A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

North Nottinghamshire Area from April 1967

Page - 58 -

Jan 1980

1980 subsidised transport at 8.1 - 9.1p / mile = £244.93

New Boiler Plant operational. British Steel strike …

Tues 1 … New Year’s Day Holiday

Wed 2 … Office … General. JFG rang. T Jones Dowty rang re gate sizes for Dosco side-discharge loader. E Hodgson re route of River Maun pipe line … burst. R Flint re development and 12s bar chart. Discuss CW S. Discuss and plans with new Mechanical Engineer Tommy Tombs.

Thurs 3 … Office … General. JRG phone. Coloured Dirt tip plans. RF re 12s face kit up bar chart. CW S re P Abram, note reasons to Jimmy Hood NUM Sec.

Fri 4 … Office … General. Bar chart for 12s kit up. Borehole record. Discuss Jimmy Hood re P Abram. R & FF amends … Surface … Subsidence levelling down full sidings re 2s panel and also route for proposed pipe to tip for slurry from yard drainage pond … Office … Discuss development PG Shaw and R Flint.
Old Boiler plant now out of use. New Boiler plant fully commissioned using ‘Blidworth smalls’
Sandstone in top of rip at 2s LG

Sat 5 … Office … Dirt tip calculations … 9211 tonnes
EW Fretwell on course at Long Benton 2 weeks. GWB Noble Apprentice at Tech College H2 until end of May…

Mon 7 … Office … Manager’s Wall plan neg to date. JRG re various also took Dirt tip prints. Top Hard abandonment plans, pumps. AVG re sandstone in 2s LG rip. Phone D Raisbeck re same. Second copy Working plans to date. CW S various and upgrading for Alan Scott.

Tues 8 … Office … Colouring 1/5000 Wall plans, 4 sets. Discuss J Herbert development. JRG phoned Info to L Scrivens 159 pans for 12s face. Discuss KF Greaves. Drawing of 12s chock installation support for R Flint.

Wed 9 … Office … Info to Ted Hodgson re 2s subsidence. Quarter end book to date. Info on Wall plan prints and distributed. Discuss Cliff Davidson Dowty re 12s kit up. Dirt tip calculations. E Barton re substation snicket entrance, only set 2 swan necks.

Thurs 10 … Office. Report for CW S re HM Spanton for lunch discussion.
Thurs 10 … U/g … to 150s stoppings and all proposed stopping sites in pit bottom area … (RB, Mick Bostock Group Ventilation and A Tony Tryner, Ventilation Officer) … Office … JRG phoned. Discuss KFG Vertical Bunker etc. Discuss various AV Goodwin U/m. Info to R Flint.

Fri 11 … Office … CW S re all available old gates with 16/17 arches recoverable re impending steel strike … make list.

Sat 12 … Office … Progress and development. Incentive measurements. Discuss Roland Rose O/m and AV Goodwin U/m. 18764 tonnes

Sun 13 … U/g … Visit … RB, Fred Twiss brother in law, and Frank Vallance plus 2 … to 2s panel and Vertical bunker, pit bottom etc.

Mon 14 … Office … CW S info re arches in TH. Phoned Jack Storr Thoresby re send workings on SK/4661. JRG re shaft info. Discuss D Muller re 2s. Discuss Arthur A Grainger Chief Engineer re felling the 170 feet tall boiler chimney … suggested Fred Dibnah, but he thought too close to buildings … to get contract for demolishing it by hand … Meeting 1.30pm … Accountability, Manpower, Development R Anderson (RB). Discuss AVG.
East side TH 622s paddy ceased running.

Tues 15 … Office … Top Hard plns various additions. Sections on PG plans to date. Plotted boreholes. Colouring plans. Calculations. Peter Longden Surface plan. Meeting CW Standage re Ripping in Line at 10s AW end (RB) … To be operational by Mon 21. Plan for ripping in line. J Herbert phoned re 14s AW Overcast. Phone JRG re visit.

Wed 15 … U/g … Visit by CJ Whyte Area Surveyor, JRG, RB and Neil Hunt and David Jones Notts. County Council to 2s panel and 12s development … Discuss over lunch. Meeting … CW Standage, JH, JL, TC Tombs, RB … change 10s AW to ripping in line and 2s LG system to Half head system due to sandstone in ripping. Made plan for half head system.

Thurs 17 … Office … Discuss CW S, JH, TCT, JL re 2s proposed half head system. Eric Ricketts re water. Discuss KFG re Rescue practice plans. Discuss and info to Chris Thorne Geologist re water in Top Hard and Parkgate re Risk Assessment plan. JH re Godwin Warren retarder. Amending 2s Support Rules. G Austin Bilsthorpe phoned re a staff spring. J Herbert phoned re Following Intake design, 14s, 16s etc. G Hall Bevercotes phoned. Discuss CW S and JH 10s and 2s supports.

Fri 18 ... Office … Finished 2s LG Support Rules plans with amends for Half head system. General. DR Mounsey DCME discuss various and plan for him plan for 1s AW paddy, grades, length etc. (RB). John Wilson ICI re discuss shotfiring pattern for 2s Half head ripping (RB). Discuss D Muller 1s panel. Info from Sam Pepper re water. Discuss KFG re supports and shotfiring. John Shone Thyssens, phoned re visit tomorrow to Vertical Bunker. 

Sat 19 … 17135 tonnes
Vertical bunker examination, the spiral was wearing out due to rock from 2s … repaired tiles with Belzona at weekends.

Mon 21 … Office … General. Discuss EWF re Course. Job Evaluation reply. Thoresby workings to date on TH SK/4661. General. G Austin Bilsthorpe phoned. Discuss John Shone re Vertical Bunker wearing. 10s AW started Ripping in line and 2s LG on half head system.

Tues 22 … Office … KF Greaves discuss. CW S re sending 2s and 10s amended Support Rules to HMI. 12s chock installation plan.

Wed 23 … Office … KFG re big lumps of rock from 2s being sent out on conveyors etc. Discuss Tommy Tombs various and drivage design info. Labels. Meeting … 2 from Industrial Relations re Ollerton method of Incentive measuring each week (RB) … my system was used as an example. Meeting … Drivage design … R Anderson … 1s Following intake etc. (RB). R Flint re sketch. Discuss J Herbert various. K Soar accident 12s LG Scour on dayshift!
Wed 23 … U/g … Call out evening by G Weeks to accident at 2s LG lip … C Wooff (RB*, DS). (28) (485 + 8 u/g)

Thurs 24 … Office … Plotted accident to C Wooff. Saw witnesses. Discuss same with KF Greaves and Jimmy Pickering. Discuss various JH and Mr Berry visit to 10s and possible to Vertical Bunker spiral.

Fri 25 … General. Discuss Tony Clarke Group Safety and J Pickering accident. Sorted out new position for 16s development … Surface … to old Bilsthorpe railway line cutting re possible tipping of dirt or a slurry pond … CJ Whyte, JRG, RB) … lunch, discuss. Stencilling.                   

Sat 26 … 13706 tonnes

Mon 28 … Office … Risk Assessment folder (RB) Jim Stewart Assistant Manager Services started from Thoresby U/m.
2pm to Sherwood Colliery Welfare … Film … Job Evaluation … CW S, JH, BD, RB)

Tues 29 … Office …Risk Assessment folder info. HMI GDR Adamson re accident. Plan CW S re arches to draw off. J Lyons examined DI3S instrument for use underground.

Wed 30 … Office … filing. Top Hard abandonment info re pumping. JH re survey of 1s AW paddy. * … Phone JRG re slurry input. … Surface … Survey of No8 lagoon for volume check … 3 men (RB*. PGS, EWF) … Office … Calculated and plotted same.
*Self and CW Standage signed Top Hard Abandonment plans 28 sectional sheets plus Main Bright (last worked Feb 1946!) … Abandonment Report (RB) checked by AE Betts.

Thurs 31 … Office … Dated plans. Info re reports. J Herbert phoned. AE Betts and JR Greasley re Abandonment Report and Risk Assessment and general discuss. To Doctors re back problem …
Top Hard 622s paddy East side abandoned.
I was informed by the Roadways Deputy that 3s Main was experiencing falls of ground and at other parts boards were breaking and roadway crush. I had experienced subsidence before of course at Teversal where undermining from a similar distance below from Deep Hard workings from Silverhill had adverse effects on Waterloo and Dunsil roadways. Also weight breaks occurred when Dunsil and Waterloo workings approached Top Hard pillars 40 yards above and Waterloo workings similar when approaching Dunsil pillars some 10 yards above. So I approached CW S re a discussion to all concerned re my experience and said I would notify the Undermanager some weeks before where I assumed bad work could be, thrown down from pillars in Top Hard some 170m above giving time to import extra timber etc. and to watch for gate distortion afterwards. I would be proved right.

Feb 1980

Fri 1 … Office … General. Info to Ray Fish Method Study re TH arches. HMI GDR Adamson re 2s Support Rules and amends (RB). DR Mounsey discuss various. TC Tombs re No2 shaft sump. Phoned Jack Chapman Area Photographer to cancel photos. Discuss KFG … My accident form filled in for slipping outside Stores building on oil and greasy road yesterday 31/1/1980 … a couple of witnesses. Discuss various Jim Stewart Asst Manager. Meeting … TC Tombs re No1 shaft sump old girder work …
Began blending on Coal Preparation plant. 10s Mansign taken off face to change to Bretby plastic cable handler at w/e

Sat 2 … 17303 tonnes

Mon 4 … Office … Pump info on TH plans. JRG phoned. CW S and DR Mounsey re TH substations. Signed 14s and 1s Following Intake Layout plans. AVG and TCT various. R Flint re 10s Aw end.

Tues 5 … U/g … Self with DR Mounsey, DCME Mining (ex-Manager at Ollerton) to Top Hard 600s, 3s Main, Drapers paddy, 24s, 14s Return and 622s paddy … measures re 2s subsidence damage, also to old Loco circuit in pit bottom. He had been informed of my experience with underground subsidence and predictions and needed to see the results himself. With previous sketches I had made and interaction I discussed the problems with him. Of course many of the miners and even some Mining Engineers had not experienced subsidence by being at a colliery where only one seam had been worked such as Ollerton and Thoresby and Welbeck or Harworth etc. or where subsidence may have occurred from other seam working but in areas that had been stopped off prior to undermining and had not been seen. It would appear from visits later to discuss with me that some were unaware that pillars in a seam above can affect the seam working below, even at 170m.
Put chains at top of Vertical bunker spiral to slow input of coal and dirt.

Wed 6 … Office … J Stewart re 14s Junction. Plan amends and wire for 1s Following Intake conveyor. Finished Report for Risk Assessment folder. JRG re new Water Report plans and report. Colin Wynne ICI (now on Quarries) called in for chat. J Herbert brought 2 new folders for Area HQ progress and a new set of prints. Info to Brian Wormald re 1s panel for trainees. Plan of accident to Lorry at Coal Prep Plant of 3/12/1979 (3a) … Surface … Measured the culvert.
BACM Vocational Group 5 Meeting Area HQ 5.15pm

Thurs 7 … Office … CW S signed 14s and 1s Following Intake Layout plans. Same AR Tryner Ventilation Officer. Discuss fans with Barry Sheppard. Phone J Herbert re 14s and 2s subsidence. AE Betts phoned re survey instruments. Ted Hodgson re Lorry accident. Amends to Slot track creeper drawings for TC Tombs. Walter Cantrill Clipstone phoned various. Continued with Top Hard plans. H Fitzackerley re cables and ventilation in Pit bottom. Plotting 10s Aw end supports for JH.

Fri 8 … Office … Sorting out Risk Assessment info.
Fri 8 … U/g … No2 shaft sump … RB with Tommy Tombs Mechanical Engineer … re survey…. Office … Drawing out sections for Risk Assessment. Discuss and info with Jim Stewart Asst/m. Amends to 2s LG shotfiring pattern for HMI GDR Adamson re John Wilson ICI. WEBB collected DI 3S instrument.

Sat 9 … 20877 tonnes
Sun 10 … U/g … Visit … RB with Kevin Steer (son in law and Andy Parnell K’s boy friend) to 2s panel and Vertical and horizontal bunkers.
Changed 2s Mansign to Bretby plastic cable handler.

Mon 11 … Office … Risk Assessment plan ‘A’, stencilling. TC Tombs re Blacksmiths tomorrow. CW S re 2s Support Rules and accident. Discuss Jimmy Pickering. Same re distribution of plans. CW S re approaching Gallow Hole Dyke surface borehole at 1s face. Made sketch of same and distributed for Officials to be aware of striking same. KFG re same. Work on Top Hard plans re boundaries. Dirt tip info.

Tues 12 … U/g … Survey of No2 shaft sump using theodolite for horizontal and vertical angles and measurements by tape …. 4 men (RB*, PGS, EWF, DS) … Office … CW S re 2s plan amends. Calculations and copied up survey. Phone Alan Dennett Drawing Office re sump. Phone Walter Hulley re same. R Flint re 10s AW end installation of 6/240 chock. Drawing of same and discuss CW S and JH and RF. Discuss to do grading of 1s AW from 2s Junction to 2s Snicket.

Wed 13 … Office … Plotted No2 shaft sump survey. Discuss TCT. Blacksmiths re to take extra measurements. Phoned Geoff Austin re Bilsthorpe. DR Mounsey DCME re new proposed Vertical Bunker under Following Intake extension. Meeting … 3.45pm … Accountability, Manpower Savings, Development … R Anderson (RB). Discuss No2 shaft sump with Sam Dunlop Group Mech Engineer and info to Eddie Gillfillan ATT.

Thurs 14 … Office … CW S signed various forms. Plotted info from extra measurements from Blacksmiths for No2 shaft sump … Surface … Measured up accident to G Meakin .. 2 men (RB*, PGS) (4a) … Photos of same with Jack Chapman Photographer. Went to demolition of boilers and chimney. Discuss KFG, Calculations for Dirt tip and used planimeter for areas.

Fri 15 … Office … Dirt tip calculations. WEB Barlow phoned re tackle for Clipstone for Vertical Bunker.

Sat 16 … 22298 tonnes
Went to Hospital for Xrays of my back.
Demolition of boilers.
South Top Hard stopping put on at No2 conveyor, Bunker end.

Mon 18 … Office … Completed Dirt tip calculations. JRG phoned re water. Coloured Risk Assessment plan ‘A’. JRG phoned various. Phone Don Brown Photographer re photos. Discuss TCT re No2 shaft sump. Discuss John Faben Strata Control re 2s subsidence to TH 180m above. Discuss AVG various. Plotting 1s and 2s levels.

Tues 19 … Office … Stippling TH plans and inking in theodolite stations etc. and contours. JRG re info and sections. Wrote Water report (RB*) Discuss KFG. G Austin Bilsthorpe phoned.

Wed 20 … Office … Info re water from Eric Ricketts PPM.
Wed 20 … U/g … Measurements re 2s subsidence in TH at Drapers paddy, 3s Main, 622s and 14s ... 3 men (RB*, John Faben and Roy Bland, Strata Control). … Office … Documented the results of the subsidence. (490 + 8 u/g)

Thurs 21 … Office … Reg Miles, TC Tombs, Denis Perry PH re No2 shaft sump. Finished Water report and sent for typing. Stippling plans to date. Finished Risk Assessment plan ‘A’. Derek Stone phoned re timings. Colouring plans. Sketch of 1s Aw proposed conveyor for dinting on letter to JP Berry Deputy Director. Discuss CW S. JRG phoned various.

Fri 22 … Office … General, correspondence. TH plans info finished, the plans need cleaning now. Coloured 2 copies of Risk Assessment plan ‘A’ and put in folders.

Sat 23 … 23152 tonnes
Sat 23 … Office … Progress. Incentive figures. Wall plans. 10s Mansign cable handler installed.
Began demolition of chimney 169 feet high … only wooden planks on scaffolding at top and bricks dropped down chimney to hole made at base and loaded away …

Mon 25 … to Area HQ … 6th Annual Meeting of Surveyors … CJ Whyte … (RB) … brought Zeiss Eldi 2 instrument.

Tues 26 … Office … Eddie Gilfillan ATT re No2 sump (RB). Discuss general agenda. Practice with Zeiss Eldi 2 instrument. Discuss Ted Hodgson surface, exchanged info as normal re underground. AVG re drawing off supports. Phone to Bilsthorpe re plan. JRG phoned. Terry Jones, Dowty discuss.

Wed 27 … Office … Ken Hartwell ATT re proposed inbye Vertical Bunker. Discuss Fred Marples conveyors and 1s B gearhead. Phoned Don Brown re photos. Cleaning plans. Inking in theodolite stations. R Flint re Salvage plan.

Thurs 28 … Office … J Stewart re drawing of 1s AW rip via AV Goodwin. Amended same later. Plan. Info to JH and discuss salvage. Ray Flint Asst U/m agreed Salvage of arches plan.

Fri 29 … Office … JH various. And 1s AW sketches, HMI K Couldwell 12s new Support plan and Dosco headings plan (RB). Discuss KFG. Discuss E Hodgkinson Assistant Area Fire Officer re proposed Fire Certificate plans. Phone Alan Dennett re plan of CP plant. Water Action plans. Plotting theodolite stations on PG plans.

Sat 30 … 19464 tonnes
Output 1979 – 1980 = 989,771 tonnes Profit £10,667,000 1076 men on books

Mar 1980

Mon 3 … Office … PG plans … Surface … Measures to various cables and water pipes (RB*, EWF) … Office … F Lee discuss re TH subsidence from 2s PG. Jim Stewart re cam packers on 12s. Discuss 12s Support Rules with JH and salvage arches from Pit Bottom Loco circuit. J Stewart same. Stippling plans. Levels and sections to date.

Tues 4 … to Leeds IGS (Institute of Geological Sciences) post Lofthouse … Joint inspection of borehole records etc. … (CJ Whyte, JR Greasley, Stan Brunskill, Dick Elliott Geologist and Cedric Godwin IGS, RB)
Core of Gallow Hole Dyke borehole found on 1s face line, within 2m of my predicted position! I was quite pleased as I had informed all Deputies to instruct the machine driver to be careful in that area. The 6 feet core was able to be carried into the gate and several small portions brought out to the office by Linesmen. The hole had been drilled in July 1979.

Wed 5 … Office … Finished plans … Surface … to Area HQ photographers took TH and PG plans for photos copies. Discuss Eddie Gray re borehole core. Discuss John Wilson re Thoresby 102s subsidence. Discuss J Herbert and Derek Stone Planners various.
Wed 5 … U/g … In afternoon … Visit to 1s LG to examine borehole core. To 12s face and 1s Following Intake check (RB*) … Office … Stan Brunskill came and to examine 6” core. Discuss and exhibited core to CW S, JH, JS, AVG. … JH said it was a tree stump!

Thurs 6 … U/g … to Loco circuit in No1 pit bottom, drawing off old arches, (RB, Roy Bland Area Strata Control and Ray Flint Assistant Undermanager) Also to 3s Main, 14s Return, 622s paddy re subsidence from 2s undermining and measures (RB*) … Office … Documented same … Surface … To Area HQ to fetch Working plans from Photographers (RB*) … Office … Discuss water usage with PGS. Info to Jack Methley, Cashier re water on TH panels 1973 to 1975 re skin disease.

Fri 7 … Surface … Located several drains and pipes and measures for new concrete road to Rapid Loading Bunker stockpile … 2 men (RB*, EWF) … Office … Phone John Shone re Vertical Bunker work. Phone Doug Raisbeck re water detail for Risk Assessment etc.  

Sat 8 … 24411 tonnes

Mon 10 … Office … New progress plans for Area HQ file B. Various. JRG phoned re British Rail Surveyor to come. Discuss Fred Marples conveyors. Plotted faults etc. to date. Sorted out Dirt tip files. HMI Ken Couldwell re 12s Support plan amends and prints (RB)

Tues 11 … Preliminary Meeting HMI K Couldwell (CW Standage, KF Greaves, John Hayter Fire Officer, E Hodgkinson Area Fire Officer, Ted Hodgson, Surface Superintendent, RB) re new Fire Certificate then he visited the Main office block. Phone Mullinns of Markhams re strata at 1s AW floor re Stower blower proposal. AE Betts phoned re Zeiss Eldi instrument. Discuss Terry Jones, Dowty.

Wed 12 … Office … 1/25000 contour plan to date. 1/2500 imperial contours. Firedamp Drainage plans to date. 1/2500 tracings to date. Ventilation negs to date. Discuss Roy Bland subsidence from 2s. Info on Surface 1/2500 plan re Effluent discharge. Calculated levels and contours.

Thurs 13 … Office … re Risk Assessment folder etc. Infore Plan ‘A’ and Fire Certificate … Surface … Measurements of new Chock shop (RB*) … Office … Pithead Baths copy of plan of ground floor. Ken Mirfin Bevercotes phoned various. Meeting 4pm … Accountability, Manpower Savings and Development R Anderson.
BACM General meeting. Record 6,900 tonnes saleable for a day

Fri 14 … Office … General. Water Action prints. Tracing of Pithead Baths first floor. Wall plans to date. CW S discuss re Sutton on strike … Surface … to Area HQ … Demonstration of Wild D14 EDM (RB and J Storr Thoresby)

Sat 15 … Office … Progress. Incentive figures - 24662 tonnes

Mon 17 … U/g … Theodolite check survey with Zeiss Eldi EDM of 2s LG from Following Intake Junction and line adjustment … 5 men (RB*, EWF, DS, BK, AS). Marked out 150s Overcast in No1 Pit bottom and picked up 3 door positions on 100s … 2 men (RB*, AR Tryner)

Tues 18 … Office … Repaired Measuring bag. Water Action plan prints coloured. Discuss ART re Pit Bottom changes in ventilation ... Surface … Internal measurements of Canteen (RB) … Stores later.

Wed 19 … Surface … External measurements of Canteen (RB*) … Office … Geoff Earnshaw British Rail Surveyor came for update of workings (RB). Plotted Canteen complex. Made a tracing of same.

Thurs 20 … U/g … Drapers paddy, 14s Return, 622s paddy re 2s subsidence (RB and John Faben) … Office … Documented results. JS re 12s AW end pans. 1/25000 and 1/50000 plans. Stan Brunskill collected extra samples of Gallow Hole Dyke borehole core to send for analysis.

Fri 21 … Office … S Brunskill and AV Goodwin U/m re proposed borehole site in 10s AW to drill to Low Main and Blackshale. Discuss J Herbert Strategic Plan. P Longden re surface water supplies. Phone JRG. CW S re plans for 10s LG exemption. Frank Lee phoned re 2s subsidence. Fred Wagstaffe Elec re Canteen drawing. J Stewart phoned re 12s LG end pans. Library re Nottinghamshire plans … nothing. Discuss J Wilson ICI.

Sat 22 … Finished demolition of 169 feet high chimney in 4 weeks … using temporary wooden scaffold around the area of working at the top. No problems - 26505 tonnes
Prep cut on 12s face. EW Fretwell holiday

Mon 24 … Office … S Brunskill and Les Sowter Borer re proposed borehole in 10s Aw at 1,110 metre mark. Strategic plan info. F Lee came to discuss 2s subsidence. AE Betts fetched Zeiss Eldi instrument and discuss usage etc. J Lyons re Willow Dam. H Fitzackerley info re switches in 1s AW. Fixed position of 1s D Conveyor at 3350 metre mark. Phone various …. umpteen times!!!

Tues 25 … Surface … Survey of Wellow Pond (RB*, PGS) … Plotted same. Ken CB Mirfin Bevercotes phoned re Kern Tacheo. Discuss JRG, called at Area HQ. Jack Lyons re Wellow Pond. Harry Fitzackerley re cables 1s AW. 12 tracings of TH Firedamp Drainage.
Total number of Top Hard Firedamp Drainage plans … 14 as part of the abandonment plans of the seam.

Wed 26 … Office … Discuss. Ozaloft and plan 1s D Conveyor house. Alan Scott, office, accident. Phoned G Austin Bilsthorpe. R Flint phoned re info re 1s after cooler. Info to Ken Ollerenshaw Elec re panels working Dec 1977. 78 and 79. Info to B Wormald re 12s. Stencilling on TH Firedamp tracings ... Only 2 linesmen at work u/g. TH East No1 conveyor stopping on.

Thurs 27 … Office … Stencilling continued. Meeting … 3pm Pre Strategic Plan … R Anderson (CW S, JH, AVG, TCT, J Herbert, P Longden, RB). Discuss J Herbert.

Fri 27 … Office … HMI GDR Adamson … Preliminary discussion re Abandonment plans for Top Hard. Phone CJ Whyte re same. Checking through Overlay copies. Cutting copies to size. JRG phone. Plan. Wall plans updated for JH and AVG. Discuss general J Stewart. Finished first prep cut on 12s.

Sat 29 … Office … Progress. Incentive measures. 600 ton Bunker cabin stopping finished.
Sat 29 … 25547 tonnes
Output for 1979-1980 = 989,771 tonnes, profit £10.8m

Mon 31 … Office … Plan. JRG re Water plans. Phoned info re 12s to D Stone. D Muller re rock sample from 2s LG to be tested. Sketches for water supply.

Apr 1980

Annual leave Tues 1 – Sat 5, Mon 7 Easter, Tues 8 – Sat 12 - Paris   

25057 tonnes
Ventilation changes in pit bottom.
CW Stangage holiday Mon 14 – Sat 19. J Higginbotham Acting Manager. No Acting Deputy Manager. G Weeks Days, R Flint Nights

Mon 14 … Began drilling down to lower measures at 10s AW.
Mon 14 … Office … General, correspondence. Phone J Faben re 2s subsidence. Discuss Ted Hodgson, Brian Hopkinson Marketing re new coal stocking ground extension. Sorting out photos. Copies etc. JRG re Water Report and Second copy Working plans. J Herbert re me to sign Layout for inbye Vertical bunker. And 10s and 12s extensions.

Tues 15 … Office … Figures to date. Second copy photo plans to date, 2 sets. JRG phone. Ted Hodgson re general exchange of notes. J Higginbotham re Linesmen to clock off at 3pm as before re bathing time payment. Plotted 10s AW borehole, co-ords, level etc. Discuss various JS. Discuss Chris Fegan, brought a roll of piano wire from Bevercotes.

Wed 16 … Office Scalings for PG from 1977 to date. Calculated tonnages. Documented 2s subsidence measurements. Discuss Gary Noble various. Phone CJ Whyte re GWB Noble to transfer to Harworth and Ken West to transfer to Ollerton from Thoresby in July. JRG re re new set of plans photos for Area HQ.

Thurs 17 … U/g … Drapers Paddy, 14s Return and 622s Paddy, measurements re subsidence from 2s Parkgate … (RB*, EWF and Roy Bland Strata Control and Maurice Kirby Roadway Deputy) … Office … Documented same. Figures etc.                                            
Fri 18 … Office … Figures etc. Plan. Discuss J Stewart various. Strategic plan info.

Sat 19 … Only 2 W/e tickets … no Linesmen came to work ! 24565 tonnes

Mon 21 … Office … CW S re Strategic plan info. Calculations, tonnages etc. sorted out. Phone CJ Whyte re British Rail embankment on No2 Dirt tip re Strategic plan. Discuss JS and GW re TH stopping sites. Discuss CW S re 3s Main site ... to go at old South Loading point. (CW S, J Stewart, G Weeks, RB)

Tues 22 … U/g … Visit to 12s panel on 9th cut, top fell in (RB*) … with J Pickering outbye … Office … Frank Dove Area Civil Engineer re No2 Dirt Tip site. Meeting … Proposed new heapstead at No2 shaft … R Anderson (RB). Discuss CW S re 425s / 200s / old South Loading point re-routing tackle and pumping for stopping site on 3s Main.

Wed 23 … Office … General. To Area HQ with CW S .. Strategic Plan meeting 10am – 12.30pm. Underground to improve, surface o.k. HMI GDR Adamson re Top Hard Abandonment plans, filled in forms etc. (RB). He asked how many plans and I said 29. At that he said he couldn’t take my word for it as he had to count them himself. He pulled the pile to the edge of the table and because of the weight of the aluminium plans he struggled … he counted 1, 2, 3 … oops… they fell. He tried again, 1, 2, 3, 4 … oops they fell again. With a broad grin and a glint in his eye he looked at me and said …’29’. I laughed. Phoned Percy Hett Mining Records Officer at Eastwood Hall re same. Sorted out all plans and examined same and report. Discuss. G Weeks re hole through old 200s and 425s to 3s Main for stopping. Discuss E Hodgson various.

Thurs 24 … U/g … Statutory survey of 10s panel, AW ok. Re-established line in LG … 4 men (RB*, PGS, EWF, DS) … Office … Calculated and plotted survey and copied up. Discuss E Hodgson.

Fri 25 … to Eastwood Hall, Mining Records Office … (RB, PGS, EWF) … Percy W Hett … deposited 28 sectional sheets for Top Hard plus Firedamp drainage and 1 Main Bright sheet. Surveyor’s report, 35mm coloured copies, shaft sections, 2 key plans. Discuss Percy Hett and Rob Cox. To send a copy of Main Bright headings, 6 inch print of Top Hard for referencing catalogue and ½ plate photo required.

Sat 26 … Office … Progress. Incentive measures. Filed all negatives Barry Kalnins and Alan Scott to be regular on Fri night for measurements - 24935 tonnes

Mon 28 … Office … AVG re 2s sheet missing and 10s ag. JH re Return drift conveyor line. Phone JRG re ½ plates. 6 inch negative amended and print of TH for PW Hett. Discuss KFG. Filing plans. Colouring prints. JRG phoned re Survey Assistants query and DI3S instrument. Kevin Soar back at work, full team.

Tues 29 ... U/g … with AV Goodwin U/m 12s AW end, dog kennel on modular gearbox fouling arch (15 x 11) 16/17 in LG o.k. Various measures, through face and holding well and coming out of floor dirt. Check line o.k. … Office … Discuss P Noone. Discuss and plans of u/g and s/f to Engineer from Doncaster HQ re computerisation. Discuss JRG and E Hodgson re proposed coal stocking ground. Discuss CW S and JH re my 12s visit, arch size and panzer etc.
Tues 29 … U/g … Theodolite and DI3S EDM from 1s Following Intake to 12s LG and 1s LG coupling up again … 6 men (RB*, EWF, DS, KW, AS, BK) … Office … Phone R Bland Strata Control.
JCH Longden DCME promoted to CME South Midlands
P Abram (PA) left to haulage … now 6 linesmen

May 1980

Fri 2 … U/g … Offset survey of 2s LG conveyor ... 3 men (RB*, KS, BK) … Office … Plotted same. Discuss same CW S, JH and JS. Filled in Water return sheet. (500 + 8 u/g)

Sat 3 … 22646 tonnes

Mon 5 … Bank Holiday

Tues 6 … Office … Plan of PG on foolscap showing route to 12s etc. Correspondence re Surveying Assistants. Meeting … No2 heapstead … Frank Dove Civil Engineer (RB). Discuss various CW S and re-visit tomorrow … plan of route.

Wed 7 … U/g … to Drapers Paddy, 14s Return and 622s for last time re 2s subsidence measurements. Stopping prepared at Harrison’s Hill in No2 Pit bottom and 600s. (RB* and Maurice Kirby Deputy) … Office … Discuss KS and B Kalnins. Work. Phone info to P Davies at Area HQ. Discuss KFG re catenary grades of drifts. Documented readings. Phone Time / Wages.
(Visit to 12s Parliamentary Under Secretary, JP Berry Deputy Director, HMI Dilwyn Richards and R Anderson Production Manager) … o.k.

Thurs 8 … Office … Time / Wages sorting out Surveying Assistant – Supervisory Linesman grade £96 now, new rate £98.14 pw WPIS. Phoned CJ Whyte re same. Faults metricated on plans. Meeting 1pm – 4pm … Belt Conveyors … R Anderson (RB). Phone JRG re scalings and Linesman info.

Fri 9 … Office … General. Phone JRG re scalings. Meeting 1pm … AV Goodwin U/m … 12s men and Officials (RB). JRG discuss and took DI 3S instrument. Discuss 12s grades, sprockets, arches leaning, centre line etc. with CW S, JH, AVG … to sort out. 

Sat 10 … 17904 tonnes

Mon 12 … Office … 7.30am … Discuss linesmen and tuition re sprocket measurements to be done daily (RB*). Metricating fault values.

Tues 13 … Surface … Set out Rugby pitch 110 yds. x 75 yds. at Welfare Sports Ground … encroaches onto cricket pitch. (RB*, J Bowler). Phone Percy Hett re points that need amending on Top Hard Abandonment plans. Going through the points with PGS.

Wed 14 … To Sherwood to collect Support Rules. General … Surface … Measured up new Scwarz Hollywell Torque Tension Drilling Rig and slusher for 2s AW. … Office … Plotted out 2s AW supports for changing the system. Discuss JS, AVG, HF various. Discuss KFG. Sorting out points on Top Hard Abandonment plans.

Thurs 15 … Office … Making tracings etc. for amendments to TH plans. Discuss AVG re changing ripping cycle at 2s AW … slusher under lip and 5’ 0” packs and arches at 44” centres.

Fri 16 … to Eastwood Hall Mining Records to amend slight differences on plans (RB*) … to be photographed … Discuss Percy W Hett, Jack Milburn and Rob Cox Main Bright abandonment … 1946!

Sat 17 … 22666 tonnes
Sat 17 … Office … Progress and development. Incentive measurements and Wall plans.

Mon 19 … Office … Investigation into old Main Bright seam plans and note books and calculations etc. E Hodgson re sewage into our system. Phone JRG various several times! Phoned Jack Storr Thoresby re workings on TH SK / 6469
Top Hard East district sealed off at 622s Harrison’s Hill, 600s and 3s Main

Tues 20 … Office … Main Bright calculations from Dunnose and plot for check. Discuss JS re gas problem in Pit bottom near water tanks … old drift. JRG re various. Phone GW re gas. I suggested a new stopping. Plan of same to date and CW S re-same.

Wed 21 … U/g … Sorting out further stopping off sites in No2 Pit bottom due to gas problem near water tanks … G Weeks, KF Greaves, Jimmy Pickering, RB … discuss Mick Bostock Group Ventilation … Surface … Inspection of Dirt tips and proposed coal stocking ground extension with JR Greasley, E Hodgson, Geoff ? T & CP. Discuss same.

Thurs 22 … Office … Discuss ART, Mick Bostock proposed new stopping sites in No2 Pit bottom. Searching through old note books for info on same.

Fri 23 … Office … Posters. R Flint re new Pit bottom stopping. CW S, JH, AVG re 1s D Conveyor house re-position outbye 20m.

Sat 24 … 22040 tonnes

Mon 26 … Bank Holiday

Tues 27 … Call out to accident to N Bland … U/g to 1s Following Intake Junction with 12s scour … (RB, KFG) (29) … Office … Phone Walter Hulley Chief Draughtsman. Discuss CJ Whyte and Michael Mottram Admin re vacancy for Apprenticeship for A Parnell. Did not transpire.

Wed 28, Thurs 29 … 2 Days Holiday

Fri 30 … Office … JS phoned early ... I came to pit asap re 1s D Conveyor house arches. Surface … in pit yard sorting out new size arches ... 3 ordinary legs and one cut off per setting … (RB, Jim Stewart). Phone Ken Mirfin Bevercotes re tapes.
Nil
Wall out at front of bungalow and bricking next day.

June 1980

Mon 2 … Office … Discuss work carried out. Discuss Pit bottom stoppings with Barry Sheppard … Surface … Lou Scrivens re 1s D conveyor house arches … RB, EWF ... Office … Phone Frank Lee re 2s subsidence with Top Hard finalisation. Searching for cable info on old surface plans for Fred Wagstaffe Asst Elec. Colouring subsidence plans.

Tues 3 … Office … General, correspondence. Gordon Ison, Senior Surveyor phoned re faults at Teversal Waterloo 17s? Obviously Ches Stasiewicz or Keith Briggs did not know! … Surface … Measurements to calculate volume of water in old Cooling tower ponds … (RB, EWF) … Office … HMI Farmery (Mechanical) re volume of water in No1 shaft sump for gravity winding. Phoned P Davies twice re same. Frank Lee Area Planning Engineer came to discuss PG 2s subsidence with TH and took 2 sets of the information. Discuss KFG. John Wilson ICI. Dirt Tip Books borrowed from Ted Hodgson to totalise dirt and check against scalings. Ged Mason Area Coal Prep dept. re proposed slurry lagoon on old branch line cutting to Bilsthorpe.

Wed 4 … Office … CW S re 12s setting arches on pads again … not doing it! Also discussed re proposed extension to Survey office for a Strong Room etc. o.k. after consideration! Discussed TC Tombs re building same. F Lee rang re BP borehole. Phoned Karl Lesh Bilsthorpe re workings. AE Betts and JR Greasley brought plan of Railway cutting and calculations. Discuss possible Gyro bases. JS re Method of work for constructing 14s Junction. Made plan and made up description. CW S signed same. Discuss KF Greaves same.

Thurs 5 … Office … Discuss KFG various. AR Tryner re stopping sites are they o.k. re possible leakage. HMI J Jones and CW S re amends to 2s Support Rules. Alf Evans Area HQ Boring team rang re position of 10s AW borehole. Also to amend Shaft section co-ordinate info etc. and depth. Discuss E Hodgson re extension. J Bowler re proposed Football field at back of Welfare … no good! HMI J Jones re amending 2s AW and LG end Support Rules. Phone Bob Cox Deputy Surveyor Thoresby and gave info re TH subsidence from Parkgate underneath. JRG phoned.

Fri 6 … Office … Notices. General, correspondence. Welfare plan ... Surface … to Welfare with Mick McGinty Chairman re possible football pitch at back of Welfare … No … not if full size (RB*), Plan. Knocked kitchen wall out at home.

Sat 7 … 21710 tonnes

Mon 9 … Office … General, correspondence. Discuss PG Shaw. CW S and EWF re amend 2s Support Rules … changed same at HMI office … mistake! Discuss WEB Barlow brought Thoresby Tacheo staff … Surface … Meeting re sewage into ponds … Mr Bland Newark Council, JRG, Ted Hodgson, PGS, RB) Also noted 2s subsidence area and measured to new power cable route.

Tues 10 … 12s men on strike re norm payment …
Tues 10 … Surface … Tacheo survey of Railway cutting from Wellow to Gallow Hole Dyke. 6 men (RB*, PGS, EWF, D Stockham, K Soar and Ged Mason).

Wed 11 … 10s face men on strike.
Wed 11 … Office … Notices. Discuss. Paula Lesh with me covering plans. Discuss E Hodgson.

Thurs 12 … Office … General. Phone Keith Jenkins re Thoresby TH 102s. (Keith would commit suicide sometime in the future) … Surface … to Screens with Dick Smith and Tom Hillier bricklayers … set up level line for new stand at picking platform (RB*) … Office … with EWF plotting Railway cutting. Coloured a 1/10000 print for HMI GDR Adamson. E Spencer Admin Officer re Football pitch … Surface … to Welfare with PGS, met M McGinty, Ted Lilley and Jack (Manager) and set out 105 yds. x 70 yds. football pitch … Office … Calculated volume of Railway cutting. Discuss Nick ? Geologist various and fossils.

Fri 13 … Office … General. Phone Keith Jenkins Thoresby re 2s PG subsidence with TH, discuss and sent 6 prints. Alf Evans phone re 10s B borehole. Discuss Les Sowter Area Borer re same. Phoned Staff dept. at Area HQ re Apprentice changes. Eric Spencer had read the letter! Firedamp Drainage plans to date. Discuss KFG. 10s B borehole finished … results with Les Sowter, Borer.

Sat … 17531 tonnes

Mon 16 … U/g … Visit to 12s panel, 1s Following Intake and Following Inbye Intake Vertical bunker Access (RB*) … Office … General.

Tues 17 … Office … General. Info re Apprentices. Quarter end book. Rescue Brigade discuss … (plus KF Geraves, RB). Figures to date.

Wed 18 … Surface … Levelled to top of No2 tip … 2 men (RB*, EWF) approx. 1ft 2in of subsidence from undermining by 2s PG panel. Management team Meeting 11am … CW S. Discuss JS, PGS, M Bostock, AR Tryner proposed Vertical Bunker inbye. Began Pit bottom R & FF plan for practices … Surface … to Steetley bunker, proposed stockpile area … (RB*, PGS, Ted Hodgson Surface Superintendent) … Office … Calculated same … 120 – 250 tons. Discuss E Hodgson.

Thurs 19 … U/g … morning … Following and plotting routes of pipes in pit bottom (RB*, Sam Pepper in charge of Pumps) (505 + 8 u/g)
U/g … Down pit again in early afternoon … Completed pit bottom pipe routes for fire fighting range (RB*, John Hayter Fire Officer)
U/g … Down pit for third time mid afternoon … to 1s AW ... measurements for accident to Doug Bowler, walking inbye down AW when runaway trams of materials mowed him down from behind and using line bubble to calculate gradients … 2 men (RB*, EWF) (30) … Office … Discuss J Herbert. Frank Lee phoned re 2s Chock Shield installation.

Fri 20 … Office … General. Discuss Gary WB noble teams etc. Self and EWF with HMI GDR Adamson re accident to D Bowler … run down by runaway supplies trams in 1s AW whilst 2 lads were hand tramming and no lockers. Would become a fatal accident, dying 2 days later on June 21 from injuries. J Hayter Fire Officer re amends to R & FF info in Pit bottom. Correspondence.

Sat 21 … Office … Progress and development. Incentive measurements. 22910 tonnes
Gary WB Noble (GWBN) Apprentice transferred to Harworth. Ken R West (KRW) Apprentice transferred to Ollerton from Clipstone

Mon 23 …Office … Discuss Ken R West various and routine. No 271 phone rang constantly, ignored several times. There was No 225 to ring in General office if urgent. DR Mounsey DCME re 1s AW grades. Plan and section of same and discuss DR Mounsey … Surface … to familiarise pit top etc. and PHB (RB*, KR West) … Office … Info to TC Tombs re 1s AW. Roy Bland Strata Control re rippings.
Neil Mason from Australia on home visit after 4 years, discussed his job at coal mine 200 miles East of Perth, spent 2 weeks there then flew back etc. … Neil would become Chief Surveyor for underground works. Called in at Area HQ … discuss AE Betts.
JH phoned home re Meeting early tomorrow morning. I phoned back to acknowledge.

Tues 24 … Office … Meeting … 7am … R Anderson re Fatal accident to D Bowler (RB, EWF). Info to R Bland re rippings. CW S re plan to HMI for proposed Gyro bases inbye. Made new haulage plan neg, info from Eric Ricketts PPM. Discuss AVG U/m 10s LG bad arches. Watch out for 2s LG, 10s AW, 12s LG. General info with KRW. Coloured 1/10000 plan for HMI showing proposed Gyro bases underground.

Wed 25 … U/g … Visit to 10s panel and 12s panel, sprockets etc. and outbye conveyors (RB, KRW) … Office … Calculations. Phone GH Jackson re Apprentice training … ‘no need to tell me I said, check all other pits’!

Sat 28 … 24175 tonnes

Annual Leave 2 Days Thurs 26

KF Greaves phone Fri 27 re call out to accident at 6.45pm … sent for EWF to go to scene.

Mon 30 … Office … General. Correspondence. Continued with Pit bottom R & FF Practice plan. Plan for E Hodgson showing proposed stock pile for night shift at Steetley Coal Bunker. Phone JH re various and query from R Anderson re 6 linesmen? JRG phone re T & CP application for proposed coal stocking ground … at least another month! Bricklayers re proposed Strong Room extension. Discuss KR West … all passed HND. Phoned 10sB borehole info to Nick ? Geologist. Phone Dennis Roebuck Deputy Safety Engineer re various. R & FF practice plan finished.