ***. Peter Daffin Estates re old sports Pavilion, prints via Maurice Whittle. Discuss Doug Raisbeck and Dave Muller geology of PG. Info to P Davies re 1s face gradients. Info to J Herbert re 2s advances. Des Thompson Harworth phoned re Vertical Bunker.

Thurs 23 … Office … Replotted 2s AW end supports for changing the Support Rules. Calculations with PGS for 10s theodolite into headings. Told G Mason re 2s Snicket 50cms too high … needs dinting.

Fri 24 … Office … Plotted 1s levels and contours. General. Phone GM re 2s Snicket. CW S re 1s AW end. Made sketch of supports. Discuss Tom Grainger Projects Planner. Made sketch showing method of pushing chock shields over on 2s face. KFG re Stone Dust Barrier measures in new book and discuss.

Sat 25 … 15638 tonnes

Mon 27 … Office … General, correspondence. Discuss JH, T Jones, Tony Turner and John Faben 2s cutting and chock shield push over etc. Inked in 10s faults. Info for 12s. Meeting 3pm … 12s Face design … R Anderson (RB). Discuss Cyril Murphy re 12s project to be as 2s.
Evening … Safety Sketch finals Devonshire Suite Sutton … Ollerton first, Sherwood and Blidworth

Tues 28 … Office … Jack Storr Thoresby phoned, plan of 46s sent. Plotted faults etc. JRG sent Dirt tip plans. Discuss PGS re old surveys. General infor to CW S. Plans etc. for 12s project.

Wed 29 … U/g …Visit to 2s panel and snicket. Checked Vertical bunker (RB*) … Office … Notice for 2s LG haulage. Calculations for Vertical Bunker backfill. Info to T Grainger re No2 Pit bottom levels. Wall plans to date. AV Goodwin discuss re 46s Support Rules … damaged!

Thurs 30 … Office … General, correspondence. Various info noted. Plan ready for Cyril Murphy re 12s project. Discuss PGS re theodolite stations on Top Hard plans. HM Spanton visit to 2s o.k.

Dec 1978

Fri 1 … Office … General. Bunker calculations. Geological section of 2s AW to John Smith Mechanisation dept via J Herbert. V Bunker material list from L Scrivens. Updated and amended Colliery information Hand out pamphlet. To get info for CW S paper on 2s Advanced Technology Mining. John Shone to V Bunker 10.3m from top.

Sat 2 … 20006 tonnes

Mon 4 … Office … General, correspondence. Info for CW S paper re 2s Chock shields ATM face. CW S re accident 2s AW for HMI J Jones. G Weeks Asst U/m re 1s C substation. Contacted J Lyons and G Mason re same.

Tues 5 … Office … General. Discuss G Weeks re 2s Snicket. G Mason re sketches for 2s. Meeting … Vertical bunker … JH (RB). Frank Lee Area Planner phoned re 10s boring.

Wed 6 … U/g … to 46s LG, measured disturbance in roof and floor … (RB*, CAF), discuss AV Goodwin U/m … Office … Frank Lee phoned re various. Info to Colin Slater ET re PG. Discuss grades etc. for boring at 10s. Ken Mirfin Bevercotes phoned re various info. Writing 2s project.

Thurs 7 … Off Uncle Tom’s funeral, Coventry, hit and run accident.

Fri 8 … Office … General, correspondence etc. With PGS sorting out 3s Ompton Underground borehole info, Frank Lee phoned re various. Meeting … 3pm Surface Strategic Plan … CW S (RB) Discuss 46s J Herbert and Derek Stone. Discuss T Grainger V Bunker concrete figures.                  
All men walked out on Day shift over 2s AW water money … Afternoon off … but night shift worked.

Sat 9 … Office … Progress. Incentive figures. Discuss D Muller, CW S and GM 10s AW borehole 152 feet, all coal level at 45 degrees to left. 20892 tonnes

Mon 11 … Office … Inking in plans. Info re calc of concrete to T Grainger. HMI GDR Adamson plan re 10s headings, grades etc. (RB). Discuss Frank Lee … Discuss G Weeks re 10s face head proposals.

Tues 12 … U/g … Grade line etc. at Vertical bunker Access and Conveyor centre line in reflective paint. Also checked bricking up to collar. Office ... T Grainger, G Inman, E Kilbane plus 1, RB … Prices for contract. Plan for KF Greaves Safety Engineer for ventilation speeds in PG. Terry Jones Dowty discuss 2s. J Shone plus 1 Thyssens re Vertical Bunker. (430 + 8 u/g)

Wed 13 … Office … Panel numbers on TH 1/5000 and info to date. GM re 2s AW end. With PGS made model. JH re same. Discuss Bill Stafford Dosco. Info to Ventilation Officer re distances u/g. Meeting … Accountability, Manpower Savings and development … R Anderson (RB)
Gary NW Noble back from Block Release at Technical College. CA Fegan sick
Wed 13 – Sat 16. Paula L Lesh holiday Tues 19 - Fri 22

Thurs 14 … Updating plans. G Earnshaw British Rail and JRG re workings to date (RB). Tuition Gary Noble Apprentice. Roy Bland re sketches for 2s AW end. With EWF 1s surveys check. With G Noble surface etc. Plan for 10s, exemption for 17 men LG and face. (Number of people by name or job)

Fri 15 … Office … General, correspondence. Tuition G WBN. Discuss J Herbert. Progress. AVG 46s faults? Discuss T Grainger V Bunker. Meeting JH, GM, T Jones Dowty, Albert Gascoigne and John Faben Strata Control re 2s AW end, new supports proposed.                                      

Sat 16 … 25088 tonnes

Mon 18 … U/g … Visit to 46s LG end … measures to faulty work and rolls etc. (RB*) … Office … Plotted same.

Tues 19 … Office … General. Plan. Phoned JRG re 46s panel to finish. Re M&Q 212 form to HMI. Also for Top Hard finished.46s finished … M&Q 212 form also Top Hard finished (JRG, RB), G Austin Bilsthorpe, K Mirfin Bevercotes, Des Thompson Harworth, Gordon Ison Senior Surveyor.

Wed 20 … Office … Finished chart. Bob James Thyssens re Infeed chute. Phone Kevin Porter HQ Drawing Office re stub girders 2’ 0” at base of Vertical Bunker. Coloured plans for G Mason. J Herbert phoned. Method Study phoned re 10s face. Discuss John Shone.
Wed 20 … U/g … Setting out fibre glass bases for masonry inlet chute to Vertical bunker. Also checked position of top of spiral block … spot on! … (John Shone, R James, Thyssens RB)

Thurs 21 … Office … Plan. Info re various. General, correspondence.
Clipstone Welfare Party

Fri 22 … Office … Sketch plan of Ventilation survey for timing air to the districts.

Sat 23 … 19015 tonnes

Mon 25 … Christmas … Tues 26 … Boxing Day … Statutory Holiday
Wed 27, Thurs 28, Fri 29 Colliery Rest Days

Output for 1978 = 865,169 tonnes 1144 men on books