Dear Fionn,
Have just spotted your website and am enjoying the read.

From 1964 to 1968 I did an engineering apprenticeship at Calverton and have written an essay about my experience calvertonfitter.com

I published it in 2008 and it had a lot of traffic and I've just updated it and added a blog as I'm now retired. No traffic there yet but who knows.

Hope you enjoy the read
Kind regards

A Coal Board Engineering Apprentice
John Round

Revisiting the years 1959 – 1968

Born 1948 and lived in, Thorne, Moorends, Calverton (Foxwood Grove and Broom Road), Accrington, Rochdale, Oldham and Hepworth. Currently retired and living in Cheshire.

Also worked in Grays, Northwich, Ipswich, Chepstow, Leeds, Lurgan, Dublin, Glasgow, Portugal, Italy, Pakistan, India and America.

Worked in; Mining, Aircraft, Textiles, Paper, Plastic and General Engineering.

Father (Bernard) and Grandfather (Andrew) both miners ex. Thorne Colliery. Bernard, retired ex. Calverton Colliery.

Maternal Grandfather, John Reed, died 1926 in Thorne Colliery shaft accident. See dmm.org.uk/pitwork/html/thorne.htm

Married in 1975 to Vivette SRN SCM HV

Daughter: Lisa-Jayne and currently a Marketing Executive.

I'd be delighted to hear from you especially if you have a mining or engineering background.

With thanks to my daughter Lisa-Jayne for her encouragement and editing skills.

CALVERTON FITTER

School Years

I never wanted to be a fitter and I didn't even know what a fitter was or did, until it was too late. I wanted to be a draughtsman, just like my maternal Great Grandfather Smith and, extraordinary as it may sound, I didn't even know what a draughtsman did, until it was too late. Unfortunately, I also had absolutely no idea that a draughtsman was an engineer. However, I was good at Technical Drawing and that was the clincher, although I can't recall being much good at anything else despite going through school in the 'A' classes. I do remember that Great Grandfather gave me his ivory scale rule with his initials, J.T.S., pecked in with a pin; Joseph Tinsley Smith and that sealed the deal. . .

Calverton Fitter
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An NCB Apprenticeship … and what happened next
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I have been looking for my father Mr. John Anthony Sullivan who was a member and worker at Calverton pit, would you please be able to find him on any of your records, or even contact him if you’re a well known member of the community, his father was Jack Sullivan, his brother is Norman Sullivan, hope to hear from you if there’s anything found.

Many thanks
Jason Sullivan

Hi Jason, unfortunately I know nothing about nothing, I am afraid I have no records, I am merely a facilitator putting up what is sent to me. If anyone can help please email me here

Hi
Just emailing you to say thanks for some good info on Calverton pit. I am a 24 year old from Calverton and I have a lot of good memories of the pit. Calverton is now the pits there are no jobs and they have put a recycling centre and a lorry park where the pit stood that employs a whole 20 to 30 people. How can they do this? And no one remembers why Calverton is there. I lived in the prefab house all my life and Calverton is turning into a …… well you get my point.

Thanks
Robin Akers