A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

North Nottinghamshire Area from April 1967

Page - 57 -

Jul 1979

Ray Flint Asst U/m Days, TH salvage. G Weeks Nights.

Mon 2 … Office … General. Colin Wynne ICI Rep brought new Rep John Wilson recent Assistant Manager at Welbeck, new shotfiring pattern for 12s Scour. Correspondence. Meeting 3pm … No2 Heapstead proposed alterations (1981/1982) … R Anderson (RB). Discuss ventilation with John Sproston Deputy Ventilation Engineer. Sketch of 1s Paddy with grades etc. for Peter Davies.

Tues 3 … Office … Additions to TH Working plans. CW S re synopsis for Chock Shield installation for Colliery Guardian (RB) C WS re Synopsis for Paper on 2s Chock Shields for Colliery Guardian. (He would be awarded a Bronze medal for the Paper!) JH re 12s Scour and 2s LG arches and dip etc. Info to P Davies. JR Greasley phoned. D Stone phoned.

Wed 4 … U/g … Measurements of 2s LG arches, heights, widths etc. 12s scour section for C Wynne and J Wilson ICI … (RB) Phone John Shone Thyssens. Discuss JH re 2s and GM … Surface … Checked angles of 4 piece arches in stockyard … Office … Meeting … 3.45pm Monthly Accountability, Manpower Savings, Development .. R Anderson (RB). Discuss J Herbert various and 2s Chock shields … Surface … To Thoresby to take a copy of 2s Support Rules for Jack Storr. (455 + 8 u/g)

Thurs 5 … Office … Discussion re Linesmen and relighter lamps … (RB, AVG, GM Undermanagers and Bill Lacey Lamp Room foreman, Ted Lilley NACODS and Jimmy Hood NUM). CW S re Bronze medal for Paper. I had the synopsis typed by Margaret Carter. JRG phoned.

Fri 6 … Office … General, correspondence. PG figures. JRG phoned. Meeting with linesmen … spoke directly to B Kalnins, R Farrow, P Abram, K Walton re work output, attendance etc. … final warning. Development figures.

Sat 7 … 26823 tonnes
Sandstone came into the top of the ripping at 2s AW. Second highest output 26,823 tonnes.

Mon 9 … Office … Cleaned office together. J Herbert re 2s Chock shield installation. Figures etc.   

Tues 10 … Office … General, correspondence. Figures. John Shone Thyssens plus 2 re photographs of Vertical Bunker, also with J Lyons Electrical Engineer. JA Daniels (now Manager at Clipstone) rang re information on Parkgate drifts (RB). Peter Robinson Rufford rang re Ollerton Incentive measurements system. Discuss G Mason U/m re panzer creep.

Wed 11 … U/g … Photographs at top and bottom of Vertical Bunker (with John Shone plus 2 and Trevor Brown Deputy). Office … CW S re 1s Support Rules at AW and re visit by HMI John Jones. 3 sketches for G Mason U/m of 2s LG end re proposals of extra chocks. Office … General.

Thurs 12 … U/g … Check on 10s panel, 12s scour section, 12s AW fault 6 feet … 2 men (RB*, PGS) Office … Linesmen dispute. Discuss with Linesmen and Dennis Walker President NUM. CW S re 12s fault. JH re development. CW S and JH re 1s AW Support Rules. Discussion re proposed stopping sites in Top Hard seam … Ray Flint, RB.
Thurs 12 … U/g … Visit by 10 Surveyors to 2s panel … (RB and Colin Marshall Assistant Training Officer) 7.30pm – 9.30pm, overall including discussion etc. 6.30pm – 10pm

Fri 13 … Office … Dave Muller brought new Geologist (Welshman) Peter Rees. Negative made for proposed stopping sites for Top Hard abandonment. F Marples re possible installation of 2s C conveyor drive in pit holidays. Discuss Colin Wynne ICI Rep. Tuition to Gary WB Noble re Fire Certificate plans and organisation.                                                                       

Sat 14 … 24906 tonnes
Sandstone on top of coal at 2s AW end. Very large roof fall on 10s face

Mon 16 … Office … General, correspondence. JH Wall plan. Plotted levels and contours. Second copy Working plans to date. JRG re Risk Assessment File for future.

Tues 17 … Office … Discuss general. Figures to date. Discuss Fire Certificate plans. Neg to date. Wall plan for G Mason U/m.
Tues 17 … U/g visit in evening (John Shone and Stephanie, Paula Lesh and Mary B and RB and Keith McClean). To 2s panel and Vertical bunker 7pm – 9pm. Meal at the Hop Pole on Thyssens.

Wed 18 … Office … General, correspondence. KF Greaves Safety Engineer re Lip support for Headings. Made neg for TH proposed stopping sites. Discuss Ray Flint, Mick Bostock, Ken F Greaves and J Higginbotham re proposed stopping sites for Top Hard. CW S re 2 fans in one airstream for 12s development.

Thurs 19 … Surface … Measured up 6/240 t semi-shield chock for 12s (RB) … Office … Drawing of same. Also a drawing for Lip support in Headings.

Fri 20 … Office … General. Phone Moxon Newark District Council! Surface … to scene of accident to worker at the Rapid loading bunker site … not reportable … (RB, GWBN and KF Greaves) (26) … Office … 12s chocks. Des Thompson Harworth phoned re chocks etc. Told CW S will measure coal stocks in Pit holidays. 

Sat 21 … Office … Progress. Incentive measurements. Wall plans to date. 2 linesmen K Walton and P Abram didn’t turn up for work … lost 2 weekend tickets for others! - 21558 tonnes
Peter Abram Linesman left to Roadlayers.

Mon 23 … Office … Checking over Top Hard plans. Info. re pumps and heating sites. JRG re Wed plan.

Tues 24 … U/g … Visit to 10s face fall with John Faben Strata control Department. Also to 12s AW final position, check and grades etc. (RB*) … Office … Plan. Insurance Claims Inspector re Ray Goward 2s LG Support Rules check. (460 + 8 u/g)

Wed 25 … General. Correspondence. Ged Mason U/m rang re P Abram was not to work on Roadlaying Surface … to Area HQ with CW S 10.30am. Meeting of all Managers and Unit Surveyors … Risk Assessment plans … JP Berry Deputy Director … Office … Plotted levels for 12s Scour, Following Intake and 12s AW … Surface … To No2 Winder, re centre line and level marks for existing winding drum … 2 men (RB*, EWF)

Thurs 26 … Surface … to No1 Winder. Checked level of either end of the winding drum and marked, and centre line and offset measures for check for Markham’s Engineer Dave Wilkinson … 3 men (RB*, PGS, EWF) … Surface … to Gallow Hole Dyke surface borehole. Examined Parkgate seam core just brought out at 770m deep … (RB*, PGS, EWF, GWBN and Steve Lunnon Geologist). Discuss D Muller.

Fri 27 … (sub Statutory holiday) … Surface … Survey of coal stocks and then survey of No4 Dirt tip … 4 men (RB*, PGS, EWF, GWBN) … Also saw Clive Chapman GEC re Winder marks. Lunch Ollerton House

Sat 28 … 21558 tonnes

Pit Holidays Mon 30 July – Sat 11 Aug

No2 Winding engine electrification. 13762 tonnes

Mon 30 … Surface … No2 Dirt tip survey … 4 men (RB*, PGS, EWF. GWBN) … Lunch … Red Lion, Wellow
Carol wagon feeders at CPP.
Colin Marshall Assistant Training Officer appointed Training Officer at Rufford

Tues 31 … Surface ... Town & Country Planning Notts. County Council tip visit (RB, Bernard Bailey, J Ray Greasley plus 2) ... Lunch … Red Lion at Walesby

Aug 1979

Wed 1 … Office … Calculated coal stock tonnage. Surface … to No2 winder and RB discuss Jack Lyons Electrical Engineer. CW S re coal stock tonnage calculations. Slurry Lagoon calculations. Lunch … Bee Hive, Mapplebeck.
Kirton Brickworks, Mike Whitton borrowed a Levelling Instrument …

Thurs 2 … Surface … Continued with No2 Dirt tip survey … (RB*, PGS, EWF, GWBN) and Kirton Brickworks (RB) … Lunch … Fox & Hounds at Upton.

Fri 3 … Surface … Continued with No2 tip survey (RB*, PGS, EWF, GWBN) … Lunch … Carpenters Arms.

Mon 6 … Office … General, correspondence … Surface … Checking railway line amendments … (RB*, EWF) … Lunch … Red Lion, Wellow

Tues 7 … Office … Checking borehole info. Correspondence. … Lunch … Ollerton House

Wed 8 … Surface … No2 Winder. Measures to Railway line and amends for Rapid Loading Bunker … Lunch … Fox and Hounds, Kirton. Golf with Ged Mason at Chesterfield.

Thurs 9 … Office … General, correspondence. Discuss J Herbert working in Ompton water borehole area. To Area HQ, discuss. JRG re Risk Assessment plans. To No2 winder … Lunch … White Hart. Engine rope start on drum 6pm, finished roped up 1.30am.Surface … No1 winding engine new rope started coiling at 6pm … finished at 1.30am
No2 winding engine changed from steam to electric

Fri 10 … Office … 1/10000 plans to date. Prints for John Herbert TH and PG. Discuss John Higginbotham … Lunch … Dove Cote. - Nil
Carol feeders for automatic movement of rail wagons at Coal Preparation Plant

Mon 13 … Substitute Statutory Holiday … General … Surface … Check at Winder … Office … Colin Wynne ICI last visit before moving to Quarries department … Lunch with him … Red Lion. He would miss his game of cards!

Tues 14 … Office … 1/25000 plan. Sorting out borehole info. Phone Celia Stirland re same. Info to Keith ? Royal School of Mines Student re general and locos. WEBB and JRG brought Kern DM500 distomat for trials.

Wed 15 … U/g … Visit to 10s face very large fall and high and measures and to 1s following Intake (RB*, DS) Discuss Eric Barton … Office … Borehole info checking and plotting. Info re panelstart and advances to John Smith, Mechanisation dept. R Lewis Rep from Clarksons brought 3 bubbles for legs … ordered in March !!

Thurs 16 … Office … Finished off borehole info on all 1/10560 sheets. Jack Lyons re Wellow Dam (for Fishing club) and problems with Bilsthorpe winder … Meeting … Ged Mason, RB, John McGinley and Dennis Walker NUM re P Abram moving to Roadlayers.

Fri 17 … Office … General, correspondence. Discuss AR Tryner re new Tuition on Firedamp Drainage borehole information … each week to be plotted!                          

Sat 18 … 10931 tonnes

Annual leave 2 weeks … Mon 20 – Sat 25 … Mon 27 Statutory holiday … Annual leave Tues 28 – Fri 31

NE Scotland and Lake District (Started building garage at home)

Sat 25 … 12659 tonnes
Free workwear scheme operational … 3 sets of Orange overalls and coat, or 3 boiler suits, 3 shirts, 3 grey vests and 3 pairs of grey underpants … each week after wearing sent to Pithead Baths and went to Sketchly for laundry. One set in wash, one set to wear and one set spare. Pit clothes bag with huge safety pin … Number 1351

Sep 1979

Sat 1 … 10132 tonnes
10s face … bad work profile

Mon 3 … Office … General, correspondence. J Nichol Geologist phoned re info for ol Ollerton borehole 10918 for Thoresby. JRG re same. Discuss 10s face fall.

Tues 4 … U/g … Pit bottom … 150s stopping sites (RB with KFG and ART) … Office … 10s face profile of bad work. John Eyre and Trevor Speed Blidworth phoned re various. JRG phoned re PG shaft pillar, investigated error of drift grades or lack of on old Top Hard plan.

Wed 5 … Office … General, correspondence. Eric Ricketts PPM re water records, Yard well and River Maun … Sam Pepper re same … Surface … to Workshops to look at 12s 6/240 semi shields chock … Office … Meeting 3.45pm … Accountability, Manpower Savings and Development … R Anderson (RB)

Thurs 6 … Office … General, correspondence. Des Thompson Harworth rang re Fire Plans. Discuss Joe Callinan, Planner re various.

Fri 7 … Office … General, correspondence. Derek Parkin Bitish Rail Surveyor for workings to date with JRG. And discuss JRG. Discuss J Herbert, brought 12s development amended plan. Discuss 12s chocks, CW S, AVG, GM, RF, RB … further meeting … CW Standage, Ged Mason, Jimmy Hood NUM Sec, RB re Peter Abram on Roadlaying staff to restart as Linesman (not been authorised by G Mason Undermanager)  

Sat 8 … 17837 tonnes
Sat 8 … Office … Progress and Incentive measurements. (Finished double inline garage at home)
Peter Abram taken off of roadlaying by Ged Mason U/m, restarted as Linesman on Tues 11.

Mon 10 … Office … General, correspondence. Jimmy Hood NUM Sec re P Abram restart. I signed and CW S also for 12s Layout amendments. Info with KF Greaves re workmen in respect of Manager’s Support Rules.

Tues 11 … Office … Info re Firedamp Drainage boreholes in Top Hard for new book for records. Talk to S Briggs, J Atkinson and JC Bacon 3 students from RSM (Royal School of Mines) (RB*)

Wed 12 … Office … General, correspondence. Ron Sheldon Area Surveyor South Notts. phoned re various Discuss Peter Longden Coal Prep manager re water problems etc. CW S re sending Approach notices to Area HQ re 2s and 12s. JCH Longden DCME re 1s approaching 3s underground borehole and Gallow Hole Dyke surface borehole, info etc. for discussion as to a formal reply to HMI re hazards. CW S re-signing for 2s and 12s. Phone JRG. Alan Scott to CPS.

Thurs 13 … Office … General, correspondence. Plotted 12s development progress. Info with Peter Davies re conveyors and development. DR Mounsey DCME and CW S re 1s following Intake norm (RB) … distances etc. Sorting out Linesmen’s old note books.

Fri 14 … U/g … to 1s Following Intake, 12s AW scour, 12s LG Dosco heading. 12s LG scour just starting. (RB and Alan V Goodwin Undermanager) … Discuss development with Ken Boundry O/m. Info for survey.                                                                              

Sat 15 … 17665 tonnes

Mon 17 … Office … Discuss various with another student, JG Atkinson from Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, London (RB)

Tues 18 … U/g … Theodolite angling from 1s Following Intake to 12s AW and Scour and 12s LG head down 1s LG … 5 men (RB*, DS, GWBN, RC, KW) … Office … JRG phoned re River Maun pump. Info to Rob Smith and John Wilson ICI and discuss and shotfiring pattern for 12s heading. Informed CW S and KFG re close proximity of Scour to Following Intake. Ted Hodgson re River Maun pump.

Wed 19 … Holiday … RICS Summer trip to London. RICS HQ Westminster and Geological Survey Museum and the Planetarium.

Thurs 20 … Office … Another student Julian C Bacon from RSM. Peter Longden Coal Prep Manager and Ted Hodgson earlier re River Maun pump a exercise and usage. JRG re same. George H Jackson Asst Area Surveyor re schoolboy next week. AE Betts Deputy Area Surveyor phone re missing box for DM 500 instrument.

Fri 21 … Office … General, correspondence. Tracing for 17 men exemption for 12s development. Info to Charlie Perry Method Study re Chock Shield installation for John Northard Director, North Derbyshire Area                                                          
Sat 22 … Emergency Winding engine tested - 20505 tonnes
CW S Stangage holiday Sep 24 – Oct 6. J Higginbotham Acting Manager. AV Goodwin Acting Deputy Manager. Ray Flint Nights, G Weeks Days. EW Fretwell holiday Sep 24 – Oct 6

Mon 24 … Office … General, correspondence. Plan. Schoolboy Ian Smith re work experience for the week … (he would becomean Apprentice later and qualify as a Surveyor). Discuss P Davies. Discuss J Herbert. Discuss Eric Spencer Admin Officer. John H White, Manager Warsop N Derbys Area phoned re borrow slides for 2s Chock shields installation o.k.

Tues 25 … U/g … Visit to 2s panel, 12s AW scour and 12s LG heading and Vertical bunker with Ian Smith schoolboy (RB*) … Office … Discuss with Job Evaluator ? Calculations. (465 + 8 u/g)

Wed 26 … Office … Calculations and plotting. Peter Daffin, Estates phoned re grass cutting areas on the Dirt tips.

Thurs 27 …. Office … General, correspondence. Ted Hodgson re grassed areas on Dirt tip, following Peter Daffin Estates re grass cutting areas (RB)
Thurs 27 … Surface … to Bevercotes with Ken F Greaves Safety Engineer re demonstration of Bosun’s chair hoist for use on Vertical Bunker inspection. KFG discuss. JH discuss.

Fri 28 … Office … General, correspondence … Surface … No2 and No4 Dirt tips with Ted Hodgson, inspection of grassed areas (RB*) … Office … Made plan of areas. WEBB Barlow phoned. JH discuss. Calculations.

Sat 29 … Progress and development. Incentive figures - 17101 tonnes
Jack Lambert Head Weighman retired … Eric Kirk succeeded

Oct 1979
Jack Gelsthorpe started as Assistant Training Officer to Brian Wormald.

Mon 1 … Office … Plan and sketches etc. for JP Berry Deputy Director re 10s face fall area, sections etc. Grassed areas on Dirt tip. Discuss Russ Wagstaffe, Progress chaser, Planning. Meeting … 3pm … Accountability, Manpower Savings, Development … R Anderson (RB). Discuss J Herbert.

Tues 2 … Office … 3 sets of grassed areas plans with check calculations and report. Discuss Ted Hodgson same and dirt disposal figures. P Daffin phoned then came for plan of grassed areas. AE Betts phoned re progress etc. of Ian Smith schoolboy. KFG re sprays on conveyors … off. G Mason U/m re Linesmen … also from Dicky Bryan O/m. Phone T Grainger re info on Vibro pit at Butterley Bunker.

Wed 3 … Office … Calculations. Plotting surveys. Quarter end measures to date.

Thurs 4 … U/g … to 10s face fall area … nearly caught … (RB*, DS and Ged Mason Undermanager), to 12s AW scour 1in6 grade line extended, 12s LG Scour dip and 12s LG Dosco head … Office … Plotting. Inking in plans.

Fri 5 … U/g … 6 visitors from Radiant Fuels to 2s panel (RB and KF Greaves Safety Engineer and Barry Sheppard Dust Suppression Officer as escorts) … Buffet lunch and discuss. Info to G Mason re pantechnicon. T Grainger phoned re Vertical Bunker chute details … refer John Shone Thyssens.

Sat 6 … 19601 tonnes

Sun 7 … 2,000 tons surface Rapid loading bunker trial run (RB)                            
Gary WB Noble at Area HQ till 4 Nov.

Mon 8 … Office … Stencilling Certification blocks on Top Hard abandonment sheets. Explained to Ted Hodgson plan showing amount of fill for tips with cross sections.

Tues 9 … Office … Stencilling certification blocks. Discuss EWF general to date. Stencilling a cover for G Mason. Info for HMI J Jones 12s panel and grades. JRG phoned. CW S re report for possibility of an Assistant Manager post for development. Discuss AV Goodwin. Wrote report re Assistant Manager post.

Wed 10 … Office … CW S re report. Completed stencilling blocks on plans. G Austin Bilsthorpe phoned various. Discuss AV Goodwin various. Dave Muller and P Rees geology.

Thurs 11 … U/g … Visit … Measurements on In line Butterley bunker, grades, heights etc. for proposed lifting of rails on empty side (RB*) … Office … Discuss same AVG and GW. Same with CW S, JH AVG and P Davies.

Fri 12 … Office … Conveyor figures. Discuss Butterley Bunker prep work with Sam Dunlop Group Mech Engineer and Peter Honeywood, Deputy Mech, also conveyor info. Began 6 inch (1/10560) tracing of PG for Risk Assessment file. Stencilling covers for GM. Discuss JH and GM re 1s approaching TH 3s Main underground borehole.

Sat 13 … 20421 tonnes

Mon 15 … 2,000 tons Rapid Loading bunker operational.
Mon 15 … Office … Examining old shaft sinking section. 1s A gearhead sketch of tilt for G Weeks and discuss. Wall plans to date. P Davies re various. Discuss J Herbert.

Tues 16 … Office … Tonnage figures to date. Discuss JH development. Proposed lease land for British Rail near Newark Road (RB, JRG). Turn out sketches for 2 left hand and 2 right hand at bottom of Return drift for P Davies.

Wed 17 … Office … Firedamp drainage records for Top Hard. Roy Bland Strata Control phoned. Ted Hodgson re land for British Rail and also re sump hole for River Maun pump. Also re proposed road to new Rapid Loading Bunker stockpile. JRG rang re Geological plans.

Thurs 18 … U/g … Catenary measuring 1s LG and clip line extended on offset and centre line established … 6 men (RB*, GGS, EWF, DS, KW, RF) … Office … Copied up survey. Calculated same. Discuss AVG re conveyors.
Firedamp drainage records for Top Hard … I checked back to Area records. None were recorded or plotted prior to 1971 yet Ollerton was one of first to practice it in 1965. Previously draining through pipes in packhole was a way of releasing gas. A Firedamp Drainage plan was part of the Statutory Working plan as Overlay tracings showing position in Nominated gate, No of hole, direction up or down and angle, over goaf or solid, length of hole and date in Record book. I arranged for consultation with Methane Drainage Officer Sos McKay and Ventilation Officer Alan Blyton in the past to advise on sites and angles of hole and all measurements regarding position to be measured weekly by Linesmen as part of their weekly duties and documented in a dedicated book as well as plotted on the Overlay plan.

Fri 19 … Office … General, correspondence. Meeting … Subsidence from 102s panel at Thoresby affecting River Maun … (John Wilson, JR Greasley, Ted Hodgson, Peter Longden, RB) … Sketch of 12s development for GM U/m. Discuss Eddie Gillfillan ATT.

Sat 20 … Office … Progress etc. Incentive figures - 21350 tonnes
G Weeks Development Days, R Flint Acting U/m AV Goodwin U/m holiday 1 week then made Undermanager for the whole pit. Ged Mason on the surface due to a back problem.

Mon 22 … U/g … Catenary measuring 12s LG and 12s AW. Level line in AW for chock building station … 5 men (RB*, EWF, DS, KS, BK) … Office … Copied up. Tonnage and development figures. Second copy plans to date.   (470 + 8 u/g)

Tues 23 … Office …Report on faces and development for CW S re HM Spanton visit for lunch. Second copy plans changed with JRG and discuss and form to fill in re Schoolboy Ian Smith. Checking 3s borehole info. G Weeks re wrong Swan neck angle for 12s face entry. Discuss T Jones Dowty re 2s AW end. Jack Storr Thoresby 102s panel … 16/17s in LG and 15/11 in AW.

Wed 24 … Office … General. Phone Gary Noble Area HQ re progress. Signature blocks inked in on plans. Info to P Noone re future development re power supply. Discuss J Herbert re layout. Jack Arnold Surveyor Warsop re Chock shields and temporary Stable hole supports. Discuss JH and G Weeks 2s AW proposed installation of Shield Buttress support.

Thurs 25 … Office … Discuss G Mason. Further investigation with PG Shaw and EW Fretwell re borehole info. Jack Storr phoned re Ollerton borehole of 1919. Drew up 2s AW end proposed Buttress installation.

Fri 26 … Office … General figures etc. Discuss G Mason. … to Area HQ Subsidence branch … JS, WEBB, JRG, RB) … Office … Meeting 3pm .. Proposed inbye Vertical Bunker and possible 3rd drift … (R Anderson, CW S, L Kirk, J Herbert, SN Whittle, RB) 21669 tonnes
Ged Mason Undermanager left to Area HQ Coal Prep Department re back problem.
Alan V Goodwin had taken over as Undermanager for the whole pit.

Nov 1979

Sat 4 … 21400 tonnes

Annual leave 1 week …Mon Oct 28 – Sat Nov 3. J Higginbotham holiday. AV Goodwin Acting Deputy Manager. Paula L Lesh holiday

Mon 5 … Office … General, correspondence. Phone G Mason re coal and dirt figures from Coal Prep. P Longden re proposed office for him in the Coal Prep building. Discuss EWF general and Estates Surveyor job. Job Evaluation info. Signature blocks on plans. Discuss JR Greasley.

Tues 6 … Office … Drawing of Tub arrestor for KF Greaves. Phil James Blidworth phoned re Chock Building Station. Discuss M Bostock, AR Tryner re proposed ventilation changes in Pit bottom and when 3rd drift and stoppings. Also re old Methane Drainage holes and info pre 1971. G Ison phoned. Jack Storr Thoresby phoned re Job Evaluation. Tuition to GWB Noble.

Wed 7 … U/g … Checked 12s face heading centre line with dial. Also to 12s LG scour and 12s AW Scour … 5 men (RB*, DS, GWBN, KS, BK) … Office … Tuition to GEBN. Signature blocks finished on Top Hard plans.

Thurs 8 … Office … Discuss CW S. JH Wall plan to date. Pit bottom ventilation plan. Discuss future development of 31s with J Herbert. Rapid Loader Firefighting info … John Hayter Fire Officer, RB … Filed plans for Bunker. Info re development to JH. Discuss GW 12s LG Scour and substation.
Gas testing at Lound Hall for EWF, DS, GWB Noble Office test at Area HQ,
BACM Meeting in evening

Fri 9 … Office … General, correspondence. Discuss GWBN re Test. Phone WEBB re same. Discuss CW S re Exemption plans e.g. Locos, Temporary Stable holes etc. R & FF practice plans coloured for Thoresby No1 team. Discuss JRG. GW re 12s AW end amend.

Sat 10 … Progress and development. Incentive figures. Discuss development with G Weeks and E Barton O/m - 25002 tonnes

Mon 12 … Office … Figures to date. Surface … measurements for 2s replacement Ripping table (RB*) … Office … Discuss G Weeks development. Ian Shaw Rufford phoned re Job Evaluation. Cost Clerks info re expenditure for the colliery. Discuss CW S re TH salvage and stopping sites.

Tues 13 … Hospital ….. Office … EWF … Job Evaluation info. General. CW S re East side salvage. Tommy Newsham Area Ventilation department supplied all Area records for methane boring at Ollerton 1965 – 1971 … Meeting … 3pm … Accountability, Manpower Savings, Development … R Anderson (RB). Discuss Derek Stone. Info to CW S re rock down onto top of coal at 2s face.

Wed 14 … to Area HQ … Meeting re Job Evaluation … CJ Whyte, AE Betts, G Ison, JRG, RB, J Storr Thoresby, DW Thorpe Sutton, Ian Shaw Rufford, RB and EWF Ollerton. … Office … CW S and JH re not putting 1s D conveyor drive and substation at 16s LG.

Thurs 15 … U/g … Visit to 1s AW cooling system (Gerry Parkes Deputy). 12s AW scour (RB, Ken Boundry O/M and Deputies discuss) … Office … Discuss JH conveyors. Brian Winters Senior Planner South Yorks Area phoned re 2s Chock shield building station, plan sent and Paper. AR Tryner re slides for Talk at Graham House in Dec. Discuss JH 12s Chock building station, amends. CW S various.

Fri 16 … Office … Firedamp Drainage records booked / completed for Top Hard seam. General, correspondence. Matt Marshall query re 50m Yamayo tape?                      

Sat 17 … 23110 tonnes

Mon 19 … Office … General. Records. Jack Storr Thoresby rang. Borehole info with PG Shaw. Discuss AVG re 1s panzer creep (to push the end the panzer is creeping to). Manager’s Wall plan.

Tues 20 … Office …Terry Jones Dowty plans of Buttress shields for 2s. Tom Pickering (ex Teversal Linesman when I started) Rep for AABEC Engineering re steel chocks … discuss CW S, JH, RB (sadly Tom would die early). CW S re 1s LG dint measures, advice re powered mono –rail. Also suggested leaving dirt below stilts … agreed. CW S and JH re the AABEC chock.

Wed 21 … Office … Meeting … Job Evaluation (G Ison, JR Greasley, DW Thorpe, J Storr, EWF, RB) … copies. Info to J Storr Thoresby re Ollerton borehole of 1919. Wall plan in Conference Room. CW S re Staff salary review.

Thurs 22 … U/g … RB to 2s panel with Cliff Davison, Dowty Rep, John ? Overseas Rep, plus 2 Mining Engineers Glies and Piet from South Africa. Lunch at Ollerton House. Discuss GW 12s AW end.

Fri 23 … Office … General, correspondence. RB Instrument tuition to GWB Noble. Discuss Peter Noone. Emergency Egress Negs to date. Info to CW S re 2s for HMI GDR Adamson. Info to AVG re development. 12s Amendment plan for ventilation changes … all signatures.

Sat 24 … 23526 tonnes

Mon 26 … Office … Correspondence. JH and AVG Wall plans. P Longden … levels for Well, CPP and Reservoir. Ted Hodgson re flooding of Newark Road 1972/1974 … subsidence … due to 2s undermining. JH re chock chart for 10s leg change. Calculated and plotted 12s LG Scour / Following Intake drivages.

Tues 27 … U/g … 2s panel statutory survey … 5 men (RB*, DS, GWBN, RC, PA) … Office … Calculated and plotted 2s and 12s face head. Various check calculations. Plotted 2s levels and 12s contours.

Wed 28 … Office … Plotting levels. CW S re chart for organisation for proposed Assistant Manager. Meeting … 2pm – 4.15pm … CW S, Surface Strategic Plan (RB, JL, PD, EH, J Herbert)

Thurs 29 … U/g … RB with John Faben and Derek Hunter Strata Control, to 10s face fall and start of chock leg changing … Office … John Wilson ICI Rep discuss. Meeting … Re-design 10s AW end and cam boxes. Also I estimated 2s LG rip rock to come in next Easter at present advance (RB) (475 + 8 u/g)
Fri 30 … Office … G Weeks re development. Meeting … Job Evaluation Report … (Derek Underhill Area Method Study, EWF, RB)

Fri 30 … U/g … to 622s paddy re high reading of CH4 on UNOR system … (KFG, ART, RB) … Office … General. Info. I had a chat with George Bunting old Undermanager at Ollerton.
Fri 30 … 19705 tonnes
Top Hard North side stopped off 4 places … 150s x2, 650s and Drapers Overcast.

Dec 1979
Sat 1 … Office … Progress. Incentive measures. Updated 3 Wall plans. Info to Phil Coward HND mining re 10s re-development.

Mon 3 …U/g … Catenary measuring to last arch in 12s LG Scour and head end. Square mark in substation snicket and measure mark. … 5 men (RB*, EWF, DS, RC, AS) … Office … Sketches on slides for AR Tryner of Vertical Bunker for Graham House course. Calculated levels. J Herbert phoned re various.

Tues 4 … Office … Potential Risk plan, underground boreholes to date. JRG phoned. JRG brought folder and Bevercotes example. Eric Ricketts PPM re water figures … see later …

Wed 5 … U/g … Theodolite angling into 1s Following Intake and ground taping … 4 men (RB*, EWF, GWB N, A Scott) … Office … Discuss CW S re development.
Evening … RICS Meeting … Des Stringer Senior Mining Engineer North Derbyshire re Locating old shafts.

Thurs 6 … Office … General, correspondence. Info re heads. Slides finished for AR Tryner of Vertical Bunker. Memo re aluminium line bubbles not to be used u/g. Sorted out NCB spec for same.
12s AW Scour thirled to 1s Aw … o.k.

Fri 7 … Office … Office … General, correspondence Plotted 12s AW Scour thirling o.k. JH re-cover at old Loco Road and South No2 conveyor overcast. Plan showing locations of conveyors, haulages etc. for Control Centre re P Davies. Amendments to R & FF plans re 1s AW thirling and headings to date.
Fri 7 …12s AW scour thirled to 1s AW and Mon 12s face thirled, both spot on!

Sat 8 … 18747 tonnes

Mon 10 … Office … General. E Ricketts PPM re water return. Terry Jones Dowty discuss.
Mon 10 … U/g … to 12s AW turn and 12s face thirling … (RB*, PGS) … Office … Jimmy Pickering Safety Officer info re accident to N Calladine 1s AW haulage.

Tues 11 … Office … JP accident not reportable. Discuss various. Phone J Herbert re development and strategy etc. JH re development, 12s AW Junction and face etc. JRG phone various. Sorting out 12s AW Scour.

Wed 12 … Office … General. Various. Water return figures from Eric Ricketts. Amends to R & FF plans re 12s … Surface … Examination of No1 Dirt tip and No9 lagoon re subsidence from Thoresby 102s … (JRG, Ray Kyme, Estates plus 1 from Subsidence department, RB) … Office … discuss. Des Thompson Harworth phoned various.

Thurs 13 … U/g … Visit to Vertical Bunker and conveyors (with Ken Bullock ex Teversal Group and Barry Sheppard Dust Suppression, RB) … then to … Statutory survey of 10s, 10s face fall and chock leg changing … 4 men (RB*, DS, KW, A Scott) and 12s LG snicket sub-station check … (RB*, DS) … Office … Calculated and plotted same. GW re Snicket substation. (480 + 8 u/g)

Fri 14 … Office … Plotting. Percy Cooper re amending 12s AW Chock Building Station. Meeting 3pm … Proposed inbye Vertical bunker, 3rd Drift plus other layouts … R Anderson … (F Lee, CW S, T Grainger, J Herbert, M Bostock, J Lyons, M Young, RB)                                              

Sat 15 … 20007 tonnes
New Boiler plant under test (uses Blidworth Smalls coal !!!)

Mon 17 … Office … General. Discuss D Muller geology for 10s. John Wilson ICI. New Health & Safety Regulations perusal. Plotted Substation snicket on small scale 1/50 and progress etc.

Tues 18 … Office … Amends to 12s LG/Following Intake Junction girders with GW.
Tues 18 … U/g … Measured up accident in No2 pit bottom … (RB*, GWBN) (27) … Office … Plotting same. Ken Mirfin Bevercotes phoned. Discuss D Raisbeck and D Muller re 10s area. Discuss CW S and Zep from Thyssens. Discuss JH and GW 12s AW turn rails. Discuss GW. Inked in Working plans.
1s Following Intake thirled … spot on !

Wed 19 … Office … Discuss GW Following Intake / 12s Junction wrong arch lengths sent o.k. 1/10560, 1/5000 quarter end plans. Discuss F Marples Vertical Bunker spiral. Made plan for same. For maintenance purposes. Plan showing surface Pit yard buildings and identification for E Spencer. P Davies re various … Surface … Pegged out line of new path from pit yard … 2 men (RB*, EWF) … Office … Cliff Beale phoned re Drapers Scour borehole.
Inspection of Survey Office by Safety Committee … very good!

Thurs 20 … Office … Phone JRG. Discuss Zep, Thyssens re drawing of spiral for Vertical bunker, amended same and prints for F Marples.
NUM and Safety Committee meeting and Party (RB).
Surveyor’s Dance

Fri 21 … Office … CW S re various and P Abram. JRG phoned. Burst tank. Phone D Stone re new issue of plans for Progress folder. Progress to date. Wall plans. CW S discuss. Lunch … Plough, Caunton

Sat 22 … Office … Progress. Incentive measures - 18299 tonnes

Mon 24 Colliery Rest day, Tues 25 Christmas, Wed 26 Boxing day,
Thurs 27 and Fri 28 Colliery Rest days. Mon 31 Colliery Rest day.

Output 1979 = 973,447 tonnes
Peter Davies Mechanical Engineer left to Area HQ. Tommy C Tombs Deputy at Clipstone appointed Mechanical Engineer.