A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

from July 1985 Changed to NCB Nottinghamshire Area

Page - 69 -

Jul 1985

Mon 1 … Office … Discuss David Hibbert schoolboy on work experience for a week Phone D Raisbeck re 33s seismic survey for 12 July … Surface … General tour of pit top with D Hibbert schoolboy … Office … Discuss PGS re PG Intake conveyors. Quarter end figures. G Weeks re 16s AW face entry plan. Meeting 2pm 3rd drift R Anderson. Discuss D Hibbert methods of work.

Tues 2 … U/g … Visit to 2s panel with D Hibbert schoolboy ... Office … 11.30am Meeting General Development G Weeks. Discuss J Stewart re resurrect the plan for the Bathroom. Discuss CIDS re same. Phone John Grayson seismic survey done re 33s (John would contact from Spain in 2019 as he remembered how interested I was in the seismic work)
Aerial photography of Dirt tips by AJ Farey

Wed 3 … Office … G Weeks re write up for Junction to face head 16s AW. D Phillips and J Philips Dowty Meco Reps. Checking through 11s surveys and plottings of 14s. CW S re 9s snicket and signed 35s SM1 form to go to Area HQ. F Gieves Hollybank discuss. Contour plan updating and checking through level books … mistake 33s! Discuss PN. Called at Area HQ with 35s SM1 form.

Thurs 4 … Office … Contouring plans with D Hibbert. J Gretton re plan of PG. Calculations and plotting up to date. Levels etc. on plans. Phone G Ison. Adjusting optical plummet with PGS. Discuss J Howarth Dowty with drawings of 4/360 chock.

Fri 5 … Working plans to date. Electrical negs. Phone J Woofe 2s re Linesmen not putting on stop wire. Discuss PN. F Gieves Hollybank discuss. Discuss D Hibbert schoolboy. Plan for Area Electrical Engineer re work near cables. Phone G Ison. J Lyons re Pump house. G Mayne re methane gas at 16s LG at 130m.

Sat 6 … Call out from home. Phone G Weeks re 9s outbye heading distances. Plotted same and discuss JS and GW.
Sat 6 … 22227 tonnes
New articulated Weighbridge operational at Landsale.
Martin Hopkinson on Development Days. Gordon Weeks Acting Undermanager

Mon 8 … Office … JS discuss 9s. Wall plans. Discuss methods for 9s changeover. Drawing out ideas. Discuss same JS and Cw s.

Tues 9 … U/g … Check theodolite survey and ground measuring from 16s AW down 17s to 16s LG head … 6 men (RB*, PGS, IWS, DS, CI, AC) … Office … Meeting with CW S, TJ K and JS sorting out 9s to go back into the Main gate.
Willie McGranaghan back on Development
Began office extension for our Official’s Bathroom.

Wed 10 … U/g … Finished off check theodolite survey into 16s AW head … 3 men (RB*, PGS, IWS) … Office … Phone R Matthews Mech. Calculations. Martin Hopkinson re shotfiring pattern. CW S re same for 16s AW head. Discuss CW S. Discuss W McG.

Thurs 11 … U/g … Gyro theodolite observations at G3 – G4 base in old 1s LG … 4 men (G Ison, RB, PGS, IWS) … I was called to an accident at the old Sutliffe bunker salvage site by Willie McGranaghan … measures etc. (RB*) (46) … Office … Drew out accident plan to A Koefoed. Discuss G Ison Gyro exercise.
Fri 12 … Office … General. Updating Electrical plans with Ken Allison Shift Charge Engineer.

Fri 12 … U/g … to 33s panel for seismic survey on face start 11.45am … (RB*, PGS, IWF, DS) quickest yet finished at 3.30pm … Office … Discuss WMcG re 11s. Finished snicket plan. Discuss JS re pit changes re meeting with JP Berry Deputy Director. (745 + 11 u/g)

Sat 13 … 21992 tonnes
Sat 13 … Office … Plan for 11s LG turn into 14s AW … change of plan. Electrical schematic drawing to date. From today CW Standage on compassionate leave to go to Puerto Rico in the Caribbean where his son in the navy had been seriously injured by a hit and run driver and was in hospital. Would be away 6 weeks until Sat 24 August. Jim Stewart would be Acting Manager. KG Fidler on 5th week off work with bad back.
PG Shaw holiday 1 week

Mon 15 … Office …. Prints. J Stewart signed 11s. Info to CIDS re proposed 32s grades. KM Willings re bore down at 14s AW. Took plan to Deployment for 11s. Phone MDC re 11s. Colouring Electrical plans. Phone J Freeman Geologist. WMcG re 11s. HMI Howard C Evans 3 prints of accident to Koefoed. Discuss MD Clarke and Simon West E.T. re change in the development of the pit. G Ison exchanged second copy plans and took the Gyro tackle.
Started bricking office external footings for Bathroom.

Tues 16 … Discuss D Lees conveyors. Info to CIDS re haulage calculations for 1s Following Intake also info for 14s AW via 11s. Phone Eric Fletcher O/m re 2s lead. Phone Phil James Blidworth. Plan to Richard Clark Bricklayer re offices. Phone TJK re PG 1 / 2 conveyors. Meeting 12.30pm General Development W McGranaghan. Copied up 2s levels. Discuss D Lees. WMcG re 11s snicket.

Wed 17 … Office … Phone various xxx. General. Ventilation plans to date and info checked by ART. Updating Spontaneous Combustion plan. HMI Howard C Evans re 16s face Support Rules … boring and firing. Made same … W McG and discuss JS and KFG. Discuss JL, RS and PN. G Ison phone re plummets.

Thurs 18 … Office … Finished Spontaneous Combustion plan info. Discuss PN. KGF re progress. Discuss WMcG. Sent copies to P Taylor Doncaster HQ re 33s seismic survey. Discuss Ted Hodgson. Plans to date. Phone JRG re D Brown plans.
11s LG thirled into 14s AW 368m turn o.k.

Fri 19 … Sub Statutory holiday … Office … Incentive figures with Steve WH Lindsay and P Hudson Cost Clerks. Discuss J Stewart and IWS re 35s new Junctions. Discuss MDC and S West E.T. new plan. Discuss A Liney re 14s proposed downbore.

Sat 20 … 15037 tonnes

Pit Holiday as Mon 22 – Sat 3 August. First Week … Paula L Lesh Holiday 2 Weeks

TJ Knott U/m Days. W McGranaghan Assistant U/m Afternoons

Mon 22 … Half depth pillar on plan for Kirton Brickworks. Discuss J Stewart. Phone JRG. CIDS re 3rd drift crossing. Phone JRG info re well for HMI.

Tues 23 … Office … Surface … Subsidence levelling Tuxford Road for 33s panel … 3 men (RB*, PGS, IWS). To Area HQ JRG with Aerial photos of Dirt tips by JA Storey … Dirt tips need further info.

Wed 24 … Surface … Levelling for Aerial photos from Bescar Lane railway bridge from Newark Road and old siding from Rexco plant … 3 men (RB*, PGS, IWS) … Office … Discuss TJK and MDC re Booster conveyor. Meeting 3pm Capital Investment, Manpower Savings and Development R Anderson. Calculations.

Thurs 25 … Surface … Subsidence levelling for 14s up A616 from Wellow and also for 9s panel down Eakring Road … 3 men (RB*, PGS, IWS) … Office … Calculations.

Fri 26 … Office … Prints. Discuss Peter Butts Dep Mech. Manager’s Wall plan to date. Discuss CIDS turn out at 3rd drift. B Wells check. To Welfare check measured amount of pointing work done by D Gillon & Co at £5.75 per sq metre … Office … Calculations. Phoned B Wells Admin Officer 203.36 sq metres of pointing. Hung new Wall plan. Discuss J Stewart. Nil
At Area HQ Planning department ... Derek Stone, Gordon Darrington, Geoff Nussey, Alan Elliott, Frank Radford and David Bowler all 6 made redundant.

Mon 29 … Office … Sorting out. Plotting 3rd drift section. PPM for 4 months water returns. Discuss MD Clarke Discuss D Lees. Re PG 1 /2 Booster centre line.
New office furniture for the Manager

Tues 30 … Office … Working plans. Inking in etc. (sent PGS and IWS to Booster conveyor line)

Wed 31 … Office … Robert Anderson Production Manager came to say cheerio to me on his retirement. (He always had a pleasant word to say at every meet. Affiliation probably that he trained as a Surveyor in the NE and qualified before changing over to the mining side.) Report on development and panels ready for CW Standage and discuss. Discuss PN. S West E.T. re development.

Second Week of Pit Holidays

Parkgate No1 and 2 conveyors to to Booster drive conveyor.
To Area HQ Retirement Party in Edwinstowe Welfare Hall. Albert Wheeler gave a speech and introduction re JE Wood and R Anderson and Planners. Also Frank Dove Area Civil Engineer replaced by Don Brown from South Notts.
North Notts. and South Notts. amalgamated and formed Nottinghamshire Area with Director Albert Wheeler. JP Berry Deputy Director Mining. Martin Shelton Deputy Director Admin. AR Caunt Chief Mining Engineer.

August 1985
KG Fidler still off work after 7 weeks. J Stewart Acting Manager, W McGranaghan Development, R Flint off sick. G Weeks Nights

Thurs 1 … Office … S West checked the write-up for development. … Surface … Subsidence levelling for 2s at Boughton Waterworks to Walesby … 2 men (RB*, PGS) … Office … Calculations. Correspondence.

Fri 2 … Office … Discuss MD Clarke planning 35s. Discuss S West development. Notices … No Riding for KF Greaves.    Hol
Phillip G Shaw Deputy Surveyor had a complex (also at Welbeck) and went off work sick on odd days. His wife would ring about 8am to say he was not coming, leaving a message with Dougie Stockham my Surveyor’s Assistant (WPIS staff) before I got to work. It meant reorganising jobs that had been arranged. However I never allowed a statutory survey be cancelled, someone else would do it, even me on occasion.

Mon 5 … Office … 1/5000 Neg for General development to date. Progress and charts. Eddie Moody Joiner re new Perspex for Manager’s Wall plan. Discuss WMcG, Ken Wyld, Johnny Hutchins O/m re 11s / 14s turn. CIDS re Booster conveyor. W McG re steel requirement for 11s / 14s Junction (not the turn), also 35s and snicket. Drawing out same.

Tues 6 … U/g … Booster conveyor installation PG Intake drift … 2 men (RB*, IWS) then survey round 9s new snicket and centre line established … 4 men (RB*, IWS, RF, TC) … Office … Discuss PGS and IWS 35s new layout. CIDS Mech Engineer re Booster conveyor. Discuss W McGranaghan Asst. U/m and J Stewart Asst. Manager re meeting for Junctions etc. Phone CJ Whyte re staff. Albert Wheeler new Director visited the offices.

Wed 7 … Office … Calculated and plotted 9s survey. Phone JM Storr Thoresby re Booster conveyor detail. Plotted 33s survey and checked calculations. WMcG re development. Phone John Eyre Area HQ Subsidence dept. re monitoring points. Folder and plans and bar charts to B Wells for Ken G Fidler off work. PGS holiday.

Thursday 8 … Office … Made up 1/5000, 1/10560 and 1/10000 sheets and inking in. Discuss KFG. Discuss Brenda Davidson, Sister re new Medical set up. Phone John Raine Area Geologist re 33s seismic survey results. IWS holiday

Fri 9 … U/g … Theodolite survey and EDM 3rd drift and checked laser beam … 4 men (RB*, PGS, RF, CI) … Office … Discuss JS. Discuss R Sneade re Junction. Calculated and copied up survey. Phone G Ison Gyro observations. Phone Phil Garner Subsidence dept. re values of panel Subsidence points. IWS holiday.

Sat 10 … 19025 tonnes
New Security drop gate on Pit Lane

Tues 13 … U/g … Check angles and moved laser down 3” on the frame in 3rd drift 5 men (RB*, PGS, IWS, M Cox, R Brocklehurst). Gyro results from G Ison. Meeting 1pm General Development W McGranaghan. Meeting 2pm 35s Face design J Stewart. CW S re 35s SM1 and MI1 form … amended plan.

Wed 14 … Office … Discuss John Raine Area Geologist re 33s seismic survey etc. Discuss TJ Knott U/m re 9s creep and proximity to 12s … check. Discuss JS 35s tonnage, confirmed with Steve WH Lindsay Cost Clerk. Amended 35s re – entry sketches … phoned Area HQ Vent dept. Copies. G Ison re Gyro results at old 1s Loader gate … new base – 8 seconds difference … spot on.

Thurs 15 … Office … General. Correspondence. Contacted Bricklayers re bursted pipe new Bathroom.

Fri 16 … Holiday

Sat 17 … 20081 tonnes - Bought a Dec 1983 Datsun Sunny Coupe 1.5, Red

Mon 19 … Office … Correspondence. Amends to Fire Certificate plan for Reg 10 Report Office. Discuss KFG. Incentive figures. Plotted 9s outbye head offsets. F Gieves Hollybank Rep discuss. Gyro results. Discuss TJK re new Pit bottom pump house. Discuss PGS 16s survey. Phone John Sproston Deputy Area Ventilation Engineer.

Tues 20 … Office … General. Phone A liney re 35s SM1 change and plan. Discuss B Wells re PLL etc. and JS. CIDS re 2s propped Booster conveyor. JS re various. Discuss L Guy Claims Inspector re accidents. Discuss P Butts Deputy Mech re proposed No2 Pit bottom pump house. Discuss CIDS and JS re 33s AW proposed changes. Phone G Ison re JP Berry Deputy Director o.k for 35s SM1 change.

Wed 21 Call out at home 5.45am ... U/g to accident site at 16s LG lip ... (47) … however turned out not to be reportable … Control centre exchange rang down the pit to recall Jimmy Hood NUM on his way to the accident site knowing it was not reportable but did not recall me or John Ryan, Safety Officer. I went ballistic when I found out later after wasting my time measuring up. Those in the Control centre got a right telling off from me when I got out the pit that I, an Official of the Mine was forgotten about or didn’t think it mattered. It would matter in future!!! … Office … Meeting 2pm … 35s Face Design … Albert C Mapp DCME. Discuss Peter Rees. Discuss Malcolm D Clarke and Steve Mudd new Assistant Planner. Discuss Ted Hodgson. Discuss Terry J Knott U/m re 2s B and 2s C proposed Booster conveyor … not on!

Thurs 22 … U/g … Checking and setting out grade line for tanks and engine etc. at old TH Bunker Road … 2 men (RB*, PGS) plus Tony Brown Deputy…. Office … Discuss D Lees and P Noone 2s conveyors. Phone GR (Dicky) Bryan O/m re 9s. Plotted 9s re TJK. Lenniy Clarke NACODS re 35s SM1 etc. JS re 2s conveyors and Lenny Clarke. Calculated and plotted 3rd drift survey. (750 + 11 u/g)

Fri 23 … Office … Sorted out plans. JK Hayter and Peter Eyre Area Fire Officer re Fire Certificate amends … Surface … Measured up Oil store Lab and plan. General plans and distributed. Discuss PN. Made up 1/5000 neg. Discuss SWH Lindsay, PN and KFG overtime. Discuss WMcG. 1/25000 neg to date.
Re soiled and seeded part of No2 Dirt tip facing Victoria Close, Boughton. To check.

Sat 24 … 20219 tonnes
CW Standage started back, his son very badly disabled following the hit and run … back home he helped to manipulate his body. Jim Stewart had been Acting Manager.

Mon 26 … Late Summer Statutory Holiday.

Tues 27 … Colliery Rest Day

Tue 27 … Office … Re programming with HP65 calculator. Wall plans. Incentive figures with Steve Morris Assistant Cost Clerk. Records.
Tony Clarke Group Safety Engineer transferred to Bentinck Group. Lou Moulsdale took over.
PGS Holiday Tues 27 Aug - Thurs 5 Sep

Wed 28 … Office … 1/25000 neg to date. Area HQ progress. Checked Incentive figures. J Lyons re laser. Phone RS re laser. Phone Celia Area Survey office re Aerial plans. Discuss Incentive measurements with Steve Morris Asst. Cost clerk o.k. Phone CJ Whyte re staff. List of plans and methods to IWS. Coloured 3 copies of Airborne Dust plans. Discuss G Mayne Vent re 35s. CW S phone re 33s AW to go back 90 cms on line, also 3rd drift 70 cms off grade. Discuss WMcG re same. Plotting calculated contours. Discuss E Hodgson Dirt tips.

Thurs 29 … Office … Phone G Weeks re Hollybank plan for 9s snicket re HMI Howard C Evans visit. KFG re same. Made sticker for same. Finished 1/25000 negs and prints. Phone Jane Arnold Area Survey office 6 Pagra sheets and envelopes. Sketches for GW re 9s snicket proposals. Meeting 2pm with W McGranaghan, JS and chargemen re 3rd drift off grade. Plotted drift. Phone G Ison. Discuss W McG re possibly dinting drift.

Fri 30 … Office … Discuss WMcG re agreed to dint the 3rd drift. Colouring prints. GM re 9s fan T piece 16s AW. Ventilation plan. Discuss KF Greaves and Lou Moulsdale re 35s new layout … Surface with Ted Hodgson and John Mansfield Stores by van to old Lagoon No6, taking down fence and taking it up No2 Dirt tip to re-grassing area. Discuss MDC. 2s FIDD arm change on shearer, plan and section for WMcG for weekend.

Sat 31 … 10088 tonnes
Alf Evans Exploration boring retired.

September 1985
PGS Holiday 1 Week

Mon 2 … Office … GW re 33s AW changeover … drawing plans … Surface … Measured up chocks etc. for 33s with IWS … Office … SWH Lindsay re Incentive figures. Drawing out 33s AW changeover, discuss GW x3. RS discuss and … Surface … to Workshop re laser and frame … Office … Phone Method Study re 35s haulage and paddy. JS re conveyor graphs. Phone SL re same.
Sheppard Hill Contractors fetching top soil from old railway siding near viaduct, started Sat 31 … check.

Tues 3 … Office … Amends to 33s AW end proposals with D Clark Shift Charge Engineer. WMcG re 35s fall. Phone CJ Whyte re staff (+2) … Surface … Set out grade for sewer for bathroom for Bricklayers. Copy JS of Conveyor delay graphs finished, SWH Lindsay re same. Phone Peter Noone re laser. Info L Guy Claims Inspector. Meeting 2pm General Development W McGranaghan. Discuss RS re laser etc. plus spanner for adjusting o.k. 1/25000, 1/50000. 1/125000 negs to date. Met M Shelton Deputy Director Admin with CW S … Yes man, continually saying yes, yes, yes … made it to the top at Hobart House, London.
Began stocking Doubles coal on Bungalow site.

Wed 4 … Office … Discuss PN laser. JS re conveyor delay graph and back numbers for comparison. Phone Ronnie Havelock Deputy re 16s LG. Checking through survey note books and amends. Check calculations 2s theodolite survey. WMcG discuss. Calculated and plotted 2s survey and 16sAW face survey. Discuss and info to S West re 9s strategy and operations from start. Discuss R Sneade Elec GW re 9s last snicket, turn junction.
PGS holiday 1 week. IW Smith sick Thurs. Paula L Lesh sick Thurs, Fri

Thurs 5 … U/g … to 3rd drift, re-established a new laser beam at 650 m mark. Lining in etc. 9am – 2.30pm … Office … WMcG discuss dev and GW discuss 33s AW end and CW S discuss 33s plans. Began amending 33s Support Rules and ozaloft. Discuss KFG and made a shotfiring pattern for 33s AW.

Fri 6 … Office … 33s AW end support Rules amendments. D Lees re centre line for PG No1 jib … NO … TOO LATE. GW discuss. Jack Gelsthorpe Asst. Training Officer re 33s AW end change. Discuss J Lyons re future panels. Phone G Ison re Harrogate next Thursday. Phone CJ Whyte re Interview Tues Phil Critchley from Linby. Phone P Noone re 33s AW shotfiring.

Sat 7 … 19382 tonnes

33s AW change of operation Dosco taken out and back to hand packing
TJ Knott U/m holiday 1 week. Willie McGranaghan Acting U/m. David S Widdowson promoted from Manager at Bevercotes to Production Manager. Ken Fidler Deputy Manager back to work after 12 weeks off sick with bad back.
Dougie Stockham Survey Assistant holiday 1 week

Mon 9 … Office … Continued with 33s AW end Support Rules amends. Phone Derek Hunter Area Mech re chocks etc. Plan and questions re same.
U/g … to 9s panel … found mistake … IW Smith had measured from side of gate for snicket instead of from centre line. Dicky Bryan stopped the job for me and took out the support set too far and timbered up safely. Told Willie McGranaghan Acting U/m who then wanted to tell CW S about it instead of me, or come with me. I said no, I would tell him myself. Of course when I did tell him as with all others but never me before, went off the top, like a **** saying as it had cost time and effort etc., etc. I said ‘I had no need to tell you at all because the job had been put right, but as you go to the White Hart every night somebody could have dropped it out’. I went on to say that ‘That was not me, because I am honest’. Being head of department I had to take the blame for an error by my Assistant. Any error a Surveyor makes is remembered for life by all but never any of the perfect jobs! He was still chuntering on about it when I left. That hurt, a simple mistake but put right straight away and was ostracised. I was not a Happy Bunny.

Surface … to old LMS viaduct walling 12 feet thick with John Ryan Safety Officer… it was fired down.
CW S sent for me when I got back so I assumed he would be still ranting on about it, but no. He then said that he had never known me make a mistake before in all 12 years he had been the Manager … but I added a rider … ‘well none that you’ve heard about’. He ignored that and apologised for his outburst and the situation was closed and to forget about it. It took some doing for him to do that I know. Willie McGranaghan came to ask how I had gone on and I told him both tales (I think Willie learned a lot from that experience and as he progressed through his career to Manager at several Collieries in the future he was keen not to show emotion such as that as the saying goes …’We all make mistakes and if you are any good you learn from them and never make the same mistake again’!
Discuss MD Clarke and Steve Mudd planning. Derek Hunter Area Mechanisation discuss again.

Tues 10 … Office … Support Rules plan for 33s AW … to Area HQ to Interview Phil Critchley with WEB Barlow and Mike Pope Staff dept. General discussion with WEBB … Office … General discussion. 33s AW Support Rules with TJ Knott.

Wed 11 … Office … Support Rules for 33s AW amended. Discuss CW S. Met DS Widdowson new Production Manager. Discuss John Ryan Supports and exemption. Discuss TJK overtime etc. JB (Sam) Pepper re new Pit bottom tank for pumping. Discuss Linesmen re overtime. Discuss S West and S Holland Elec E.T. Discuss Ted Hodgson re Dirt tips. CW S re plant. Discuss KG Fidler.

Thurs 12 … Mine Surveying ’85 Exhibition and VI th International Congress for Mine Surveying, Harrogate Conference Centre … with WE Brian Barlow 7.15am … Self RB Ollerton plus J Ray Greasley, Senior Surveyor, Peter Robinson Rufford and Ian Y Wilson Thoresby.

Fri 13 … Office … Coal face design minutes with Derek Hunter and John Longstaff re 35s chocks and 9s re-installation. Calculations etc. Discuss KG Fidler re progress to date for past 3 months. Phone Estates dept. Discuss E Hodgson re new road to Noo4 Dirt tip. Plan for P Noone re same … cables? Plan for J Ryan for 35s Stone Dust Barriers.

Sat 14 … 20632 tonnes
1,000 tonnes doubles coal stocked.
Brian Wormald off ill … Brian (Butch) Bracegirdle Temporary Training Officer for about 3 months (in later years after retiring we would become great friends involved with Ollerton of Yesteryear)

Mon 16 … Office … Incentive measures and progress. Amended 16s LG. Ventilation Rules AR Tryner and Ventilation plans. Name tags Men C for Pit Head Baths. Discuss S Holland Elec E.T. Plan to PN re electric cables and new road near Garage. Discuss J Johnson. Meeting 2pm 9s re-installation KG Fidler. Site meeting R Carlin HQ and Field Association re new Bathroom. Phone CW S re 33s AW supports. Phone Alan V Goodwin Assistant Manager Blidworth discuss and send info re 3rd drift.

Tues 17 … Office … ART re Ventilation plans. Plan coloured for SL. JS info re 3rd drift re D Widdowson visit. Checking 9s snicket re phone DS. Info S West re 9s Paper. Discuss W McG development. Discuss E Hodgson Dirt tips. Phone BT Bailey re Dirt tips also.

Wed 18 … Office … Prints of Surface and charts for GW … Surface … with Bernard T Bailey and Andrew Higginson to capping of old No6 Lagoon … Office … HMI Howard C Evans and CW S re 33s AW and supports. Calculations of supports settings re same and plans. Last snicket No5 at 9s LG, diabolical weight on.

Thurs 19 … Office … Discuss GW 9s. Discuss TJK, JS, GW re 9s plan. Discuss PN plans. Info to Ray Fish and E.T. Method Study re haulages and conveyors. Checking 33s Support Rules. Calculations. Info to S West re 9s. Meeting 3pm 35s chocks KG Fidler plus Mech dept. agreed 166 to Ray Keeton Mech dept. HQ. Phone E Crofts Admin re K West reference.

Fri 20 … Office … MDC and SM Planners. Phone K Jenkins Thoresby query. Check calculations for 33s AW end supports. Phone Cliff Rhodes re 9s panel info. Manager’s Wall plan to date. Discuss MDC and S Mudd re 3rd drift and 31s. WMcG discuss. Info collated for 31s panel for planners. Phone JRG.

Sat 21 … Office … Dirt tip plan info check. 19763 tonnes
Finished over tipping old Lagoon No6 and up to date soil on No2 Dirt tip and re-grade corner of No9 Lagoon.

Mon 23 … Office ... Incentive measures. Finished colouring Dirt tip plan for 1984 for file. Discuss J Lyons re Bathroom … Surface … to Workshop D Clark re 16s AFC. Surface E Hodgson and Freddie Parr re SL Stn. Surface elecs re new Pit bottom substation. Plotting 33s levels and faults. Phone Area HQ. Discuss Chris, BTB’s Assistant. Notice re Deputy’s Incentive measures. IWS holiday today and Tues 24

Tues 24 …U/g … with Ken Allison Shift Charge Elec Engineer to new Pit bottom substation and marks for first suspended switches on adjustable tray … Surface … Wild T2 theodolite with PGS lined in new surface S2 station due to new road near Stores building. Self-Rescuer training. CIDS re 3rd drift base width 17 feet. Info to R Sneade 9s LG width. Discuss S Mudd re 31s 160m. IWS holiday.

Wed 25 … Office … General. Correspondence. Phone Geoff Austin Bilsthorpe re various and 1122s plan. CW S re various. Phone V Williams secretary. To Area HQ sorted out 2 cabinets for office … Office … Discuss KG F re various. CIDS re 3rd drift and JS. Meeting 31s pre design KG F. Completed 33s AW supports calculations. Discuss Peter Butts re 9s stage loader. Phone CT Storer

Annual Leave Thurs 26 Sep - 12 Oct Spain Mojacar

Sat 28 … 20591 tonnes
Began new Incentive Measure book for Deputies
Bernard T Bailey Civil Engineer Dirt tips (ex Surveyor Teversal) retired. Martin Sly succeeded.
Peter Rees Geologist left to Opencast South Wales. Steve Lunnon replaced him
Phil Critchley (PC) transferred from Linby as Assistant Surveyor Ollerton
Jim Stewart back on Development G Weeks 9s Days, W McGranaghan Nights, R Flint Afternoons.

October 1985

Fri 4 … Holiday … Bishops Castle, Shropshire

Sat 5 … 20589 tonnes
(Tues 8 … Albert Wheeler Director visited 33s … o.k.)
Sat 12 … 20196 tonnes
Phillipa Ilett work experience pupil from Tuxford Comprehensive School.

Mon 14 … Office … General discuss PG Shaw work. Discuss Phil Critchley general and settling in. J Hayes Mining Supplies re 33s. J Lyons re Bathroom amends. Plan to R Carlin Area HQ. Correspondence. Discuss Benny Wells. CW S re 33s AW end supports o.k. also re 2s AW Bishop pack 2 bars. Discuss KG F various.

Tues 15 … Office … General discuss Phillipa Ilett. Area HQ progress to date. Bathroom amends with Tom Hillier Bricklayer. A Liney and AR Tryner re 2s inbye scour, same KG F, same Fred Gieves Hollybank. Meeting 1pm General Development JS. Contouring. Discuss MD Clarke and S M re 31s, 35s and 3rd drift / 3s and plans.

Wed 16 … Surface … Visit to Grassmoor North Derbyshire Area with CW Standage and J Lyons to see Grunomat Mole demonstration! … Office … Finished contours. Discuss and fault info to John Gregson seismic survey on 33s. CIDS re PG Loco circuit.

Thurs 17 … U/g … Pit bottom roadways and 3rd drift laser adjusted. Had a heavy steel plate with a 3” hole and providing the laser beam shone through that even catching it slightly it was o.k. for setting arches until we could adjust it … 2 men (RB* and Phil Critchley). Calculated levels and plotted 3rd drift section. Discuss JS various.

Fri 18 … Office … Second copy plans to date and exchanged with G Ison. Calculations checked.
Fri 18 … U/g … Pit bottom roadways etc. with Phillipa Ilett (school girl) … Office … CW S discuss. Discuss and info to Phillipa Ilett. CW S phone for ‘3 weeks Sack notices’. Phone Chris Thorne for 1/10000 plan.  (755 + 11 u/g)
Sat 19 … 21082 tonnes

Notts. NUM (National Union of Mineworkers) voted to form their own union, the UDM (Union of Democratic Miners).
ATT (Area Tunnelling Team) doing shaft work.
CW Standage off work again re his son badly hurt. KG Fidler Acting Manager. J Stewart Acting Deputy Manager.. R Flint 9s on Days, G Weeks off sick, W McGranaghan Nights
PG Shaw Holiday Mon 21 – Sat 26

Mon 21 … Office … Dirt tip plans to date. Discuss MDC and SM. Phone J Hayes Mining Supplies re 33s norm. Phone IWS re 16s face. Incentive figures. Check plotted 16s. Dirt tip sections with PC. Brian Wormald came ... off work ill … Finished sections. Checking Working plans. Area HQ and KG F progress plans and KG F re 2s scour. Hollybank arches 7’ 3” x 6’ 0” rang Hollybank same. Phone Des Thompson Harworth.

Tues 22 … Office … Ventilation plans. Phone Ian Shaw Thoresby re surveys and also to borrow AGA 220 EDM o.k. Electrical negs to date. 1/10000 to date and print for C Thorne. Met Don Brown new Area Civil Engineer. Meeting 2pm Poplar Street Coal stocking site … doubles … Newark & District Council Environment (2 people) … Surface … Site visit and Dirt tip RB and JRG … Office … Phone Barry Brown Deputy 16s now 25m to go. Discuss PN.

Wed 23 … Office … General. Discuss JS re No1 Pit bottom drivage and plans. Phone F Gieves Hollybank re 2s scour arches. Sorting out drawers and cupboards. F Gieves brought 2s scour Hollybank drawings.
No longer need seam section sheets unless coal top left.

Thurs 24 … Office … Sorting out papers etc. Discuss AR Tryner ventilation. Plan. Bar chart for 16s for JS. Discuss PC calculations for 33s.
Eric Flint Acting UDM Secretary … NUM Committee suspended.

Fri 25 … Office … MDC re charts. Electrical plans updated with Ken Allison and PC. Prints. Prints for KFG re 16s / 35s headings Support Rules. Phone G Mayne re 16s. Finished Electrical plans. JS and Martin Hopkinson 16s. R & FF amends.

Sat 26 … 18252 tonnes
16s face head thirled o.k.
PL Lesh Holiday Fri 25 Oct - Sat 2 Nov.
ATT No1 shaft work.
CW S off re son Mon 28 Oct – Tues 5 Nov. KG Fidler Acting Manager. J Stewart Acting Deputy Manager. R Flint 9s Days, S West 9s. W McGranaghan Development.

Mon 28 … Office … Discuss PGS work. Manager’s and Deputy Manager’s Wall plans. Info to Ken Willings. Disuss S West 9s. Phone G Ison re new SM1 forms. PC re Dirt tip plan. Notice re Booster fans exams for KFG. Area HQ and KG F progress. Phone Graham Hall Bevercotes. Phone Bilsthorpe. R Flint re 9s and G Dodds Area Mech plan. S Mudd 31s and possible Thoresby connection. KG F re 9s and various.

Tues 29 … Office … Phone JM Storr Thoresby re AGA 220 EDM. Discuss PGS and IWS re surveys. CIDS phone re Woodlands … Colliery premises? 12.30pm Meeting General Development J Stewart. Updating Working plans. Phone JRG re Dirt Tip Plans deliver by IY Wilson and I Burns Phone D Hunter Area Mech.

Wed 30 … Office … D Hunter Area Mech re 16s trim. Plan from MMD. Rough plot of 9s face with long beams. Continued with Working plans. Discuss JS. Discuss KFG. Plans continued. Amending 9s Support Rules. KFG re Loco grades.

Thurs 31 … Office … KG F re 9s plan … finished Support Rules. Plan from Bilsthorpe. Benny Wells. Prints. D Hunter again to confirm 16s face tackle. Discuss JM Storr and Chris Bunyan Thoresby AGA 220 EDM. Phone TJK re 2s floor Updating workings for Bilsthorpe 1/5000.
Paula Lesh holiday Wed 30 –Sat 9 then on sick leave till 9 Dec … 6 weeks.

November 1985
Fri 1 … Office … Continued with Working plans and 16s levels. Finished plans, dates, levels, contours, stippling. Discuss WMcG and TJK re 9s AFC.

Sat 2 … 1/5000 flat sheets to date and stippling.
19712 tonnes
Paula Lesh off sick Changed catenary grade to 1in4½ from 1in4.

Mon 4 … Office … Discuss TJK 9s AFC. Discuss WMcG re development. Aerial photos of Dirt tips 1/2500 neg additions etc., stencilling etc. Discuss B Wells. ART re new Ventilation Rules for auxiliary fans and signing etc. J Lyons re Bathroom … Surface … Checked up on railway lines etc. … Office … Checking through old PG section for No1 connection. MD Clarke brought plan for 6 proposals for connection to Thoresby.

Tues 5 and Wed 6 … Annual Leave

Thurs 7 … Office … S Lunnon re 2s floor. Correspondence, and updated file. Discuss J Camm, Mining Craft re legislation, plans etc. Phone JRG re new Chock shop? Phone Roland Buckley Area Planner re 2s heating, re scour, so explained to Steve Mudd 2s heating and plan. Coloured Dirt tip plans.

Fri 8 … U/g … Visit to 1s/2s/10s, 1s AW Junction Ropemen’s cabin. 35s/16s substation snicket. 16s face line … pan pushing. 16s LG dint finished. 35 LG development. 11s LG Junction with 14s AW. Discuss John Hutchins O/m and Ronnie Havelock Deputy 9s LG restart into old LG. Discuss Dicky Bryan O/m … Office … Checking over the information. Discuss KF Greaves.

Sat 9 … Office … Calculations. Plotted 3rd drift sections and catenary. 17947 tonnes
Paula Lesh off sick

Mon 11 … Bert Grime re ATT still working in No1 shaft. Phone JRG. Water figs from PPM. Discuss IWS re 3rd drift section etc. E Hodgson re Dirt tips and No1 shaft tackle for Bert Grime. Incentive figures. Discuss Steve WH Lindsay Cost clerk.

Tues 12 … Office … Supplementary negatives for Dirt tip plans … 1) Future overlay and 2) Services. Phone J Gretton welder from 33s Junction. KG F re plan of 14s / 33s Junction. TJK re No2 shaft Riding times … nothing done! Ian Burns discuss and took Dirt tip plan negs for 2 copies.

Wed 13 … U/g … to 14s / 33s Junction. With John Gretton measured up for clearances etc. and work still to be done. To 35s LG curve and Centre line put on. Stefan Pazura Deputy and Eric Barton Overman both retiring Fri and chat … Office … CW S and D Widdowson re 3rd and 4th drifts base reorganisation. Discuss same S Mudd. Discuss KFG and Maurice Hind Mech. Phone PN.

Thurs 14 … Office … Notices for UDM. Phone CW S re grade in 1s Following Return … 1in 25. Phone PN re 271 telephone (mine in my office) Plans for Stores. Drawing out sections 14s / 33s Junction. CID Swinscoe re new curved creeper in Pit bottom. Discuss PGS. Discuss J Camm Mining Craft and info. Colouring plans. Covering notices in plastic for KFG. Phone Martin Hopkinson … information for job interview Newstead.

Fri 15 … Office … Support Rules TJK for 9s LG end face breasting, bad ground. CW S re 3rd / 4th drifts, calculations etc. ART re auxiliary ventilation rules. Phone MDC re 3s. Discuss SL. Phone MDC. Eric Fletcher O/m and TJ Knott U/m re Pit bottom curved creeper. Plan of surface for school girl. Discuss E Hodgson. Discuss PN. Phone Trevor Speed Blidworth to send Battery Locos info o.k.
Eric Barton O/m retired and Lenny Clarke took over as development O/m.

Sat 16 … 20267 tonnes
Brian Wormald Training Officer retired on ill health (cancer)
Roy Stubbs Area Safety Engineer appointed Area Planning Engineer with Roland Buckley. E Lenny Clarke Development Overman

Mon 18 … Office … Discuss. Phone MDC re 2s scour. Info back from Cyril Murphy re sent back Markham shield. Progress plans Manager’ and Deputy Manager’s Wall plans to date. Notices for Benny Wells Admin Officer re Union Intimidation. Planners re 3s new layout. KG F re 2s proposed Booster conveyor … not on!

Tues 19 … Office … Discuss. Covered auxiliary fan plans. Reorganised safe. Discus Russ Worsey Dep Planner re offices. Talk to J Camm re plans. Meeting 2pm Additional Airways DS Widdowson. Sketch for No1 Pit bottom. S Discuss MDC. Phone CW S re 9s chock line. Discuss JS re Pit bottom and sketch. KFG info and sketch of No1 connection. Geoff Austin rang re overlay for Bilsthorpe 112s.

Wed 20 … Office … Plotted 3rd drift layout and 3s. Phone MDC. KFG re accident … coal in eye … sketch? Notices for 1s AW manrider. 9s check line. Phone L Guy Claims Inspector, Discuss K Cross No1 Pit bottom drift. Checking plans. Info re raft. Phone MDC. Info with J Howarth Dowty re 35s chocks. Phone SN Whittle re visit to 3rd drift o.k. Checking info with Steve Mudd Planner.

Thurs 21 … Office … Check calculations for 35s / 16s snicket. A Liney and AR Tryner and Ken Cross re No1 Pit bottom connection. 4 notices for S Knowles UDM. Phone various xxx Discuss John Ryan Safety Officer. Retirement certificates. G Ison brought barometer. KG F re seismic survey at 33s. John Gregson re seismic and discussion. KFG various. CW S r Planner’s visit o.k. J Lyons info for 16s cable lengths. D Walton Civils re plan.

Fri 22 … U/g … to 16s / 35s snicket AW end, grade line etc. and to LG end grade line and sections … 3m to go … 2 men (RB*, DS) … Office … Discuss. Info to PN re cable for No1 Pit bottom job. Phone G Ison re return altimeter.

Sat 23 … 20651 tonnes

Mon 25 … U/g … Visit to 3rd drift and Pit bottom area with SN Whittle and S Mudd and discuss various … Office Discuss SNW. Phone G Walsh Architect. Discuss Ted Hodgson re surface activities. Discuss KG F re same. Plan of No2 heapstead for D Walton Civils. Correspondence.

Tues 26 … Office … Discuss Ray Keeton chocks. Discuss and info and plans and surface visit G Walsh new Car park. Discuss Martin Hopkinson (appointed Assistant U/m Linby). Notices TJK re No2 shaft Riding times for 16s. Info to Johnny Hutchins 16s installation. JS re same … Office … Plan of Bilsthorpe 112s Low Main for overlay SK 6664. Notices for 2s Leaving Times.

Wed 26 … Office … Various KG F. Phone D Webb Doncaster HQ. Prints and put notices on boards 3rd drift plan. Referencing notices to date. Discuss E Hodgson exchanged info re surface and underground. Plan for Sam Pepper new Pump station at the old Sutcliffe bunker site. Phone John Gretton x 2 re 33s Junction. Phone SN Whittle re splicing girders for raft o.k. Phone CIDS re same o.k. Discuss JS re same o.k. Discuss TJK. Plan for 1 / 2 and 11 / 12 chock changeover at 9s.

Thurs 28 … Office … Phone Bill Fox Creswell re Wellow.
Thurs 28 … U/g 10am … Visit to 35s / 16s snicket thirling and 16s face pan check o.k…. Office … Discuss CIDS and MY re No1 Pit bottom raft splicing. Drawing of same … Surface … to measure up the girders … 2 men (RB*, IWS)  (760 + 11 u/g)

Fri 29 … Office … Discuss. Ventilation plans and R & FF amendments. Meeting 11am 16s Installation CW S. Rescue Room adjacent to Lamp Room amendments. Phone Dr? Weish Liverpool University re faults. Figures to date.

Sat 30 … 22651 tonnes
John Eyre HQ Subsidence retired ill (cancer in nose)

December 1985
W McGranaghan Nights, R Flint 16s Days, G Weeks sick 1 week

Sat / Sun 1 … No1 coaling shaft capping done with resin for first time instead of traditional white metal … successful.

Mon 2 … Office … Second copy plans to date and info and faults. Phone G Ison re possible telephone allowance. Phone WEB Barlow re Liverpool University info. KG F re various. Phone Ordnance Survey Nottingham leaflets Mr Kemba. Liverpool University again re discuss faults Mr Walsh. Discuss PN elec. Paper for KG Fidler on Colliery Progress.

Tues 3 … U/g ... to 16s face, measured through and set out chocks centre line for Becorit at AW. Panzer edge line through face. Discuss J Hutchins O/m … Office … CIDS re track layout at base of 3rd drift … 3m or 2.5m centres? Plans for KG Fidler for Course at Chalfont Staff College. Phone Ian Burns Area HQ re Dirt tip meeting tomorrow.

Wed 4 … Office … Phone E Hodgson re Dirt tips. Phone Russ Worsey Deputy Area Planner. I Caville Rep Geotronics brought extensions for targets and discuss. KG F discuss various. Correspondence. Dirt tip Meeting 11am and inspection Karen and Wayne NCC, RB and E Hodgson plus P Daffin and I Burns. Meeting 1pm New offices and Car park KG Fidler, RB, G Walsh plus 1, R Worsey. P Downing. Meeting 2pm No2 Heapstead DS Widdowson. Discuss KG F and R Worsey offices change to front of Canteen. Phone Rota Trim London re machine. Discuss KG F various and to move new office block to front of canteen o.k.

Thurs 5 … Office … Certificate for Andy Stewart Conservative MP for Newark & Sherwood. Discuss PGS. Diagram for methane drainage 14s / 33s AW Junction for Ken Willings Methane Drainage Officer. Ordered a Trimming table. Water figures to date from Peter Cocking PPM by phone. Discuss CIDS re track to be 2m centre to centre at 3rd drift finish. Covering notices with Jim Turner Deputy, Reg 10 man. Phone 3rd drift re grade. Diagram for Pit meeting on Sun 15 Dec. Discuss KG F various and 3rd drift also same with JS.

Fri 6 … Office … Sorting out cupboard and stock re tape refills. Repaired a set of dial legs, Pit bottom levels from an old plan etc. Discuss S Knowles UDM re 3rd drift grade. Figures. Calculations. Phone MDC re 3rd drift catenary and strata on 1/500 scale.

Sat 7 … 23282 tonnes
Gordon Weeks Asst. U/m back at work on the surface. Paula Lesh been off sick 5 weeks IW Smith holiday 2 days.

Mon 9 … Office … Phone Russ Worsey re plan. DS Widdowson and CW Standage re Surface Strategic plan and info. Russ Worsey re No2 Heapstead project. Incentive figures, Phone R Timmons re Home Coal lease. Discuss S Burnett Trainee. Discuss GW re FIDD arm change. Meeting 2pm Capital Investment, Manpower Savings and Development. Discuss MDC. Discuss S Burnett Trainee. Phone Area HQ Planning dept. Phone G Walsh re office situation … possible change. KG F meeting next week.

Tues 10 … Office … PC re 9s FIDD arm plan. A Liney re underground plan. Phone MDC. CW S with new form … 14s finish. Benny Wells re Home Coal … 99 year lease … Surface … Measures for amendment road, weighbridge, office etc. ... 2 men (RB*, PC) … Office … Amendments to 1/500 neg. Phone G Ison. Discuss S Burnett 14s (150m) forms sent. Correspondence from year dot!!! Phone Method Study info re paddies etc. Phone JS re 35s AW re-entry … HMI informed o.k.

Wed 11 … Office … Amending 1/500 plan … Surface Strategic plan. Phone MDC re various and 150m form. Discuss G walsh and J Talbot Landscape Architect re offices. Discuss G Weeks and TJ Knott 9s stable and FIDD arm change. J Gelsthorpe Asst. Training Officer re list of Potential Deputies … Surface … measurements for amends … Office … Amended Strategic plan. Discuss MDC and SNW. Meeting 3.30pm Additional Airways DS Widdowson.

Thurs 12 … Office … Checking new Line levels. Office plan. Discuss J Lyons double stage loader and pit falls! Also re 9s face section of AFC. Office plan copy. Discuss S Burnett plans. Discuss K Hartwell various and No1 shaft. Discuss JL re Thoresby system for 16s. M Young re 9s face section.

Fri 13 … Office … Ventilation plans to date. AR Tryner and TJ Knott U/m signed 3rd drift plan. Phone MDC re same. Discuss IWS and PC. Lunch with CJ Whyte, JR Greasley and G Ison … I was asked re HQ job. Discuss No2 Dirt tip extension … Surface to Wellow Road British Rail cutting re a possible tipping area. (CJW, JRG, GI, RB) General discussion.

Sat 14 … 22915 tonnes

Mon 16 … Office … Phone R Worsey re offices. Phone G Ion re Gyro. With IW Smith updating R & FF neg. Discuss KFG. Incentive figures. Phone E Moody Joiner to make some pegs. Manager’s and Deputy Manager’s Wall plans. Progress. Discuss T Miller a Potential Deputy. Meeting 2pm New Offices KG Fidler, RB, GW, GH, RW. Fixed position for same. 2s trig levelling. Discuss R Worsey. Discuss TJK re Return drift re-rip possible. Also 2s strata in future and 3s. Area HQ progress folder.

Tues 17 … U/g … Visit to 3rd drift, geological samples also. To No1 Pit bottom raft and discuss J Stewart (RB*) … Office … Discuss Phil Abram Potential Deputy. Discuss Jack Lyons and Richard Sneade 16s LG centre line re stage loader. Notices for Colliery Football club.

Wed 18 … Office … K Willings methane drainage update. Phone M Young. … Surface … Levels for grades at No2 shaft Low Landing … rope broke! … 3 men (RB*. PC, IWS) … Office … Calculations. Correspondence. Auxiliary Ventilation negative 35s AW. Phone G Ison re Gyro. Discuss GW re 33s face pan changing. KG F and B Wells re 27 Dec 1985. Abandonment plan Report file. New file for 2s Support Rules. Listing remarks.

Thurs 19 … Office ... Plans drawn for 35s and 31s. Meeting 10am Haulage layouts 35s and 31s J Stewart. Ideas re same. Consultative Party. CW S re 3rd drift. Drew out 16s LG end tackle. Phone G Ison. Discuss JL and RS re 16s LG end.

Fri 20 … Office … Phone G Austin Bilsthorpe. Phone K Jenkins Thoresby. General. Phone G Ison. JL re gate widths. CW S re various Bilsthorpe and Thoresby. To Thoresby with PGS. Demonstration of a Computer and print out and info from I Shaw, K Jenkins and IY Wilson. Copies of sheets for KW. (IWS and PC with G Ison to University of Nottingham). Discuss G Ison re Gyro. Haulage sketches for 35s and 31s. Distributed R & FF plans.

Sat 21 … 23086 tonnes

Mon 23 … Office … Haulage info for KFG. 1/25000 to date. Correspondence. Discuss D Cope Potential Deputy. Consultative Party. Discuss KG Fidler. Said cheerio to HMI Howard C Evans transferred to SE and Channel Tunnel.

Tues 24 … Office … Discuss Andy Roguz Potential Deputy (ex-Linesman). Discuss KG Fidler and DS Widdowson development.

Wed 25 … Christmas Day … Thurs 26 … Boxing Day

Fri 27 … Colliery Rest Day … U/g … Gyro theodolite observations 3rd drift base … 5 men (GI, RB, PGS, IWS and Mick Flintham Subsidence dept.)

Sat 28 … 5810 tonnes

Mon 30 … Colliery Rest Day … Tues 31 … Colliery Rest Day

Output 1985 = 880,016 tonnes 1183 men on books