Hi there,
My name is Bridgette Huckerby-Perks, my grandfather was George Henry Huckerby (Harry)  he worked at Bentley Colliery from the early 1930's, he was very well known and loved and was very active in the union. I believe he was a 'union convener??'

Could you please ask your contributors if they have any information what so ever as I would love to find out more.

I am happy for you to pass on my email.

Many thanks
Bridgette

Hi.         
My name is Sean Box, I’m 22yr old and have recently started working down the mine at Hatfield Colliery with my father Paul Box.

Before I stared at the mine I went to the Bentley mining disaster memorial held at Arskey Cemetery as my Grandfather, Donald Box, died in the 1978 Paddy Accident.

People who I work with know about my grandfather being in this accident and have mentioned that there might be a trophy named after him at a Mines Rescue Service centre, it would mean a lot to me if you have any information about the existence of this trophy.

I have read part of your web page on the Bentley pit disaster. It is down as 1932 when it was in 1931. I have a book all about the 1931 Bentley colliery disaster. I have always been interested in collieries. My dad worked at Bentley colliery for nearly 25 years before it was down for closure. Plus I had an uncle who was in the 1978 paddy accident at the colliery. But if you like more information about my book please let me know.

Mr Martin Cowling

Sorted Martin, thank you very much for the correction.
More information about the Paddy train crash on Pete's site, 'Yorkshire Main Colliery'

Names of Paddy Train Casualties

After He Witnessed A Few Bad Accidents My Father Advised Me Not To Go Down The Pit Bentley Colliery My father used to work down Armthorpe pit in Doncaster and after he witnessed a few bad accidents he always advised me not to go down the pit, unfortunately the building trade hit a bad patch in the mid seventies and I took a job down Bentley pit until the paddy train crash in 1978, when seven men died. I only suffered a minor head injury, but after being off work for a few weeks decided that I could not face going back down the pit, because of the memories of the lads who died and the way they died. After a long search for work I was forced to face up to my fears and walk down the main road in Bentley to the pit. It is probably a walk of less than a mile but it seemed to take forever. When I was in the office talking to the manager the sirens went off and I heard that a contractor had fallen down the shaft. At this point I turned around and went back home, Maybe god spoke to me that day in no uncertain terms, so I decided that enough was enough and never set foot down a pit again. Until that is I went to the Speedwell Cavern with my family in 2003 and never thought about it until we got on the boat at the bottom. Then my heart did not stop pounding until I got back to the surface. Yours sincerely Mr I R Siddons Those Who Died:- Robert Aitcheson Donald Box Kenneth Green David R Hall Geoffrey Henderson Michael Edward Hickman James Mitchell aged 54 aged 39 aged 38 aged 21 aged 39 aged 18 aged 55 Faceworker Faceworker Faceworker Face Trainee Faceworker Face Trainee Faceworker Injured J. Butcher Thomas J Rush Paul Thompson aged 57 aged 26 aged 26 Shift Charge Engineer Supply Man Ripper