A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

North Nottinghamshire Area from April 1967

Page - 59 -

Jul 1980

Ray Flint Asst U/m Days, Gordon Weeks Nights

Tues 1 … U/g … Visit to 2s panel to check on lines etc. and to report to JH and AVG (RB*) … R & FF plans to J Hayter.
Blocked up window in office, Brick layers Dick Clarke and Tom Hillier.

Wed 2 … Office … Quarter end plans, negs to date, Haulages, conveyors, pumps, general, development, Deputy’s Districts. Phoned Jack Storr … Surface to Thoresby to fetch copy of 102s support plan (RB*) … Office … same to JP Berry with 2s Support Rules and shotfiring pattern. Geoff Austin fetched Tacheo for Bilsthorpe and discuss. Phone George H Jackson Asst Area Surveyor re Survey visit.

Thurs 3 … U/g … Visit to 1s panel and established centre line for 14s AW scour. AW Junction off square! … Office … Quarter end plans. General. Discuss KF Greaves re 2s shotfiring pattern. (510 + 8 u/g))

Fri 4 … Office … General. Discuss John Wilson ICI re 2s LG shotfiring pattern. KFG re Deputy’s Districts plan amends and a new plan for weekends and holidays. JRG phoned various. Phone George H Jackson and PW Hett re found ½ plate negatives. Phone JRG re no tubbing in shafts. Bob Smith ICI discuss re shotfiring especially 2s LG hard sandstone rock.

Sat 5 … Office … Progress and development. Incentive figures. Wall plans. No sheets for 2s, 10s, 12s. Saw CW S Deputies rang out measurements. B Kalnins failed. Due to several times linesmen not turning up for Incentive measuring on night shift I stopped Friday night shift in future …. 25606 tonnes

Mon 7 … Surface … Levels and measurements on No4 Dirt tip and volume of No8 Lagoon (RB*, EWF) Later set out an assimilated underground track gradients at back of Car park with Roadlayers (RB*, EWF) … Office … Calculations. JRG phoned.
Automated skip winding at No1 Winder from today … no winding engine man … assisting on pit bank.

Tues 8 … Office … Dirt tip info and calculations. Discuss Ted Hodgson. Phone JH re 12s centre lines. Discuss AVG. Info to 4 Students re 1s panel. Plans of route for Israeli Ambassador visit to 12s panel. Saw CW S re same and Dirt tip info.

Wed 9 … Plan of route for Visit by Israeli Ambassador … (HM Spanton, JP Berry, RA, CW S, HMI)
Wed 9 … Office … Sorting out info re Dirt tips. Eric Barton O/m phoned re 14s AW Junction … Surface … AE Betts, JR Greasley, RB … Dirt tip inspection to No4 tip and lagoons and No2 tip. Discuss AV Goodwin U/m re Israeli visit and general. Discuss J Lyons general and Wellow Pond subsidence claim by Fishing Club for loss of water. (I calculated 1m gals)
CW Standage holiday Thurs 10 – Tues 22. J Higginbotham Acting Manager

Thurs 10 …Office … JR Greasley phone and BT Bailey re Dirt tip figures. Began making Second copy tracings to date for Area HQ. Discuss Dave Muller Geologist. Biennial Tip Meeting 3pm … AA Grainger Chief Engineer (RB) o.k. Discuss AE Betts, JRG and BTB.

Fri 11 … Surface … met NCC Highways official Mr Slack re blocked drain on Pit Lane entrance (RB) … Office … Phone BTB. Discuss Ted Hodgson re drains.

Sat 12 … PGS in. D Stockham Surveyor’s Assistant plus R Crawford, K Soar and K Walton measured panels and development on Day shift … using 3 weekend tickets … 24906 tonnes

Mon 14 … Office … Checked through Bunker Access plottings and levels etc. with PGS. Calculations. Plotting Working plans to date, faults, stencilling. Roy Darby and Paul Hufton re haulages to date. Discuss same. Also with KFG.

Tues 15 … Office … TH Second copy plans, amending alterations. JRG rang various. Discuss Dirt tips, grass trees, areas etc. with Peter Daffin Estates.

Wed 16 … U/g … Accident measures for A Jeffries 1s Following Intake / 2s LG Junction (RB*) (31) … Office … T Grainger phoned re Bunker conveyor? Plotting same. JH phone re swilleys on 2s face … Meeting … R (Bob) Smith, John Wilson and J Scott ICI Reps re salinity of water at 2s re shotfiring (RB)
Coroner, RB and KFG re fatal accident to D Bowler. Began tracing the plan.

Thurs 17 … Office … Accident plan. HMI J Jones re accident with JH, RB, D Rodden NUM, Bernard Charles Area Safety. Info HMI throughout the day. Students discussion various. Discuss J Stewart re Loco circuit in PG re extension.

Fri 18 … Office … Finished accident plan and prints. JH re 2s swilleys, made plan. Ray Flint re turns. Fig 1. 2s contours, sections etc.                                              

Sat 19 … Record output = 28, 070 tonnes.

Mon 21 … Office … Main Bright Abandonment Report … seam finished working Feb 1946! (RB*) … phone D Muller 2s slip and swilleys. Phoned Keith Jenkins re Thoresby 102s to date.

Tues 22 … Office … Dave Muller re 2s roll. Phoned Jim Hanson and Ron Wood U/m and Acting Manager at Teversal re visit o.k. Meeting Roy Pearce Ventilation Department re possible boreholes from surface to Top Hard pit bottom for refrigeration (RB) Plan of same and overlay for discussion … Surface … Called in at Area HQ to Ventilation department and Survey department for subsidence.

Wed 23 … Office … Plan work, levels etc. Management Team meeting 11am CW S (RB) … phone Cliff Beale Geological dept. re borehole logs.

Thurs 24 … U/g to Teversal on final day of production (after 111 years). Nostalgic visit. To 35s panel 1st Waterloo and through heading into Pleasley old face line, perfect condition. This was the route for Teversal water to pass through a water trap. Graham Bradshaw Colliery Overman, Sammy Steele header discuss. With Carl Sterland Surveyor’s Assistant and Paul Wilkinson Linesman. Met and chatted with Ron Wood Undermanager, Acting Manager and Ray Gregory Production Manager on their final underground visit. (Note the water passing through Top Hard, Dunsil and Waterloo seams from the Old Mans Level sough would reach Pleasley pit bottom in October 1986 after 6 years and 3 months)
… Office … General. Correspondence. Phone Doug Raisbeck Geologist re borehole info re completion report missing!?

Fri 25 … Substitute Statutory Holiday … Office … Incentive measurements. Progress and development. JRG phoned. General. J Herbert brought new plan for for No2 Vertical Bunker. Water pumping figures.

Sat 26 … 12651 tonnes

Pit Holidays Mon 28 July – Sat 9 Aug

R Flint in charge First week

Mon 28 … Surface … Levelling from offices down sidings to Boughton Dyke (RB*, KRW) … Office … Calculations. CW S re Office security … Lunch … Red Lion at Wellow.

Tues 29 … U/g … Gyro-theodolite observations at 1s Following Intake (excellent check + or – 10 seconds of arc) (AE Betts, JRG, RB, PGS, EWF, KRW)

Wed 31 … U/g … Levelling from 1s LG through face to 1s AW bench mark check (0.08m close, excellent check) … Office … Calculations. Phone Des Thompson Harworth re borrow our Tacheo instrument. Phone WEB Barlow … Lunch … Ollerton House.

Thurs 31 … Office … George H Jackson brought forms for KR West. JRG bought Clipstone Tacheo instrument … Surface … Tacheo survey of coal stocks … 4 men (RB*, PGS, EWF, KRW) … Lunch … Carpenters Arms.
Change of Group Ventilation staff … Mick Bostock to Teversal Group and Andy Liney replaced him. Disagreement JS.
Blidworth transferred to Teversal Group, Ray Gregory Production Manager

Aug 1980

Fri 1 … Surface … checking instruments outside … got rained off … Office … Discuss Frank Lee. Cleaning out and sorting book case. Plan and procedure for conveyor belt installation at PG Intake drift with Ray Flint. Discuss same JH and also re Buttress chock shields finished at 2s AW … Lunch … Ollerton House.

AV Goodwin in charge Second week of holidays

Mon 4 … Office … Calculations of coal stocks with KR West. Discuss P Noone and H Fitzackerly and TC Tombs. Phone P Davies Area Projects and Des Thompson Harworth re installation of Chock Shields … copies of same … Lunch … The Plough, Caunton.

Tues 5 … U/g and Surface … Check correlation co-plane sighting to edge of both rubbing ropes at No2 shaft and onto surface and underground bases. Catenary measuring … 4 men (RB*, PGS, EWF, KRW) … an excellent check with such a crude idea … Office … Calculations. (515 + 8 u/g)

Wed 6 … U/g … Gyro-theodolite observations on 3s Main Correlation base in pit bottom … 6 men (AE Betts, JRG, RB, PGS, EWF, KRW) … Office … Calculations … John Heenan Audit department re Run of Mine (ROM) figures for forms.

Thurs 7 … U/g … Theodolite angling from No2 pit bottom to 3s Main Gyro base and down Parkgate Intake drift …. 4 men (RB*, PGS, EWF, KRW) … Office … Calculations, bearings. Signed Ventilation Book. Plan. AVG discuss … Lunch … Dovecote.

Fri 8 … Office … Calculation of surface and underground Correlation … Excellent check … Phone George H Jackson. Amendments to TH contours on 1/10560 and 1/5000. CW S re 2s Support Rules amends for Buttress chocks, also signed Layout plan for Second Vertical Bunker, same TC Tombs and P Noone … Lunch … Angel, Kneesall.
Buffers installed in No1 shaft sump. 9 sets of Contractors on CPP. Nil

Mon 11 … Office … Plan work. Workings to date, inking in and contours, stippling 1/2500 and 1/5000 PG. Parish boundaries. Sorted out new plotted sheets for future. JRG changed Tacheo tackle, ours from Harworth and Clipstone tackle sent back. Correspondence.

Tues 12 … Office … New PG plan SK / 6664, surface etc. and stencilling for 10s extension. Alf Fearn Rep from GMT. Tracing of 1s Following Intake Junction / 2s LG for proposed new Jeep. JS re various. Plan. Discuss general.

Wed 13 … Office … Plan work 1/2500, 1/10560 and 1/10000 to date, workings, contours, drifts, faults, boreholes etc. Production Instructions (PIs). Plotted out 2s AW and 12s LG end supports and compared. Meeting … JH, AVG, KFG, RB …. 2s AW supports and haulage.

Thurs 14 … Office … Plan work continued. Surface etc. on prep sheets. Boreholes plotted on 1/10000, check etc. CW S and HMI J Jones re 2s AW Support Rules, amends to same and prints. Discuss haulages.

Fri 15 … Office … Boreholes and Thoresby PG workings on 1/10000 plan. AV Goodwin re Keith Walton attendance. Discuss CW S various. 3 Surface plans for P Noone Deputy Elec showing proposed route of cable from Control Room to No1 shaft showing hazards. Made model for 2s AW cutting / ripping operations. Discuss KFG, AVG, JH 2s AW end. JH re Drapers Paddy borehole results.

Sat 16 … Office … Progress and development. JH Wall plan and Conference Room plans. Discuss Dougie Stockham … he was still to work overtime every Saturday doing a check on each panel and / or development in turn etc. He continued to be in the office every Monday to take all measurements etc. for incentive, advance, creep, swilleys and all manner of the measurements and update wall board etc., plus any check line on faces, etc., etc., etc. He did an excellent job. 21042 tonnes

Annual Leave 1 Week Mon 18 – Sat 23 Kessingland

K Walton (KW) Linesman left. Lou Scrivens Materials Officer retired
No overtime for linesmen in future … starting Monday to measure Friday’s figures etc. early morning.

Fri 22 … 21513 tonnes

Mon 25 … Bank Holiday. J Higginbotham holiday 1 week, J Stewart Acting Deputy Manager.

Tues 26 … Office … Correspondence. Discuss PGS last weeks work and to date position. Discuss J Herbert various. Incentive figures. Jack Gelsthorpe Assistant Training Officer re interview 3 lads. Discuss with them job, start times etc. Referenced new borehole logs. Saw Jim Padley ? Saw Tony Wilson and Chris Ingram re Linesmen’s jobs.
Tony Wilson (AW) started as Linesman

Wed 27 … Office … Info for meeting. R Flint phone re 1s AW Mono-rail. Management Team Meeting 11am … CW S (RB) … Sketch and procedure for 1s AW Becorit Powered Mono-rail … discuss R Flint and KF Greaves. Making reflective hangers for centre lines with Dougie Stockham. Sketch for TC Tombs 2s LG projected grades etc. for conveyor. Calculations.

Thurs 28 … Office … Roy Bland phoned re 2s. Manager’s Wall plan negative. Amends for Bilsthorpe projected Low Main workings and title change. Discuss JS various.
Tony Wilson (AW) starts as linesman from Stone dusting. Chris Ingram (CI) started as linesman from Warwick girders

Fri 29 … Office … Finished 1/5000 and prints. George H Jackson phone re Assistants. 1/5000 PG for finished inking in, stencilling etc. John Wilson ICI discuss. Alan Scott re absence from work. Mine water figures. Discuss Ken R West History of the Colliery. Discuss AV Goodwin.

Sat 30 … 15940 tonnes

Sep 1980

Mon 1 … Correspondence. Discuss KRW re Course etc. Information sheets. Sketch of Mine for HMI GDR Adamson re Bunker Access and 1s Following Intake (RB). P Johnson Claims Inspector phoned re accident. Phone John Wilson Area HQ. K Rutherford and TC Tombs re PG turns and section through PG Return drift re Godwin Warren retarders.

Tues 2 … Office … Section and calculation through PG Return drift. Plan to K Rutherford. Discuss AR Tryner and J Stewart re Vertical Bunker. Discuss P Davies. General. JRG phone various.
Began extending ground for proposed coal stocking.

Wed 3 … U/g … to Pit bottom area, re possible new drifts. To Vertical bunker, Trunk roads, 1s LG, headings, 2s LG and 2s AW and 10s AW overcast … (RB*, John Herbert, Malcolm Clarke planners) … Office … Discuss various … Surface … Located hot water pipeline near coal stocking area (RB*) … Joe Gelsthorpe Materials re Junction chocks. Discuss JS. J Hood NUM Sec re plan. Discuss Ken R West re Mock Practical exam.

Thurs 4 … Office … Correspondence. JH re Jimmy Hood NUM asking for plan of accident to Charlie Hallam. Distributed 1s panel extension plans. Bert Nock, welder re girders to cut. Sam Pepper re fossils. Plotted Support measures at 1s, 10s, and 12s gate ends and compared with Support Rules, reported to KF Greaves, Safety Engineer.

Fri 5 … Office …AVG re advance per strip for 10s. Discuss. 2 blank negs for SK / 6664. Dave Muller re testing 10s AW rock samples for Vertical Bunker Access snicket. TC Tombs and Rep from Hanmade re 12s LG Scour / 1s LG Junction alterations etc. and discuss. Ted Hodgson re progress on surface. Plotted 2s supports at gate ends and compared with Support Rules. Report to KFG.

Sat 6 … Office … New Wall plans hung assisted by D Stockham - 18797 tonnes
CW Standage holiday Mon 8 – Sat 20. J Higginbotham Acting Manager

Mon 8 … Office … AVG Wall plan. Discuss KRW. Sorting filing system, work in hand etc. E Hodgson re progress on surface. Discuss KRW re PDIs ... Discuss JRG. Phone Dennis Gilberthorpe Civil Engineer re grip across Slaney’s Lane for run off water. Figures to date.

Tues 9 … Office … N John R Walker Student RSM not too interested with my talk … no questions. General discussion. Job of Work plans. Phone Des Thompson Harworth re Loco Charging Rack … confirm Jack Lyons. Wilf Hibbert re 12s Thompson Engineering turns. Meeting 3.45pm Accountability, Manpower Savings and Development R Anderson Production Manager. (RB*) Discuss 14s development?

Wed 10 … Office … Ralph NRJ Daud, (Malaysian) student from RSM very interested, lots of questions. General discussion. Job of work plans. John Wilson Area HQ phoned re subsidence. JH phone various. D Gilberthorpe Civils re Slaney’s Lane sewers.

Thurs 11 … Office … General. Phone J Wilson re subsidence. 1/25000 plan to date. Planning haulages etc. E Hodgson re up to date report on surface activities.

Fri 12 … Office … Discussion with … DRSA Student RSM very, very interested! Many questions. General discuss. Job of work plan. Discuss J Stewart and R Flint boreholes from surface. Discuss haulage system JS and H Fitzackerley. (RB*)

Sat 13 … 20283 tonnes
Demolished Powder magazine.

Mon 15 … U/g … Visit to 10s LG, 12s panel, face sections etc. 1s Following Intake sections and Inbye Vertical Bunker Access (RB*) … Office … AVG re 12s. John Sproston Deputy Area Ventilation Engineer re possible site for Booster fan, Vertical Bunker area top of Intake drift and general discussion re bad ventilation areas. Phone JRG re Powder magazine demolished. Phone J Sproston re haulage. Figures.

Tues 16 … Office … Investigation into possible faulting at front of 10s. Phoned G Austin Bilsthorpe re same. TC Tombs re movement ? of No1 sump skip beams … to do survey (RB). Wilf Hibbert Thompson Rep brought plan back. J Pickering re notices for 1s AW Becorit Powered Mono-Rail. Info from G Mayne underground re temperatures various points. DR Mounsey DCME phoned re possible Booster fan at Parkgate Intake. Roy Pearce re possibility of 2s after-cooler. AVG re same. Discuss Cliff Meakin O/m, P Noone and H Fitzackerley, Drawing of possible Booster fan section.

Wed 17 … Office … Ventilation figures with ART and temperatures. Info D Muller brought rock tests report. Phone JRG re order some ammonia from Bulwell not Moorgreen. … Surface … Check on progress of ground extension for coal stocking (RB*, PGS) … another week to complete. JS discuss. AV Goodwin U/m re seam section thinning at 1s.

Thurs 18 … Office … Plans to date, levels, dates, stippled. Gradients of rail track to MJ Parker HQ Rail Transport. John Wilson ICI re shotfiring pattern for Vertical Bunker Access snicket. J Pickering re same. G Ison phoned various.

Annual Leave Fri 19 – Sat 27 Yugoslavia and Venice

Sat 20 … 21315 tonnes

Sat 27 … 20899 tonnes
George Case (Deputy) starts as new Materials Officer.

Mon 29 … Office … Correspondence and work done with PGS. Phone JRG re Derek Parkin British Rail Surveyor re workings to date (RB). Discuss George Case, Joe Gelsthorpe and G Weeks re Junction at Bunker Access snicket. Phone Jimmy Hood NUM re Support Rules plan for 2s LG 20/2/1980. 2s tonnage figures to Terry Jones Dowty Rep … Surface … to Wellow Pond, sections to date after dredging (RB*)

Tues 30 … Office … Correspondence. Discuss Ted Hodgson re surface works. Spontaneous Combustion plans to date for TH and PG. Discuss CW S and G Weeks. R Cox re Thoresby 102s progress. Discuss Frank Lee various and possible large diameter borehole from TH to PG for extra ventilation. Phone Michael Mottram Staff dept. re John Hicks ET. PGS re graphs for conveyor stands. Colouring notices.
Tues 30 … Surface … Levelling new coal stock extension … 2 men (RB*, DS)
H Merrik Spanton Director since 1967 transferred to London, P & S . Jack E Wood from Doncaster Area Director succeeded as Director for North Notts. Area. (He was Manager at Welbeck and Rufford at one time and Group Manager No3 Area)

Oct 1980

Wed 1 … Meeting Conveyor delays 3pm – 4.45pm … R Anderson, CW Standage, AV Goodwin, J Lyons, H Fitzackerley, M Young, P Honeywood, Reg Miles, Sam Dunlop, RB, PGS

Thurs 2 … Surface … Tacheometric survey of extended coal stocking area (RB*, PGS) … Office … Calculated and plotted same. Calculated expected tonnage, info to Ted Hodgson. Seam section in feet and inches to AVG for 12s face and discuss. G Weeks various. To Hospital for X-rays.

Fri 3 … Office … KRW discuss. Attempting to repair staff !. GW re Vertical Bunker Access snicket. Began plotting coal stock site on 1/2500. Discuss JR Greasley, KR West, Ian Burns and Gary Noble possible exam questions etc. J Sproston Deputy Area Vent Engineer re Report on restrictions.

Sat 4 … 21303 tonnes
Sat 4 … Office … Coal stocking ground survey plotted on 1/2500. 2 Dirt tip negatives to date.
Assistant U/ms Gordon Weeks Conveyors, Ray Flint Days

Mon 6 … Office … General. Incentive figures etc. CW S re Loco circuit exemption. CJ Whyte came for Lunch and discuss new Surveyors Assistant etc. JH re panzer creep and gate centre lines, RF and GW. J Herbert re possible Second Following Return down 1s panel.

Tues 7 … Office … Discuss history, development, work etc. with John Hicks ET seconded to Survey department (RB*). JH re 2s LG possibility of pan installation. Meeting … Capital Investment, Manpower savings etc. … 3.45pm R Anderson (RB) plus John Faben, Derek Hunter, Ray Fish.

Wed 8 … Office … Support Rules print for 1s Following Intake, J Pickering, wrong – Dosco for RH22 HMI J Jones.
Wed 8 … U/g … Visit to 2s AW and face measures and survey of LG end supports etc. … (RB*, PGS, J Hicks JHs) … Office … Conveyor Meeting 3.30pm R Anderson. Called in at Area HQ to see Photographers re Support Rules reductions.
Surveyor’s Practical exam … KR West to Linby and GWB Noble to Bagworth.

Thurs 9 … Office … CW S re various. JRG phoned. Plans … Surface … Tried to locate a well at Wellow … failed … 3 men (RB*, EWF, JHs) … Office … Discuss KR West re Surveyor’s Practical exam. Phone G Austin Bilsthorpe.
Safety Mind evening at Devonshire Suite, Sutton (RB*) … Discuss R Siddall.

Fri 10 … Office … General discuss John Hicks. DR Mounsey DCME phoned re various … Surface … to Wellow … lifted manhole cover … it was a drain ! (RB*, JHs)                       
Fri 10 … To Mansfield Coroner’s Court … Inquest on D Bowler 1s AW 19/6/1980 (CW S, RB)

Sat 11 … 24776 tonnes
AV Goodwin holiday, R Flint Acting U/m. Paula L Lesh holiday 1st week.

Mon 13 … Office … General, correspondence. JH told him re measure marks on panels etc. Sorting out all Correlation results etc. and tabulating. Rang N Derbys Area Subsidence dept. Mr Parkes re subsidence at home, Welwyn Avenue. Steve WH Lindsay Cost Clerk re various reports on Incentive scheme measurements, Phone C Parry Method Study same. Saw CW S re same and amending norms on Data bank sheets. AE Betts phone re Gyro results and practical exam. Info to R Flint re panzer creep, discuss same and gate leads according to dip of face line. Phone G Austin Bilsthorpe.

Tues 14 … Office … Continued with records. CJ Whyte phoned re sections on 10s and 12s … Surface … Measured up fencing and grids etc. … 3 men (RB*, PGS, EWF) … Office … HMI GDR Adamson re 1s accident … gradients, distances etc. … Surface … with BT Bailey, Ted Hodgson and Council visitors and Firm visit re Dirt tip No4 vibratory rolling … Office … Continued with records.

Wed 15 … Office … Phone Eddie Gray / Stan Brunskill info re Redhill Lane borehole. P Rees phone same. D Muller phone same. Plotted section through to 10s and plan from Bilsthorpe … 106s? … Surface … to Fitting shop, David Lees, John Gretton info re proposed Conveyor anchor station. Made drawing of same … Meeting … Conveyor delays … R Anderson (RB). JH and RF re gate lines and creep.

Thurs 16 … Office … Check calculations for possible faults at front of 10s … Nil! Plan finished for Director’s visit and coloured prints. Gave Brian Wormald 50 reductions of Support Rules for 1s, 2s, 10s, 12s for face trainees … Surface … to Tub shop and measurements … Electric shock to R Jones, Tub thumper (RB*. PGS, EWF, KRW) … Office … plotted plan. CW S re same. Jimmy Hood NUM same. Peter Rees Geologist re 1s sections. Plan. Phone JH re check lines and panzers. Phone Peter Robinson Rufford re overtime for Linesmen … I stopped all overtime at Ollerton due to lack of attendance! No doubt the NUM union man would soon be in touch …!

Fri 17 … Office … Info to Bill Rose Area HQ Mech dept. re 2s Chock shield installation. 1/25000 plans of survey carried out since 1970.                                                  
Visit to 2s by Area Director JE Wood. Alan Scott (AS) linesman left.

Sat 18 … 22080 tonnes
Sat 18 … Office … Finished tabulating results of check surveys and correlations. Discuss D Stockham.
AV Goodwin U/m holiday. PL Lesh holiday 2nd week.

Mon 20 … U/g …. Visit to 10s Overcast and 10s LG check, observations along conveyors (RB*, KRW)… Office … GW re 10s conveyor belt line. J Herbert re possible borehole from TH to PG for ventilation improvement. Dowty Reps discuss chocks. JH and J Faben re changes to 2s AW end supports. R Flint same. CW S and J Wilson ICI re 2s AW shotfiring change. Plan. (520 + 8 u/g)

Tues 21 … Office … CW S re various. Phone CJ Whyte. Info from S Lunnon. Conveyor graphs to date and prints. 2s shotfiring pattern prints to KFG. W/e Yearly maintenance graph to Peter Davies at Area HQ Projects., JH various. E Hodgson re Dirt tip figures for Tip No4. Discuss J Herbert and Tom Grainger re various ideas. JRG requires grades of all faces and gates, discuss general. Example sketch of gate lead for a panel for R Flint for Deputies.
Large fall at 10s AW lip … measures (RB)

Wed 22 … Meeting E Gillfillan, K Hartwell ATT (RB*) discuss new Vertical Bunker. CJ Whyte phone re pollution in Boughton Dyke ... Surface … Investigated same and reported back ... very dirty. Reinvestigation of sites with JRG … water clearing. Jack Corbett Pond Manager discuss … Office … Meeting re Conveyors R Anderson. Discuss CW S re river pollution. 10s LG conveyor plotting wit JH and RF. Phil Coward Deputy drawing out 1s AW lip fall. Phoned JRG re tank in Boughton Dyke. Plan for 4 changes of supports at 2s AW end from Dowty to Gullick.

Thurs 23 … Office … Prints of 2s AW end changes to R Flint. Dave Lees 12s Junction plan and 10s conveyor line. Phone Deputy1s and Deputy Following Intake re lines. JH re 12s centre line re pan … No!. 3 extra prints re 2s AW shotfiring pattern to KFG. 6 notices for Disposable Dust masks trials to B Sheppard. Discuss Maurice Whittle Estates. Mel Marples and Dave Lees re 10s Conveyor line. G Weeks re same. Discuss KFG.
Large fall at 10s LG back rip … 1105 metres measure mark at 4.40pm (RB*)

Fri 24 ... Office ... Discuss CW S re 10s face. Discuss WEB Barlow re various. JRG phone. Pipe fitters … a drawing for new ring main connection at PG Intake Road Junction 1s. G W phoned re 10s LG. Discuss R Flint and J Stewart. Phone JRG. Phone Andy Liney Group Ventilation Engineer re 3s Main proposed boreholes … No!

Sat 25 … 23495 tonnes

Mon 27 … Holiday

Mon 27 … Big fault at 1s AW end
Ray Flint Nights

Tues 28 … U/g … Visit with Alan V Goodwin Undermanager to 1s AW fast end fault (my estimation approx. 6 feet (1.8m), through face – less floor dirt. 1s LG conveyor, Inbye Bunker Access snicket … Office … Plotted fault at 1s AW. Discuss J Stewart. Discuss CW S and JH. Phoned P Rees re fault

Wed 29 … Office … Discuss P Rees re 1s fault. Discuss JH re 2s and 12s panzer creep and centre lines and also 1s fault. Drawing out temporary Support Rules for 1s AW end. Discuss AVG re 1s fault. Discuss J Stewart general.

Thurs 30 and Fri 31 Annual Leave.

Leo Kirk Deputy Area Planner retired.

Fri 31 … 22259 tonnes

Nov 1980

Mon 3 … Office … Stencilling. Discuss general. Discuss JH 1s face and proposed turn into face line at AW. Discuss E Hodgson change of pipes at No9 Lagoon. R Anderson and CW Standage discuss 1s AW end faulting and proposed boreholes along the face line for proving line of fault. Incentive measures. J Herbert and Malcolm Clarke re faults. Discuss H Fitzackerley and P Noone re various. G Austin Bilsthorpe phoned. AVG re changes in development 1s Following Intake to turn into 14s LG and 14s AW to go towards face line. Blank bar chart for JS.
Meeting R Anderson and CW S re 1s fault… arrange Area borers (Les Sowter) to drill holes on face to prove fault (RB)

Tues 4 … U/g … to 1s Following Intake, check for last arch before Junction. 14s LG stood, 14s AW section. Discuss Eric Barton Overman development. 12s LG Junction haulage with AVG, MY, RB. Saw Les Sowter Borer and discuss problem. HQ borers on face line in afternoon. Discuss various JS and TCT. AVG re 1s AW turn. JRG rang re KR West’s hours.

Wed 5 … Hospital for X-rays. Office ... Discuss E Hodgson re Dirt tips. Michael Mottram rang re new Apprentice Ian W Smith. Info to Rob Cox Thoresby re 30s borehole in TH. Billy Humphries Tea masher presentation. Calculations for 1s AW all backdated checked and adjusted. Discuss Eric Barton O/m 14s Scour turn. CW S re 1s fault. Pumping Records to GH Jackson, Asst Area Surveyor.

Thurs 6 … U/g … Visit with John Hicks ET measures to 1s fault and measured borehole positions with Les Sowter and measured progress in both gates …Office … Plotting same. Correspondence. Lasers. Discuss KFG. Discuss AVG. Discuss JS snicket. Plan work with J Hicks. Discuss Dowty Reps.

Fri 7 … Office … Plan work with John Hicks. JRG phoned several times. Ted Hodgson re Rexco pollution, I sent for scientific dept. for samples and plan for same. JH re 1s face boring. Herbert Shaw Sherwood rang re borrow DI3S tackle o.k. Discuss KFG. Discuss and info to Benny Wells Time / Wages.

Sat 8 … 19555 tonnes
1s panel abandoned
Ian W Smith (IWS) started as Apprentice.

Mon 10 … Office … Discuss Ian Smith re various. CW S re query for size of 14s face head. J Lyons re substation. S Brunskill rang re 1s boring. Discuss J Wilson ICI. Discuss John Shone plus 2 from Thyssens. 8 sets of graphs for meeting. Conveyor Meeting 3pm CW S. Required a conveyor line for 10s LG.

Tues 11 … Info to CW S re 14s face heading. Meeting R Anderson...To discuss 14s and 33s development. Fred Gieves Hollybank … ordered 14s face supports 190 number 8 feet legs x 10 feet beams and 14 number 12 feet beams for next Monday. Details for 14s. Phone AE Betts instrument. SN Whittle phoned re new Vertical bunker and pumps. John Eyre Blidworth rang re paint. Info to JH re old 10s face line chock withdrawal. JS re 14s face entry swan necks … drawing out same.
Retirement Party for Jim Hanson, Teversal at Skegby Welfare.

Wed 12 … U/g … Visit with J Higginbotham and John Herbert. Appraisal of 1s AW conditions as far as proposed 33s LG, o.k. as far as 33s AW up to 2 feet dirt max (RB). 10s Overcast and 14s AW development … Office … Meeting 2pm … Capital Investment, Development , Manpower Savings … R Anderson (RB)

Thurs 13 … Office … Sorting out info re 2s approaching Drapers Paddy borehole … had it typed on SM! Form. Management team Meeting 11am … CW S. Albert Gascoigne Area Strata control and Terry Jones Dowty re 14s chocks. 1/5000 plan of 2s approach to date.

Fri 14 … Office … Roy Bland Strata Control re TH / PG subsidence. Approach notice. Discuss 33s Layout RB, MD Clarke, CW S and JH. John Faben re Gullick chocks report. JRG re Boughton Dyke results of pollution … 1700 parts NCC as against 3700 NCB. CW S re 2s conveyor line. Phone JRG re Risk Assessment folder amends. Discuss AVG. Info to Method Study.                  

Sat 15 … 23859 tonnes
Sat 15 … U/g … Conveyor survey of 2s C. Bunker Access thirling … (RB*, DS, IWS) … Office … Plotted survey. (525 + 8 u/g)

Mon 17 … Office … JS discuss and 1s salvage bar programme bar chart. Discuss Malcolm Clarke 33s development. Showed CW S 2s LG conveyor survey plotting. Graphs for Conveyor standing times … Meeting 3pm … Conveyors … R Anderson (RB) … JH re panzer creep 12s and 10s and Overcast dint.

Tues 18 … Office … Discuss JS development programme.
Tues 18 … U/g … with Jim Stewart to Bunker Access overcast thirling position … Office … Bar chart copy for 14s to JS. Phone Eric Barton re 14s face head access swan neck girders. Plotted 12s and 2s levels and 2s swilley. AVG re 2s AW square marks. J Herbert brought seismic survey contours for Ollerton / Bilsthorpe area at front of 10s and discuss boundaries, Stan Brunskill brought plan of 1s boreholes.

Wed 19 ... Office … Discuss JS development programme. P Noone re height of Light tower. CW S and HMI J Jones re 14s face head 15 men exemption plan amends. Discuss boreholes and showed J Jones the core recovery from 1s of Gallow Hole Dyke surface bore. Amends to R & FF plans. Work on seismic survey plan and phoned Graham Kemp Bilsthorpe re coloured. D Muller phoned.

Thurs 20 … U/g … check survey from 14s on 1s Following Intake to 14s LG on 1s LG and for thirling and set out 14s face head from 14s AW end … 4 men (RB*, KRW, DS, IWS) … Office … Calculations. AE Betts brought Gyro results and confirmations etc. Discuss same. Eric Barton O/m phoned various. Notified of Meeting at Area HQ 4/12/1980 at 3.30pm on Survey / Planning. Discuss Frank Dove, Bernard T Bailey Civil Engineers and Tommy C Tombs Mech Engineer re No2 shaft sump survey in Feb 1980.
Paula Lesh sick onwards for rest of year …

Fri 21 … Office … CW S re various. Print of 2s Support Rules of Nov 1978 to Dennis Walker NUM President. J Faben info re Gullick chocks. Plan amends. John Grayson Mansfield and WEB Barlow discuss re Meeting on Dec 4th. Calculated surveys and plotted same. JH re 14s chocks etc. Derek Hunter Area Mech dept. re 2s Chock shields installation photos. JRG phone various. Discuss JH, AVG, JS re 12s conveyor belt line and I gave them copies.                                 

Sat 22 … 26242 tonnes
Ken R West sick onwards for rest of year … (he had the bulimia syndrome of being sick by self-administration after every meal. I didn’t realise until I caught him being sick in the outside toilet shortly after lunch one day)

Mon 24 … Office … General, correspondence. J Herbert discuss Survey / Planning suggestion. Phone John Grayson Mansfield same. 2s Support Rules amends for AW end. Reg Painter Gullick Rep re 2s chocks etc. Discuss, J Lyons, Tommy Tombs and self re possible bathroom alterations. CW S and JH re 2s supports.

Tues 25 … Office … Deputy’s Districts plans to date (2). Prints and coloured ... Surface … Set up centre line for sprockets on motor cable handler in Workshops with Fred Marples … Office … KFG and JH and CW S re 1s face withdrawal supports. Prints and one sent into the pit.

Wed 26 …Office … Conveyor delay graphs. JRG phone re how many miles of road open for R Scott CME … 12.12 miles. Discuss accident KFG and Tony Clarke Area Safety. Plotting 1s and levels with EWF. R & FF info with John Hayter Fire Officer. Meeting … 3pm … Conveyors R Anderson (RB) … Discuss J Herbert and Malcolm D Clarke various.

Thurs 27 … Office … Working plan 1s plotting etc. Phone JRG. R & FF negs to date to Mansfield Colliery … Meeting … Survey and Planning merge? … (WEBB, JRG, RB, John Grayson and John Stapleton Deputy Mansfield)

Fri 28 … Office … CW S and Eric Spencer re Printing machine. CW S, JH and HMI GDR Adamson re 2s Supports changes (RB). CW S , JH, JS re possible changes to 14s / 33s layout. Phone JRG. Phone Derek Stone. Phone J Herbert.

Sat 29 … 28182 tonnes
Began filling Teversal shafts.

Dec 1980

Mon 1 … Office … G Weeks re sketches for 1s face withdrawal system. Did drawings. J Herbert discuss and planning out 33s. AVG Wall plan. Discuss same. Finished 1 million tonnes notice. Figures to date. Copied up survey.

Tues 2 … U/g … Visit to 12s panel … grades, sections, conveyor line etc. (RB*) … Office … Meeting … 3pm … Surface Strategic plan … CW Standage (RB) … Discuss J Herbert 33s development. Discuss CW S planning.

Wed 3 … Office … Sent 2s Support Rules plans to HMI GDR Adamson (RB). Colin Waller Shift charge Elec re Minos FIDO system. General. Meeting 2pm … Capital Expenditure, Manpower and Development … R Anderson (RB) … Meeting 3.45pm … Engineering Principles … CW Standage (RB). Phone Des Thompson re Harworth winders. Called in Area HQ.

Thurs 4 … Office … Information. Discuss Fred Marples conveyors. Notices for Electrical dept. Meeting at Area HQ … Working Party … Survey / Planning merger? … (RB, plus … and Mr Rix North West Planning Engineer, Mr Warren Hobart House) … Discuss in Area Survey office.

Fri 5 … Office … Clean up. Eric ? Full Weigh Clerk re tonnage on ground. Cleaned DI3S tackle. JRG collected. Rang round Welbeck, Silverhill for battery charging hours etc. Plotted coal stock extension on 1/500 scale. Amends to Surface Strategic Plan tracing. E Hodgson re proposed fences. Phone CW S re Survey / Planning possible merger? JS re 14s AW Scour … in rock? Plotted same with PGS and EWF. Phone Peter Davies re Harworth winders? Phone J Herbert re 10 year plan etc.

Sat 6 … Record 29421 tonnes
Hood fitted for printing machine re ammonia fumes.
John Herbert now in charge of Projects and Operational Planning Ollerton and Bilsthorpe only, with Assistant Malcolm D Clarke.
Sat 6 Office … Notice re 1 million tonnes for the year. Discuss D Stockham general. Checked through levels for 14s AW overcast. Incentive figures from Deputies.
Record output 29,421 tons and daily record 6,400 tons

Mon 8 ... Office … General. CW S re 1 million tonnes. Plans inked in up to date, levels, contours, faults. Discuss Ted Hodgson coal tipping complaints from nearby residents. Sketches for installation of 2s Becorit at 1s face salvage for G Weeks. Discuss JR Greasley re coal tipping.

Tues 9 … Office … Sorting out Correlations etc. and info and re-tabulating indexing etc. 2 notices for Pit Head Baths. Discuss Peter Davies Area Projects various. Phone J Herbert various. Calculated 12s survey.

Wed 10 … Office … Calculations. Phone D Stockham Vertical Bunker Access. 1/2500 tracings to date. … 2 copies of Firedamp Drainage, General and Contours. Phone JRG. Sister Brenda Davidson and Ken F Greaves discuss accident.
Wed 10 … U/g … mid morning … to 14s LG scour off 1s Following Intake … accident measures … dislocated shoulder (RB*) (32) … then to Vertical Bunker Access check … Office … Discuss JS re Vertical Bunker Access and accident. Sketches of drivage showing points out of order Ken Mirfin Bevercotes phoned re various and meeting. Self and CW S signed 14s layout revision.

Thurs 11 … Office … JS re 14s LG Scour wrong arch settings. Continued and finished off all 1/2500 tracings to date. Dave Lees re conveyors 1s Following Intake. Phoned Jack Storr Thoresby re 102s progress. Calculated 12s survey again ! Stippling plan. CW S re visit next week and table of prices. Discuss JRG. Discuss KFG various. Discuss MD Clarke planning.

Fri 12 …. Office … Info from Steve WH Lindsay Cost Clerk and S Morris Asst. Notice re prices of pit items. Risk Assessment Plan update (RB). Lip support drawing finished. 1/10560 plan to date. Discuss George H Jackson Asst Area Surveyor various.

Sat 13 … Record 30037 tonnes

Mon 15 … Office … Notices and hung. Negs amended for Risk Assessment. Phone JRG re coal stocks problem … to measure the height. Phone JRG re boreholes. George Case Materials Officer re 14s Scour engine house … Surface … D Lees re Following Intake B conveyor drive in Workshop. Phone Jack Storr Thoresby re Linesmen re B Wormald Training Officer.
To Mansfield General Hospital.

Tues 16 … Surface … Tacheo survey of No4 tip and No9 lagoon … 3 men (RB*, PGS, EW) Phone Sue Unsworth Area Survey. Phone JRG re boreholes. Finished Surface plan of Risk Assessment and prints. Discuss Fred Marples.

Wed 17 … Office … Scroll. Plotted No4 Dirt tip survey on 1/2500 and amended negative. Calculations. Phone Sue Unsworth Area Survey Tracer. Phone CJ Whyte re accident. Fatality at Thoresby Rob Cox Deputy Surveyor run down by Loco and decapitated whilst doing survey duties. Calculations for Dirt tip volumes. Discuss J Lyons and J Higginbotham CW S re 12s AW conveyor re Director’s visit today.

Thurs 18 … Discuss Roy Bland. Conveyor Meeting 9.15am CW S. Discuss John Faben. Colouring Risk Assessment plans. R Anderson Production Manager discuss re Conveyor delay graphs.
Consultative Party NUM (RB)
Discuss Tommy C Tombs Mech Engineer. Phone JRG re coal stocks.

Fri 19 …. Office … Put plans in folders. GW re 1s salvage. Went to see Paula at Home, Boughton. O.k. recovering. JRG re Risk Assessment plans. Steve T Barnes Thoresby told me all about the fatal accident to Rob Cox, Deputy Surveyor … Derek Stephenson discuss various and salvage. Discuss JH and AVG. Plotting 2s and 12s levels and contours.

Sat 20 … Record 30590 tonnes

Mon 22 … Office … Sam Pepper re pipework for pumps. Made 6 inch neg for Compressed Air ranges. CJ Whyte and JR Greasley called in for general chat etc.

Tuesday 23 … Cartoon in frame for R Anderson. CW S re reviews. CJ Whyte re coal face training for Apprentices.
Ted Lilley NACODS Secretary finished and retired and Ken Cross took over. Bill Tilstone still President.
NUM President Dennis Walker, NUM Secretary Jimmy Hood

Wed 24 … Colliery Rest Day … Thurs 25 … Christmas … Fri … 26 Boxing Day

9402 tonnes

Sat 27 … U/g … Call out to Electrical incident with Colin Waller at the Skip substation (RB*) (5a) 16th call out to date … (530 + 8 u/g)

Mon 29 … Colliery Rest Day … Accident plan plotted and schematic drawing and copy to HMI J Mansfield Electrical Inspector … also to Jack Lyons Electrical Engineer and David Oldham Group Electrical Engineer.

Mon 29 … Tues 30 … Wed 31 … Colliery Rest Days

Output 1980 = 1,069,606 tonnes 1100 men on books