A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

North Nottinghamshire Area from April 1967

Page - 62 -

Jan 1982

1982 subsidised transport at 11.6p / mile = £327.38

Surveyor’s Assistant Dougie Stockham… Linesmen … Kevin Soar (KS), Bobby Crawford (RC), Barry Kalnins (BK), Roger Farrow (RF), Chris Inram (CI), Mick Cox (MC) John Gillott Sick 5th week
Assistant U/ms Gordon Weeks Days, Ray Flint Afternoons, W Bill Denton Nights

Fri 1 … New Year’s Day Holiday

Nil

Mon 4 … Office … General. Quarter end measures. Surface … Survey of Full Sidings coal stocks and overspill heap … 3 men (RB*, PGS, EWF). JRG phoned re various. Plotted levels and 12s survey and swilley.     

Tues 5 … Office … Statutory working plans to date, inking contours and levels. JRG phoned various. Discuss Sam Cooper and Paul Hufton mechs. Second copy plans to date. Discuss Alan V Goodwin Undermanager re various.

Wed 6 … U/g … to proposed site for Inbye Vertical bunker and to new Strata bunker at old 1s LG and to Booster conveyor … (RB, J Stewart, G Weeks, RB, Ken Hartwell ATT) (550) … Surface … to Welfare … levels for ground extension … (RB*, PGS, EWF) … Office … Meeting … CW S … Heads of Department … to discuss procedure in the event of NUM Strike (RB)

Thurs 7 … to Mining Supplies, Doncaster … measurements for 33s kit up (RB*). Office … Calculations for Welfare. Discuss CW S and JH re visit to Mining Supplies … o.k.

Fri 8 … Office … Plotted Welfare land levels and plan. Discuss Malcolm Clarke planning. PGS sick. Meeting … J Higginbotham, RB, SN Whittle, R Carlin, E Gillfillan, K Hartwell ATT, S Whyatt … to discuss Vertical bunker top … to re-design. Matt Marshall Storekeeper re steel requirements. CJ Whyte discuss re Eric W Fretwell to go to Area Subsidence department.

Sat 9 … 17767 tonnes
Phillip G Shaw sick 1st week. John Gillott sick 6th week. (I allowed John to come to work when he felt better on that day … I didn’t tell anyone! He said he felt better doing some work than being at home)

Mon 11 … Office … General info. JRG phoned re various. Phoned Don Brown Photographer re photos next week and slides. Discuss JRG and exchanged 2nd copy plans for Area HQ.
Decorating the office (Norman and Alan, Painters)

Tues 12 … Office … Progress and development. All wall plans to date. Steel check with Bert Knock welder. Phoned same to SNW Planner. Discuss various JH. Distributed sheets. Firedamp Drainage plans to date.
Phoned Parkes North Derbyshire Estates department re subsidence cracks in driveway at home, 32 Welwyn Avenue, caused by Shirebrook workings.

Wed 13 … Office … General. Ventilation plans and negatives to date. Surface … with Painters to put marks on for Emergency winder (RB*). MD Clarke phoned re workings update. John Faben Strata Control phoned re information for 10s Top Hard 6 leg chocks.
Meeting … CW S … Meeting 1pm ... All members of BACM to attend. Safety notice re box of matches found underground.
Evening … Institute Meeting … Paper by John A Daniels on Clipstone Vertical Bunker (Buchans contractors) (RB)

Thurs 14 … U/g … to 2s panel, and work progressing in old Following Intake and pit bottom Access snicket Junction (RB*). Also to Pit bottom office slit between No1 and No2 shafts that had brickwork movement and was shored up with timber… Office … Discuss Jack Lyons Electrical Engr. SNW phoned re plans for Following Intake jobs.
Pit bottom office slit from No1 to No2 brickwork spelching shored up due to movement.

Fri 15 … U/g …Visit to 12s panel, 14s panel and old 1s Following Intake, measured swilley on both panels (RB*) … Office … Discuss ATT men JRG phoned re Proposed Revision of Surveying Code of Practice.

Sat 16 … Office … 1/5000 plan revision. Plotted 12s and 14s swilleys and calculation’s etc. 14s levels on Contour plan. Discuss JR and DS.
18939 tonnes
IW Smith Tech block release to Fri 22 Mar. John Gillott sick 7th week

Mon 18 … Office … Discuss E Gillfillan ATT. Preparing paper for CW Standage on new 500 tonnes Horizontal Strata bunker (RB*). Also re cut back of staff in various departments. EH re proposed extension to Sidings coal stocks. Calculations for same +100, 000 tonnes. Phone JRG re same. J Lyons re Strategic plan and proposed room in No1 Pit bottom for Westinghouse equipment for skips. Rep from Blue Diamond paints. Discuss AVG U/m. Discuss JH various and 9s Retreat system. KFG re same. DS holiday

Tues 19 … U/g … Visit by CJ Whyte, JR Greasley to Strata Bunker, 33s kit up, 1s Following Intake Markham Walking Roadway Support, 14s face swilley, development at old Following Intake and finally to pit bottom drivage etc. (RB*). Office … Discuss over lunch. Discuss HMI J Jones. Meeting … 3pm … Strategy etc. … CW S, JH, Doug Raisbeck, RB. J Lyons re Pit bottom. Phone CW S re ‘walk out at 2s re check line’. Phone D Stockham re same.

Wed 20 … Office … Check plotted Conveyor Road in Pit bottom. Discuss NUM Reps re 2s check line. AVG U/m re same. Calculations etc. and EH re coal stocks and drains. Discuss MD Clarke Pit bottom development. Phone Frank Dove Civil Engineer re drains … to Area HQ … Strategic Plan Meeting 2pm … HM Spanton … (CW S, RB) … Office … Phone Karl Lesh various. Indicator boards for Strata bunker. John Wilson ICI discuss.

Thurs 21 … Office … General. Discuss K Hartwell ATT re development. Discuss P Noone. Discuss Peter Honeywood surface. ART re 1s Following Intake ventilation. Signed acceptance for Yearly tonnage form. Phone BT Bailey re Dirt tips. Phone AE Betts re Dirt tip form.

Fri 22 … Ofdfice … 1/5000 flat sheets to date and contours etc. Discuss E Hodgson re Dirt tips. Terry Jones Dowty Rep various and development. Harry Fitzackerley discuss elecs. Phone J Herbert re visit for him and Roland Buckley, Planners.

Sat 23 … 19064 tonnes
Fan moved from Main Office into Print room

Sun 24 … Afternoon, Watched Blacksmiths work on No2 underlap rope capping (RB*)
John Gillott sick 8th week.

Mon 25 …. Office … E Gillfillan re shaft ringing above inset in No2 shaft (RB*). Phone Ken Stokes Shift charge Elec re old telephone cable runs. Discuss PGS. Phone JRG. Check calculations for Dirt tips re difference normal way and planimeter.

Tues 26 … U/g … Assisting Don Brown Area Photographer … new 500 tonnes Strata bunker (second one in the Country) … Office … discuss over lunch. JS re same. (565 + 8 u/g)

Markham Walking Roadway Support in operation in 1s Following Intake scour (First one in the Country). I monitored the advance every day and arranged for a laser beam to be ordered for same.

Wed 27 … U/g … Visit to Strata bunker, 33s panel, Markham Roadway Support in 1s Following Intake scour and proposed site for Inbye Vertical bunker and then to pit bottom proposals … RB* with Roland Buckley Area Planner and J Herbert … met CW S and HMI John Jones down the pit and discuss Office … Meeting 3pm … Engineering Principles (Conveyors) R Anderson (RB)
Vertical Bunker In feed conveyor shaft broke at 4.30pm … pit stood

Thurs 28 … Office … Check calculations for Dirt tips. Discuss ventilation with AR Tryner and G Mayne re future air bagging and temperatures. B Shephard re dust figs. Phone JRG re staff numbers. Discuss J Stewart. Phone MD Clarke re Siddall / Mounsey visit re substation at 33s / 1s AW. Discuss same J Lyons Elec Engineer. HMI J Jones re 1s Following Intake Support plan amends (RB) … To Area HQ … Dirt Tip plan with area for extending coal stocks. Discuss WEB Barlow.

Fri 29 … Phone WEBB and JRG re contours on Dirt tip plans. Calculations and interpolations. Phone E Crofts. Phone and info to Peter Downing Civil Engineer. P Noone and H Fitzackerley re substation. Discuss P Rees Geologist re 14s. Plotted 12s and 14s swilleys to date. Issued sketches for 12s approaching Wellow borehole.

17147 tonnes
Visit to 12s panel by JE Wood Director and a Euro MP … I was criticized for a bent line in the LG … I had been asked to do it by J Higginbotham to hide bad workmanship … never again!
(Note, a few years later on a cruise I met Mr Jack Wood and we reminisced on days gone by at work. I mentioned the centre line incident and he remembered. I told him I was not happy with his remarks at the time and he agreed that it took his view off all the material and bits and pieces hanging about in the scruffy gate. J Higginbotham would have been criticized for that … but he got away with it!) Mind you I never let it drop with J Higginbotham about the event.

Feb 1982
Richard Sneade Technical Electrical Assistant started.
PG Shaw sick 4th week. J Gillott sick 9th week. Ian W Smith Tech block release

Mon 1 … Office … Query re Junction chock … holes. CW S re various large excavations etc. and degassing etc. Also re 2s gradients. Incentive figures for payment. J Lyons and Richard Sneade new Electrical Technical Assistant re plans etc. showing switches, for Doncaster HQ. Discuss Eddie Moody Joiner re making some plan boards. Making new negative for Emergency Egress. JH re 12s sections and 12s and 14s swilleys. Info re 14s to Mike Frost and info to J Bird re 12s (Coal face engineers, investigation). Discuss AVG and KFG. Tues 2 … Office … Compiled list of large excavations re degassing / dewatering etc. for a Report 1982 / 1983. Meeting re these with KFG Safety Engr and ART Ventilation Officer. Meeting 3.45pm … Capital Projects, Manpower and Development … R Anderson (RB). Discuss MD Clarke development. J Bird Area Coal face team re 12s info.
Finished decorating Office

Wed 3 … Office … Report for CW S. Tidying office etc. Discuss E Gillfillan ATT. Contouring 12s and 14s. Meeting … 2pm … with Linesmen re developments etc. (RB). Discuss Harry Fitzackerley and Richard Sneade Elec re various and development. Discuss JH re 9s proposals re arches and entrance snicket. Discuss same JS and Conveyor Road. Discuss AVG re make a notice re Tally malpractice.

Thurs 4 …Office … Long Service Certificates for retirements. Instructions and sketches for Deputies re Second means of egress. JH re same. Phoned Don Brown Area Photographer. Plans of 33s sent to Harry Lingard Deputy Manager Bevercotes. Exemption plan for 15 men in 1s Following Intake to HMI J Jones (RB)…. CW S re same.
This was when I was told that HMI J Jones and CW S had gone to the top excavation in 1s Following Intake for the proposed top of a new Vertical bunker that was behind that one but would couple up to be one roadway, that is why it was called 1s Following Intake inbye and outbye until it thirled, but they had gone to 1s Following Intake heading inbye (It was regarding the 15 man exemption in the heading). The headings had not coupled up at that time but would do. As usual at about 1pm the Manager rang to say Mr J Jones HMI wanted some information. I had realised that it was always during my lunch break I was sent for and could have been there for 15 minutes so I made a prepared sheet so that I could get back to my office quickly. It worked. Some of the normal routine questions asked were filled on the sheet in readiness for his call. All that was necessary then was to fill in the panel, heading or whatever where he had been to. The general Information was … name of seam, depth, gradient, thickness, distance from pit bottom, length of gate or gates, size of roadways, heading machine or face machine, length of face, supports, manriding etc. etc. etc. or what other was relevant. Unfortunately I filled out some wrong information.

I took it to the Manager’s office and gave it to him. HMI J Jones queried several remarks …’I didn’t think it was as high as that’. Assuming he had gone to the outbye end I replied ‘Optical illusion Mr Jones.’ ‘I didn’t think it was as wide as that, or as level’ … ‘Optical illusion Mr Jones’ I replied and answered a few more general questions and with that and a final good day he settled down to have a cup of coffee with CW S. I returned to finish the card game when a few minutes later as we packed up it struck me that he had questioned several things I had quoted. Unusual I thought. Then panic! I snatched the phone and rang Alan Goodwin the Undermanager ‘Where did Mr Standage and Mr Jones go his morning? I asked. ‘To 1s Following Intake Inbye, and not the outbye heading’. I almost dropped the phone, snatched another blank information sheet and quickly filled in the remarks and measurements which by chance I had them to hand. I raced upstairs just in time to catch Mr Jones saying cheerio to Standage and like a flash before he could get out of the office I said ‘That piece of paper with the information you have put in your briefcase may I exchange it for this one please?’ He looked quizzical and so did CW S but he gave me the sheet and took the other one and perused it. ‘Ha’, he said ‘this is more like it’. The top outbye heading was 15 feet high app and almost 20 feet wide in solid rock and was dead flat and dry. The gate entrance into the scouring that they had been to inbye was 16/17 x 12 feet arches that were crushed at the junction and the gate was dipping about 1in8 and water from the spray on the gearhead had made the roadway floor all muddy etc. The measurements were nothing like the ones I had given him. Mr Jones looked at Mr Standage and then Walter Standage said ‘I thought we had been down a different pit’. I apologised profusely for the mistake and we all laughed. Jones said ‘Well you certainly convinced me!’ I was very fortunate to have got away with that one. Another Inspector may not have seen the hilarity and could have reported me for giving false information. I never made that mistake again asking the Secretary where an Inspector was visiting. I always checked up with the Undermanager or other Official first before filling information in

Fri 5 … Office … MD Clarke planner phoned re cuttability of RH22 Road header. AVG re Deputy’s inspections. Continued contouring. Phone JS re height of Dosco MkII. JRG re Dirt tips and calculations etc. JH, F Gieves, RB, ordered 100 x 14 feet x 8 ft 6 in cambered Hollybank supports for 9s LG Retreat. JH re 12s pans (swilley?). KFG re stable hole plans. Also G Weeks same for 33s. Parkgate Vertical bunker plans. David Lees Conveyors … photo of Strata bunker. Irene Armstrong typing Paper for Strata bunker. Discuss P Noone. Phone H Fitzackerley re same. JRG phoned. F Gieves Hollybank phoned back re arch sizes again.                                                  

Sat 6 … 19069 tonnes
Phillip G Shaw sick 5th week. John Gillott sick 10th week. Ian W Smith Tech block release.

Mon 8 … Office … Conveyor belt figures to Stores. F Gieves ordered 9s retreat face arches. JH re same and 12s pans. KFG re stable hole plans. Also G Weeks same at 33s. Parkgate Vertical Bunker plans. D Lees photos of Strata bunker. Typing paper Irene Armstrong. Discuss PN. Phone HF same. Phone JRG. Phone F Gieves Hollybank

Tues 9 … Office … Completed Deputy’s Districts Second means of egress plans. Discuss KCB Mirfin (Bevercotes) ex Surveyor pre 1959 at Ollerton re 1920 plan re Kirton Brickworks site, footpaths etc. (RB). Re-numbered drawers for plans. Stan Brunskill phoned re borehole log. Discuss J Herbert development. Told CW S re meeting at Bevercotes.

Wed 10 … Meeting at Bevercotes 10am – 4.45pm … Committee … re Proposals for new Code of Surveying Practice … JR Greasley (Senior Surveyor), Graham Hall (Bevercotes), Des Thompson (Harworth), Geoff Austin (Bilsthorpe) and RB (Ollerton)

Thurs 11 … Office … Ken Cross NACODS re Second means of egress from districts. JRG phoned re coal stocking and sale of land at ‘Harrow’ corner Boughton. Peter Longden CPP Manager re conveyor changes in CPP. Hadi Al Rekabi Clipstone phoned re advice. David Cottingham (Civils) and Andy Wright (Elec) re possibly stocking coal under 33KV cables … No! (Lagoon 6). Ted Hodgson re same. Phoned Don Brown re photos. J Wilson Area Subsidence re 2s LG end. AVG and KFG re same with Peter Rees Geologist. KFG re new ‘Noise plan’. To Area HQ to fetch plate slides.
Incident No2 shaft trip out 6pm and cage stood in shaft for some time 31 men sent home. Happened again at 6.40 when 7 sent home. It happened to me several times at Teversal Shonkey shaft leaving me once 20 minutes alone whilst they re –set the trips. I just carried on with the job after reaching pit bottom.

Fri 12 … To Joiners re boards. Office … Mounted slides for projector. Ken Cross NACODS phoned re Deputies. Discuss P Noone. KFG re plans for 33s and Noise plan. JH re work on old Following Intake and plan for same. Plan of 14s LG for Colin Slater and discuss AVG. Meeting … J Higginbotham … Installation of haulages at Following Intake, 33s and 2s (RB).

Sat 13 … 22078 tonnes
New Hucknall in South Notts. closed.

Mon 15 … Office … Discuss KRW. Slides on projector. Meeting … Second means of Egress of all roads for Deputies … Ken Cross NACODS Sec and RB. Rep from Anderson / Strathclyde re the geology and psi for Following Intake roadway.

Tues 16 … Office … Ted Hodgson re coal stocks. Discuss Eric Spencer Admin Officer, Benny Wells Time / Wages, Jim Rhodes Area Industrial Relations. Brian Hopkinson, Marketing phoned re coal stocks. With CW Standage … going through paper and slides for Strata Bunker. Odd bits to re-type. Various phone calls. SNW Planner re bunker. Phone Ian Shaw Thoresby re Top Hard 43/6670 plan to send. JH re proposed Pump house. JS re concrete plinth at feather edge for Vertical bunker base drift. ART re Area Directive on stoppings.

Wed 17 … Office … Checked over 1/1000 ventilation plan. Ted Hodgson re drain on No2 Dirt tip. Irene Armstrong re typing and CW S re same. Discuss Harry Fitzackerley and R Sneade various. John Herbert phoned re development.

Thurs 18 … Office … General. 1/25,000 plan. Discuss Noise plan with KFG and Malc Bellamy Scientific dept. … Calculations of same Contouring and plotted 12s and 14s swilleys.

Sat 20 … 23124 tonnes

Sat 27 … 21019 tonnes

Annual Leave Fri 19 – Sat 27    Malta

Eddie Gray Area Boremaste retired. Harry Fitzackerley transferred to Deputy Engr Sherwood. Richard Sneade appointed Deputy Electrical Engineer Ollerton.

March 1982

Mon 1 … Office … General. Correspondence etc. JH re Temporary stable holes Support Rules. Discuss A Martin Landsale Marketing re proposed stocking for other grades of coal. Discuss M Young same. Contours on 1/25,000 surface and underground neg. Discuss J Herbert development. Phoned Marketing re Anthracite French nuts.

Tues 2 … Office …Discuss Eddie Gillfillan ATT. Discuss PN. Meeting re proposed coal stocking for other grades of coal (possible Anthracite French nuts ... A Martin Landsale Marketing (RB). Discuss M Young. 1/25000 surface and underground neg to date for contours. Discuss J Herbert development.

Wed 3 … Office … 1/25,000 surface contours calculated. Area HQ 9am – 5pm … 8th Surveyor’s Annual Meeting … CJ Whyte … Mr Brown … Meridian Air Maps Rep.

Thurs 4 … Office … Discuss AVG. JH discuss. JS discuss development. Meeting, 3.45pm … Capital Expenditure, Manpower Savings and Development … R Anderson (RB).
Wall boards hung in Survey office.

Fri 5 … General. John Ryan Safety Officer re supports. JRG phone and CJ Whyte re computer link at Ollerton?                                                                                   
Fri 5 … U/g … RB with J Higginbotham to 2s and measured up the fault … 0.8m down at LG end … (RC and CI) … Office … Plotted same. Discuss Mick Young, Ray Flint and fitters re Temporary stable holes on face. Ordnance Survey sheets and Geological info for AE Betts. JRG phoned re computer?

Sat 6 … Office … Plan for R Flint of 2s fault. Checking tip contours. Wall plans to date. Info on plans for AE Betts Deputy Area Surveyor.
22917 tonnes
John Gillott sick (cancer) 10th week. PG Shaw sick (syndrome?) 5th week IW Smith, Tech block release.

Mon 8 … U/g … to Inbye Vertical bunker, marked out ‘feather edge’ for dipping down under existing roadway … RB with Ken Hartwell ATT. Checked Conveyor Road in pit bottom … Office … Discuss AVG 2s fault. Discuss JS Vertical bunker feather edge … revoked long legs, only 4 feet to be excavated. Surface negative …. traced 3 ponds … prints off same. JRG phoned. Coloured 1/5000 Development plan and hung same.

Tues 9 … U/g … to 1s Following Intake Markham Shield … measurements for foam fill behind arches (RB) … Office … Meeting … Met Reps from Bretby re sealing compound and Ken Middleton and Fred Gieves from Hollybank (RB) Surface … Measured up new surface position of Powder Magazine (RB*)... Office … Colouring plans and hanging on wall. Discuss P Noone. Discuss AVG. Des Thompson Harworth phoned re Strata bunker information.

Wed 10 … Office … Coloured Dirt tip plan for Tip meeting. Calculations. Discuss Ted Hodgson re same and figures. Discuss AVG. Discuss KFG re Support and Noise plans. JRG discuss over lunch. Retirement Certificates. Phoned Philip G Shaw re off sick 9 weeks. (work syndrome?) John Gillott sick 14 weeks (cancer). As before I allowed John to come to work when he felt well enough to do so. I know it helped him. I didn’t tell anyone. I had 2 staff missing for all those weeks, but I survived. I used to take some work home with me.

Thurs 11 … Office … Recalculated Dirt tip figures from adjusted contours and filled in forms. Sorted out old Dirt tip plans. Fred Gieves Hollybank phoned re following Intake arch size to Area HQ … Demonstration of Elta and Electronic Theodolite and measurer (RB)

Fri 12 … Office … CW S Dirt tip figures. Discuss Noise Level plan with KFG. Discuss P Noone one. Info from ART re Stopping construction etc. Info to D Lees re conveyors. Info to B Dickinson re conveyor lengths. JRG phoned re Dirt tip figures. BT Bailey phoned re Dirt tip figures. Recalculated same. Info on Dirt tip plan completed.
Fossils to Cliff Johnson, Area Method Study Engineer (RB)… he had asked for a few personally. Again why me? People knew I was interested in such things and always had some fossils in a collection. They never asked the Geologists … again why did we need them?

Sphenopteris

Lepidodendron

Alethopteris

Sat 13 … 22936 tonnes
John Gillott sick 11th week (cancer). PG Shaw sick 6th week. Ken R West to assist for 2 weeks from Clipstone. IW Smith Tech block release.
AV Goodwin holiday 1 week. Gordon Weeks Acting U/m.

Mon 15 … Surface … to No2 Dirt tip observation. Office … Phone Tony Brown Deputy re Conveyor Road grade. JH phoned re 33s sprockets and panzer creep, gave him info. JRG phoned re tip figs and so did BTB and Frank Dove. Discuss Philip G Shaw re his work and time off etc?
Mon 15 … Office … Meeting 3pm … Inbye Parkgate 600 tonnes Vertical bunker… R Anderson (RB)

Tues 16 … Office … Dirt Tip information completed. JRG phoned. John Gretton and Steve Whyatt re crusher for Vertical bunker development. CJ Whyte and JR Greasley discuss Dirt tips over lunch … Surface … Dirt tip visit in Land Rover … CJ Whyte, JR Greasley, Norman Wood Area Estates, Frank Dove Civil Engineer, Ted Hodgson Surface Superintendent, RB.
Tues 16 …Office … Biennial Tip Meeting 2.30pm … Les Crellin Chief Engineer (RB) R Anderson re plan. Discuss EWF outcome of RA’s car accident.
Computer VDU in Stores …  Second in the Country

Wed 17 … Office … Route plan for R Anderson … Surface … to Workshops … D Lees. J Gretton, S Whyatt, RB … Crusher and measures etc. … Office … Phone Cliff Johnson Area Method Study Engineer re same. Discuss Brian Willis Method Study re same. Discuss J Herbert re same ... Office … Discuss JS re thirling and development. David Lees re conveyor amends. Conveyor Road Engine house thirled to top of 1,000 tonnes Top Hard Vertical bunker

Thurs 18 … U/g … to Conveyor Road Engine house and Vertical bunker thirling … spot on (RB) Conveyor line for Parkgate Vertical bunker base drift (RB*, DS). To 33s LG end sprocket measure for panzer creep correction. Office … Discuss AVG. Retirement Certificates for Eric Spencer Admin. Discuss JS re development. Discuss CW S new Support Rules plan for 1s Following Intake and plan sent to HMI. Discuss CW S and JH re 33s panzer creep etc. … I advocated always to push the gate where the panzer was creeping to … (570 + 8 u/g)
BACM General Meeting … Stan Brunskill retired, Boyd Headlong Thoresby Admin Officer took over as Secretary.

Fri 19 … Office … Plotted 12s and 14s swilleys … explained re panzer pulling in due to swilley. Garry Hall Deputy at Welbeck phoned re advice. Discuss P Noone. Phoned JH re order some plumbbobs for line lads. Discuss KFG re Noise Level plans. Eric Spencer discuss and 4 notices for Clocking on for Underground. Discuss same AVG.                                                  

Sat 20 … 23020 tonnes
John Gillott sick 12th week (treatment for cancer). IW Smith holiday

Mon 22 … Office … Incentive figures for payment. Progress plans. JRG phoned re various. JH phoned re plan of 2s for HMI GDR Adamson (RB). Wrote letter to CJ Whyte re substitution pay for EW Fretwell. Discuss AVG. Discuss CIDS re haulage calculations re signing etc. … to do a recheck on grades. Discuss JH re same.

Tues 23 … Office … Continued with new plan for Manager. Retirement Certificates. Discuss DR Mounsey DCME re the pros and cons of Chock shields for 17s. Denis Roebuck Deputy Area Safety Engineer re 1s Following Intake cavities … scour!!! (I said should not have installed Markham Shield there, it being a scouring! (RB)… Nothing solid for rams to push against only voids in gobbins. Discuss Peter Rees Geologist re 2s. Discuss Roy Bland Strata Control re 2s gradients and chock tanks. Meeting 3pm … Engineering Principles (Conveyors) … R Anderson (RB) 17s Layout plan discussed.

Wed 24 … U/g … Conveyor Road thirl and substation and blocking check at Parkgate Vertical bunker Feather edge … then Grade check and grade lines for 12s AW and 14s AW drifts … (RB*, EWF, DS). Office … To see JH re same and Road layers. Discuss Ken Cross NACODS re 1926 Agreement. Calculations etc.

Thurs 25 … Office … Calculations. Discuss CIDS and JH re grades on 12s and 14s AWs … Surface … Tacheo survey for grade of proposed drain on No2 tip … 3 men (RB*, PGS, EWF) … Office … Calculations. Discuss Peter Noone, Dep Elec. Quarter end book.

Fri 26 … Office … 1/5000 sheets to date. Plotted 12s and 14s swilleys. Jack Storr and Ian Shaw from Thoresby re safe door etc. Calculations continued. Eric Spencer re notice. JH re lads clocking on.
Output 1981 – 1982 = 1,047,500 tonnes Profit £10,773,000

Sat 21 … 23566 tonnes
CW Standage holiday 1 week. J Higginbotham Acting Manager. J Stewart holiday. R Flint Days, W Denton Afternoons, G Weeks Nights.
IW smith starts back from Tech. John Gillott sick 13th week.

Mon 29 … Office … General and questions to IWS back from Tech. Wall plans and Manager’s plan completed. 1/5000 plans up to Quarter end. Jack Lyons re a phone. G Ison brought DI4 instrument. Discuss JRG re Water Pollution plan. Discuss 33s LG snicket! J Lyons and R Sneade re new Pit bottom pump house. Noise level sheets … stencilling … KFG. JH re 1s Following Intake grade. AVG same.

Tues 30 … Office … Finished Noise Level sheets. Discuss Peter Daffin Estates re Dirt tips. Info to Peter Robinson Rufford re visit to Strata bunker. Discuss Malcolm D Clarke re development. JH phoned re stockyard and E Hodgson same. Discuss AV Goodwin re new plans for Temporary Stable holes on faces. A new plan for Manager hung. New forms for Apprentices training, discuss IW Smith.

Wed 31 … Office … Discuss P Noone. … Surface … Survey of stockyard … 2 men (RB*, EWF) … Office … Plotted same. Discus E Hodgson. Discuss J Higginbotham. Amends to plans. Phoned BW Stones, Worksop Tech re old plans for same. o.k. Discuss Peter Rees re 33s geology. Colouring plans.
Computer in Planned Maintenance Office plus 2 DVUs and a printer … First in the country

Apr 1982

Thurs 1 … Office … Discuss E Gillfillin and K Hartwell ATT re Vertical bunker. Meeting … Computer in Stores … 10am … J Higginbotham, RB, Charlie ID Swinscoe, Mechanical Engineer, Peter Honeywood, Deputy Engr Surface, Matt Marshall Storekeeper and John Mansfield Deputy Storekeeper. Meeting at Area HQ … 3pm … Roy Stubbs Area Safety Engineer … Noise Level plans … Surveyors and Safety Engineers from Ollerton, Thoresby, Clipstone, Harworth, Silverhill and Sutton.
Ollerton to complete Noise Level plans first as example for rest of North Notts. Area. (RB*)

Fri 2 … U/g … Visit to Strata bunker and 33s panel … (RB and Jack Hurton, Planner) … Office … Discuss JH and B Wells, DS and Linesmen to clock on at 7.20am and ride at 7.30am. Discuss Linesmen. Made master neg for Noise level sheets. Stencilling same.

Sat 3 … 26063 tonnes
Linesmen to clock on at 7.20am and ride shaft at 7.30am allowing time to collect tackle or information … JH, Benny Wells Time & Wages, RB and DS.
Keith W Houghton transferred from Huthwaite to Edwinstowe Area HQ Subsidence department

Mon 5 … Office … Noise level sketches finished. HMI GDR Adamson and CW S re Temporary Stable hole Support Rules (RB). New tracing started of all systems 1/100. CW S discuss linesmen starting time and clocking on. Same B Wells. Meeting 3pm … Capital Investment, Manpower and Development … R Anderson. CIDS re Pump house. J Herbert 1s Following Return snicket. Phone JRG.

Tues 6 … Office … Phone J Gee Drawing office re plans for new Pump house. Additions to Manager’s Wall plan. Discuss CW S, JH and B Wells Time/Wages re Linesmen 7.30am for 8am ride and 2.15pm ride for 3pm finish. JH re 12s pan change. Annual scalings tracing. … IWS check. Phone JRG. Discuss KFG.

Wed 7 … Office … New plan for temporary stable holeand firing etc. R Anderson Production Manager re plans. AVG re 12s AFC (panzer). Contractors and Wilf King Elec re new heating system. Ultimate re Linesmen. Discuss AVG U/m, M D Clarke planner and Eric Fletcher O/m new chart for materials, several different copies. CIDS re haulage calculations. Info out. Info to Estates department … 7.2 acres of tree planting on No2 Dirt tip. R Anderson collected plans for his car accident in Mansfield.

Thurs 8 … Office … CW S and R Anderson re future panels. Derek Parkin British Rail Surveyor for workings to date, JRG, RB. And discuss. J Lyons re Pit bottom Pump house. E Fletcher O/m re new forms. AVG discuss. JH re 2’ 0” struts … to order for Pit bottom Conveyor Road.
Thurs 8 … U/g … RB Call out to accident 14s face … 8pm – midnight (34) (16)

Fri 9 … Accident plan. Discuss Colin Slater E.T. and KFG re same. Phone John Grayson Mansfield re Strata Bunker.

Sat 10 … Office … Incentive figures. Finished accident plan. 24558 tonnes

Sat 18 … 13227 tonnes

Annual Leave Easter Mon 12 Statutory Holiday, Tues 13 Statutory Holiday Plus 3 days – Sat 2

PG Shaw holiday (sick). Eric W Fretwell in charge.
Changed 12s AFC to 2 speed motors 2 x 150hp and new North Notts. headframes
Eric W Fretwell holiday 1 week.

Mon 19 … Office … General. Correspondence. Phone JRG. Progress and development check. Discuss P Noone. Discuss Linesmen. Meeting 2pm … 2s Support Rules … Len Wright NUM President, CW S, R Stubbs, KFG, RB and NUM Committee … agreed to try Creswell type stretchers through 2s LG lip. Discuss CW S various and signed new Support Rules for Temporary Stable holes. Discuss AVG.
John Gillott holiday Tues 20 – Sat 24.

Tues 20 … U/g … 2s Statutory survey and LG centre line adjusted and checked centre line Inbye Parkgate Vertical bunker drift … 6 men (RB*, DS, IWS, RC, RF, CI)
My meal allowance (and others) stopped by Area Director re altercation re Jim Cannon in canteen at Welbeck re not paying for a meal after he had left as Deputy Manager but was now on Safety staff at Area HQ and therefore not entitled to it. Spoilt it for many including me! CW S apologised about my lunch but said it was out of his hands.

Wed 21 … U/g … 33s Statutory survey and LG centre line adjust. Checked Junction for 1s Following Return snicket. Set out bearer line in 9s LG slant heading … 5 men (RB*, DS, BK, MC, CI)… Office … Eric Seaton Area Vent staff discuss. Copying up survey. General. Phone G Austin Bilsthorpe re Laser etc. Discuss MF Whittle Estates. (575 + 8 u/g)

Thurs 22 … to Bilsthorpe to collect Laser. To Area HQ to bid farewell to A Eddie Betts, retiring … Discuss JRG, Keith Houghton. … Office … J Lyons and K Stokes re laser … Surface … to Electric Workshop re new bracket … Contractors re new road to Coal stock area on No1 tip proposal… also measured to pipes in trenches for new heating system (RB*, PGS)… Office … JH re various. Discuss J Herbert. Calculated 2s and 33s surveys. Phone Don Brown Photographer re photos of Markham Shield.

Fri 23 … U/g … Statutory survey of 14s panel … 5 men (RB*, DS, IWS, RC, MC) … Office … Adjustments to Watts 5’ dial and checked. Calculations of 14s with IWS. Discuss Eric Ricketss PPM re laser.

Sat 24 … Office … Plumbbobs for Linesmen. Plotted 12s and 14s swilleys. General. 26060 tonnes

Mon 26 … Office Phone Eric Seaton ventilation. Discuss David W Thorpe came for DI4 EDM. Discuss Ted Hodgson surface. Discuss ART and GM Vent re position of fan for Conveyor Road (3rd drift) re laser etc. Plotted surveys to date.

Tues 27 … Office … General, Correspondence. Phone Stores re further plan for J Pullen re new stocking area tidy up. Discuss Ted Hodgson re grade finished on No2 Dirt tip. Phone J Higginbotham re 14s sections … Surface ... measurements to pipes and cables in trenches … Peter Rees to do sections on 14s. Ray Flint re 14s panzer creep to LG.

Wed 28 … U/g … Check theodolite angling into new Conveyor Road for 3rd drift Access and vertical angle for Laser prep stand centre line and square check for first two arches at PG Vertical Bunker base drift. Walls complete … 4 men (RB*, EWF, DS, IWS) … Office … Discuss Malcolm Bellamy Scientist re Noise plans. Discuss R Pearce, AR Tryner and PGS proposed introduction of chilled water system from Return drift to 33s LG. Tuition J Gillott calculations etc. re old and new methods.

Thurs 29 … U/g … Installation of Laser in 3rd Drift Conveyor Road with Richard Sneade Deputy Elec Engineer … 4 men (RB*, EWF, DS, IWS) … Office … Sketch for Charlie ID Swinscoe of PG Intake drift at 1in6 (max 1in4) for his Course. Phone R Flint re 33s check line. Phone JRG Dirt tips etc. and Meridian Air Maps for this year’s photos and volumes. Discuss PGS re the pit … underground syndrome?

Fri 30 ... Office … Discuss Pete Butts Deputy Mech re proposed development. Phone Mick Young Deputy Mech re PG Intake drift haulage re calculation for 1in4 grade … o.k. Phone Eric Ricketts PPM re info for 12s slot track creeper. Info to Russ Wagstaffe. Discuss John Gillott and Ian W Smith re monthly progress etc.
25045 tonnes
A Eddie Betts Deputy Area Surveyor and Joe Manion Deputy at Silverhill retired

May 1982

Mon 3 … May Day Holiday

Tues 4 … Office … Wall plans to date. Tuition to JG and IWS re survey and levelling in underground galleries. Tuition on calculations etc. JH re various. JS re prop free front for 1s Following Intake re visit by HMI. AVG discuss. Phone JRG re new EDM for trial.

Wed 5 … Office … Sorting out files. CW S re coal stocking. E Hodgson re No2 Dirt tip profile … Surface … Tacheo survey of new brick road to No1 tip … 3 men (RB*, EWF. JG) … Also RB, PGS, Ray Flint Assistant Undermanager, Sam Pepper Pumping Engineer re measurements etc. for new chilled water system. Phone Clarrie Oakton re heating system. Discuss AV Goodwin U/m.

Thurs 6 … Surface … Measurements for rails in pit yard and progress of No1 pit bank Electrical cabin … (RB*, PGS). Measures and drawing of Stretcher sledge and copy to KFG. Letter for use of Kern DM102 EDM underground. Discuss CW S same and also paper for various Roadheaders and Markham Shield. JH same.

Fri 7 … Office … Discuss J Herbert planning. Meeting 9am … No2 Heapstead proposals … R Anderson (RB) later Frank Dove re same. Meeting … 1s Following Intake off line … contract o.k. … DR Mounsey, JH, RB. E Ricketts info. Matt Marshall Stores info re chilled water pipes. Info re advance of headings. JS various.                                                                                  

Sat 8 … Office … Writing paper on Roadway Ripping … RB. Discuss work DS. 19524 tonnes
Paula L Lesh sick all week. J Gillott sick Tues 11. PG Shaw sick Thurs 13. (His wife used to phone in 8am on quite a few occasions and leave a message for me with DS to say that he would not be at work today)

Mon 10 … Office … Info re drivages etc. CIDS info re Doscos. Phone JM Storr Thoresby re Dosco Mk III. Phone T Speed Blidworth re Dosco Mk11B. Old progress books. Phone JRG. Discuss JS and AVG re various. Plan for CW S for German visitors. Phone Don Brown. Phone Dave Peat re Dosco publications. Aerial photographs of Tips by Meridian Air Maps. JG sick.

Tues 11 … U/g … Checked centre line and gradient with Wild Theodolite etc. and re-established at bunker top position … 5 men (RB*, PGS, EWF, DS, IWF) … Surface … Tacheo survey of No9 lagoon … 3 men (RB*, DS, IWF) JG sick.

Wed 12 … Surface … to No2 Heapstead … RB, Roland Buckley Area Planner, J Herbert … Office … Info to Roy Bland Area Strata Control. Also JS re 1s Following Intake. Info re paper on Tunnelling. Discuss JB (Sam) Pepper chilled water system. Same AVG U/m. KFG re add phone not on R & FF plan. o.k for Noise plan.

Thurs 13 … Surface … Tacheo survey of No2 tip top … 3 men (RB*, EWF, JG) … Office …Calculated and plotted same. Meeting 3.45pm … Capital Expenditure, Manpower Savings, Development … R Anderson (RB)

Fri 14 … Office … General … Surface … Tacheo survey of No2 tip base … 3 men (RB*, PGS, JG) … Office … Calculations. JH re paper on Roadway ripping. Don Brown Photographer re photos. Presentation to A Eddie Betts 4.15pm Area HQ … R Scott CME.                                     

Sat 15 … 26974 tonnes
Transferred Dirt tipping from No2 tip to No4 tip for the summer

Mon 17 … Office … CW S re photos … Management Team Meeting 11am … CW S (RB). Info re 2s to Derek Francis Rep Meco. Discuss E Hodgson Dirt tip figures. Ron Ball and Eric Ricketts re PPM Computer. Phone JRG re Dirt tips. Discuss JS. Phone Ken Mullins re send letter for photos.

Tues 18 … Office … Ted Hodgson brought Dirt tip book to copy for figures. Surface … Check on steel in stockyard … 3 men (RB*, PGS, EWF) … Office … P Noone and R Ilett Elec 2s Support plan. Phone K Mullins re 1s Following Intake grade. Meeting 2pm … Parkgate Vertical bunker … JH, JS (RB). JH re paper … I refused so he went to CW S and told him that I had refused to write a paper for him. CW S asked me nicely ‘Would I do it for him?’ … couldn’t refuse could I, so J Higginbotham won and would have a paper on all Mechanised rippings at Ollerton for his course at Chalfont Staff College. By all accounts later he never read it before he went and found he hadn’t time to read it all out!

Wed 19 … Office … Info to gather re paper on all mechanised ripping at Ollerton. 1/25000 plans and contour plan and prints cut down to 10” x 10”. CIDS re 2s grades R Darby and P Hufton re 2s new haulage. Phone V Williams and Don Brown Photographer at Area HQ.

Thurs 20 … JH re visit. Discuss J Herbert, PGS and EWF contours of 106s Bilsthorpe Low Main …. Interpolated for 12s … Surface … to Dosco Engineering Tuxford … D Peat … photographs etc. (RB*). Prints to Jack Gelsthorpe re Vertical Bunker top steel. Info from SWH Lindsay Cost Clerk re conveyors. Colouring R & FF prints … To Area HQ … Don Brown and V Williams re slides etc. (RB*). Called in Survey office discuss JRG, WEBB and K Lesh.
Incident … trip out at No2 shaft at 10.24pm and again at 11.07 pm. Men sent home after medical treatment.

Fri 21 … Surface … Stockyard re steel … RB, EWF and Jim Stewart Assistant Manager … Office … Phone K Hartwell re Vertical Bunker. Plotted 12s and 14s swilleys. Bilsthorpe exchange plans to date on 1/2500, 1/5000 and 1/10560. Info to KFG re haulage grades. Booked sections etc.

Sat 22 … 26092 tonnes
Interview for Deputy Area Surveyor … I was chosen by CJ Whyte but revoked by R Siddall … Who told him to choose from the 3 Senior Surveyors … WE Brian Barlow, Gordon Ison and J Ray Greasley.
Retirement Party for A Eddie Betts … Dinner at Little John.

Mon 24 … Office … Plotted 1/5000, 1/10560 and /10000 plans to date. Contours. Phone Denis Roebuck Area Safety re B Morse Doncaster HQ collected Noise Level Plans for Hobart House (RB) … Office … Meeting … Organisation of Engineering Principles … Conveyors … R Anderson (RB). Graphs. Peter Daffin re Dirt tips.

Tues 25 … U/g … to 1s Following Intake scour.. Markham Shield … photographs by Don Brown with me ‘painting’ light for exposure (RB) … Office … Wed 26 … Office … Meeting … discuss Markham Shield, Les Crellin Area Chief Engineer, JS, CIDS, RB. Phone various. HMI GDR Adamson re Stable hole supports. HMI J Mansfield, Electrical, re grade for Following Intake. Phone P Robinson Rufford re various. JH same. (580 + 8 u/g)

Wed 28 … Office … Freddie Longden re to make some plumbbobs. Discuss K Mullins re Markham screen for slides. JH re same. KFG same. Re-writing paper. E Hodgson re No2 Dirt tip do not rip.

Thurs 27 … Office … Phone J Herbert 12s. New Jees staff delivered by Rep and discuss. Don Brown brought prints for Markham Shield. Plotted contours around 12s and 106s Bilsthorpe. Printing machine Rep discuss. JS re 3rd drift Conveyor Road., standards and laser etc. Discuss Linesmen same.

Fri 28 … Office … JH re BBC interview. Phone various. Don Brown brought photos and slides. HMI John Jones re DM 102 EDM and slide show of machines (RB)

Fri 28 … Interview by Reporter for BBC Radio Ulster re Ollerton coal etc. (RB*) also discuss with Bob Crookes ex Surveying apprentice. JH re slides and paper. Info to CW S for DR Mounsey DCME on Shield and advances etc. 

Sat 29 … 24001 tonnes
Percy W Hett Mining Records Officer at Eastwood Hall retired and Jack Milburn Deputy succeeded.
Joe Gormley President of NUM retired and Arthur Scargill succeeded

Annual Leave 1 Week Mons & Brecon Canal Barge Holiday

June 1982
WE Brian Barlow Group Surveyor appointed Deputy Area Surveyor

Fri 4 … Nil

Mon 7 … Office … General. Correspondence. Phone J Wilson subsidence. Phone Andy Wells Rufford re Hay / MSL report. Stockyard layout. Notice re Fatal Accidents for J Ryan. Discuss development J Herbert.

Tues 8 … Office … Discuss Russ Wagstaffe development. KFG re supports and again later re 33s chilled water system. Phone R Pearce re same. Correspondence. Principal HMI D Richards re ‘History of Ollerton Colliery Pamphlet’ that I had put together. SN Whittle phoned re same. Phone CW S re 33s check line. Phone R Pearce confirm 33s AW pipes.
Retirement Party for Joe Manion, Silverhill Deputy at Skegby Miner’s Welfare.

Wed 9 … Office … General. Spontaneous Combustion plan to date. Table plan for R Anderson. Prints. Write up to date. Meeting … Capital Investment, Manpower savings, Development … R Anderson (RB). Discuss central heating with R Anderson and Sam Dunlop. PL Lesh went home ill.

Thurs 10 … U/g … to 33s panel, dial in LG. 1s Following Intake. Vertical bunker top … 1st setting , discuss ATT. To Vertical bunker base. 3rd Drift Conveyor Road and No1 pit bottom cabin … Office … Discuss. Sorting out Vertical Bunker top drawing. Phone SNW same and mistakes! A Liney re ventilation for 1s Following Intake. KF Greaves Safety Engineer brought safety triangle warning signs for laser beam. PL Lesh sick.

Fri 11 … Office … Discuss JS re Vertical Bunker top and possible amendment. CW S re proposed plans for 1s Following Intake Lingard box fan system. Discuss A Liney and AR Tryner re same and ventilation figures. Phone Graham Hall Bevercotes. Phone Les Jephson Bilsthorpe and Steve Westmoreland Bevercotes advice. Plan of same and discuss CW S. Print coloured. PL Lesh sick.

Sat 12 … 22701 tonnes
Self-certification of illness starts

Mon 14 … Office … Only 2 linesmen out of 6 at work … Idle, not interested in the job, had the NUM on their side … D Stockham struggling with measurements that are phoned out. Had to re-deploy extra. General. Wall plans to date. Phone SNW re depth of Vertical Bunker. E Spencer re lateness of incentive figures … refer linesmen not at work … as before ... He and Cost Clerk, Benny Wells Wages, NUM and other waited in Conference Room for all advance measurements for all faces and headings for working out payment. Sections on Working plans to date. Discuss JS vertical Bunker drift and swilley at Following Intake. Also KFG same.

Tues 15 … U/g … Theodolite and DI3S EDM survey from Conveyor Road round old South Paddy to No2 Pit bottom, then to No1 Pit bottom … 6 men … (RB*, PGS, EWF, IWS, DS, MC). Check measures at Bunker for Eddie Gillfillan ATT … (RB*, KS) … Office … Eddie Gillfillan re measures. Discuss AVG U/m. Discuss JS re Harrison’s Hillfill etc. Phone G Ison re coal top on 12s and 14s (bad roof).
Visit by John Moore, Parliamentary Secretary with JE Wood, JP Berry and R Anderson (CW S Holiday)

Wed 16 … U/g … Theodolite and DI 3S EDM survey from 1s AW up 14s AW … 5 men (RB*, PGS, DS, IWS, BK) … problem with EDM not reading properly … Office … Phone G Ison re instrument … possibly connection? Discuss P Noone re cable lengths from No 2 shaft to 10s. Phone Clarrie Oakton re central heating to be changed to underfloor. Ted Hodgson re no change to surface PP area. Phone K Hartwell ATT.
Wed 16 / Thurs 17 … Office … New central heating system, underfloor … Clarrie Oakton … and Contractor re pipework (RB)

Thurs 17 … U/g … 3rd drift Conveyor Road and Vertical bunker base drift theodolite and DI 3S EDM survey 14s LG … 6 men (RB8, PGS, EWF, IWS, DS, BK) (570) … Office … Phone Cliff Johnson Area Method Study Engineer. Phone J Hayes Method Study re info for 14s swilley. Phone Tommy Flannery Mansfield (ex Teversal Dust Suppression Officer) various. Discuss CW s re various.

Fri 18 … Office … Discuss KFG. Discuss E Gillfillan. Discuss JH re talk. Discuss CW S re possible no work next Wednesday (Day of Action for Nurses). 3 Retirement certificates. Fixed up screen and slides for talk on Markham Tunnel by Les Crellin Chief Engineer. (used the paper).
Incident … Trip out at No2 shaft 39 men sent home. (in 6 months 63 men received treatment and sent home). I had several tripouts at Teversal 2 of them when alone on the cage going down but I never went to Medical Centre or went home.

Sat 19 … 23870 tonnes
Only 3 Linesmen at work.

Mon 21 … Office … Inking in Working plans. Phone G Ison re DI 3S instrument. Phone Ray Fish Method Study re Strata bunker. Dennis Roebuck Area Safety called for prints of Noise plans for all other collieries in the Area (RB)

Tues 22 … U/g … Theodolite check survey at Parhgate Intake Drift and into 3rd Drift Conveyor Road Access snicket and adjusted 1in5 grade line. Measures for possible crusher installation at Parkgate No2 Conveyor … Office … Meeting 2pm … Vertical Bunker … J Stewart (RB) (585 + 8 u/g)

Wed 23 … No Linesmen turned in for work … Day of Action for Hospital Nurses …
Wed 23 … Office … Plan of crusher. Discuss same with Peter Honeywood Dep Mech Engineer Surface and S Whyatt. Small plans to date for underground surveys.. Discuss.

Thurs 24 … U/g … to old 10s gates and face rip. Discuss Jim Daley Deputy. 9s LG heading Dosco Mk2 (RB*) … Discuss John Wooff Deputy … Office … Plan of 10s, 12s, 14s area showing dirt isopachytes for JH, CW S, D Rodden NUM and discuss. Info re 2s phoned to Bretby. Correspondence.
Surveyors at Area HQ now ‘Specialists’ not Group Surveyors from June 28 … J Ray Greasley to deal with mainly surface work and Gordon Ison to deal with underground … John Wilson for Subsidence. WE Brian Barlow Deputy Area Surveyor to deal with Law etc.

Fri 25 … Office … Correspondence. 2s Conveyor survey examination. Discuss D Francis Meco Rep re proposed Booster conveyor, still waiting for position. CW S re schoolboy on job experience. WEBB and JRG discuss various. Phone Method Study re possible convergence of new drifts.

Sat 26 … 20083 tonnes

Mon 28 … Office … Discuss WEB Barlow and talk to schoolboy N Foster for Job opportunity. Malcolm Bellamy from Scientific came for a copy of Noise Plan (RB). E Hodgson re coal tipping. Discuss MFW Estates. Phone Dosco re 3rd drift Conveyor Road advance.
Rail strike by NUR (partial) for 1 day

Tues 29 … Surface … N Foster schoolboy visit to pit yard, tip etc. (RB). JH info re double radius arch. MD Clarke phoned for progress. Management Meeting 11am CW S. Discuss SNW plan of Vertical Bunker base. Discuss R Wagstaffe re conveyors. Discuss AVG U/m same and 2s proposed booster conveyor.
National Union of Railway workers (NUR) back to work …

Wed 30 … U/g … Visit to 33s face and Vertical bunker drift with N Foster (RB) … Office … Discuss AVG. ART and KFG re 33s overcat for Following Return. Tape to Brian Goacher welder. Correspondence. Phone CJ Whyte re Apprentice changes. Discuss R Sneade elec. Discuss MDC planning. Discuss Terry Jones Dowty Rep and nomograms for chocks.
Sir Derek Ezra retired as Chairman of NCB and Norman Siddall appointed Chairman
Mike Pope appointed Deputy Staff Manager.