Hi Fionn,
It started in 1963 when I was a boy of 16, my father (Robert William Fawcett) was transferred from Chilton Colliery in County Durham to Donnington Wood (Shropshire). I started at Madeley Wood in April 63 as a trainee, basic training was 13 weeks I think, it started as two or three days in the training school then after a week or so they took us down training shaft.

The training shaft was called Halesfield and was about half a mile or so away from the main shaft, I still remember getting my helmet and boots plus knee pads and I think I remember my lamp number (414).   I worked at Madeley for eighteen months. I also remember what the coal faces were called, the top coal, the Vigus, and the Bestin Raddles, shortly after my father was transferred to the Granville.