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Ann Atkinson - Markham Miners Memorial
Shane Cooper - My dad, Gordon Richard Cooper, sadly died in the Markham Cage Disaster in 1973
Maureen Crofts - Corrections - List of Casualties
From:
Sent:
Subject:Shane Cooper
4 March 2011
My dad, Gordon Richard Cooper, sadly died in the Markham Cage Disaster in 1973It did seem very strange to me when I first visited your web site and found my dads name, Gordon Richard Cooper, I just sat there staring at it for what seemed like days. My dad sadly died in the Markham Cage Disaster in 1973, was Gordon Richard Cooper known to everyone as Bob.
As far as I know he was the youngest one to die as he was only 30, leaving my mum Pauline 28 with three young children, Deb 7, Kerry 5, and myself Shane only 2.
It wasn’t my dad’s usual shift but had been asked if he would swap with someone, wrong place at the wrong time is an understatement.
My mum still has the cuttings out of the national newspapers with all four of us on the cover page, very sad to look at after all these years even though I can’t remember that time being only 2.
I would love to get any information about what happened on that day in 1973 as it’s been a massive void for many years.
I still live in the area with my wife Dawn and two young sons, Dalton 9 and Taylor 7, and losing my dad at a young age makes me so much closer to them, I cherish every second I have with them as I know only too well no one knows what’s waiting round the next corner.
Same as all the children of the victims I have had to grow up without a father because of what happened on that tragic day, and with the added fact I was too young to even remember him has a massive affect on a person, more than words could ever say.
As a child growing up, I always wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a miner. I can recall meeting a girlfriends parents and them asking me "what do you want to do when you leave school then Shane?" Which I quickly replied "work down the pit like my dad did", I don’t think this was the answer they required, maybe "become a merchant banker" may have sealed the deal, but I had other plans. I eventually married a miners daughter, and glad I am too, so all’s well that ends well, on that score at least.
I never did fulfil my childhood plans though, and I’m not really sure why I wanted to go down that route after what happened to dad. Maybe in my mind, all I really wanted to do was face my demons, take on the beast that took my dad from me. If only I could ride the cage down the same shaft and live to tell the tale, I would somehow have taken revenge, a way of getting one up for my dad, I suppose ?? Strange how a childs mind works overtime, dont you think?
Needless to say, I’m proud to be the son of a miner. And although I never got to know him, I’ve learnt from my mum and others about him, and I know this, he was the best of husbands to mum, the best of dads to his three young kids for the short time he had with us, liked by everyone, loved by his family and friends, and truly missed everyday, how’s the saying go? “The good die young", Never a truer word spoken. But at least if myself and the families of all the men who sadly died along side my dad, can keep on remembering them, and pass those memories on to generations to come, we can keep them alive in our hearts and minds forever.
I’d like to get in contact with Tony Sissons who wrote a message on your site, his dad died along side mine, I don’t know him but think it would be nice to speak with him, we’ve gone through the same situation, and were both very young the day of the accident, if you have any way of contacting him would you pass my email on to him please?
And I’d love to speak to any survivors or anyone involved in the rescue, I know as the years pass by it s more unlikely to happen, but would be nice.
Keep up the great work on the site Fionn and thanks again, Take care,/p>
Shane Cooper
From: Maureen Crofts
Sent: 12 March 2010
Subject: Corrections - List of Casualties
I am doing family history and have been given The Accident at Markham colliery page. I lived in Bolsover from 1944 - 1962 and remember the names of the streets/roads etc. My husband lived in Shuttlewood for that time. My father was a miner and worked at Ramcroft as a ripper for most of his life and finished at
Glapwell Colliery. He finished work in 1964 at the age of 65.
I remember when dad had an accident in 1951 we went to Skeggy. Dad I think was in the Miners' Home and we stayed in a guest house.
Something found incorrect in the list of casualties, Markham Disaster - 10th May, 1938:-
- Bann David - should read Shuttlewood not Shuttleworth
- Geary Joseph - should read Stavely not Stavelly
- Gregson Robert - should read Shuttlewood not Shuttleworth
- Hill Clarence - should read Calow Green not Carlow Green
- Richards Mark - should read Moor Lane not Moot Lane
- Poyse Horace - should read Huntingdon Avenue not Hartington Avenue
Do you have any information on Ramcroft Colliery?
Try the following:-
http://www.aboutderbyshire.co.uk/cms/9/from-pit-to-palace-the-st.shtml
http://www.oldminer.co.uk/New/Ramcroft.htm
I have attached an article I wrote some time ago. Thought you may be interested:-ALL FOR BLACK DIAMONDS
My five-year old ears listened. I lay in bed and waited. Waited and waited. I heard a bedroom door open. Big feet pattered across the landing. The bathroom door opened . . .
(Click Here For The Rest)
When I was at school in Derbyshire, I went down Shirebrook colliery at the age of about 13 for a Geography 'field course'. We went down in the cage (aghhhhhhhhh!) leaving our stomachs at the top and stayed down for about a couple of hours. We went on the paddy mail and crawled through small tunnels on all fours as miners did. We saw miners hacking at the coal face. It was probably 1957 - now that gives my age away! It wouldn't be allowed these days what with health and safety etc. But what an experience! I will never forget it - blowing all that dirt out of our noses after that short time. My dad worked for 51 years in those conditions as many miners did.
I sent the attachment 'All For Black Diamonds’' because I thought it might be of interest to you, but I am quite happy for you to use it on your website. If there is anything I can help with - regarding schoolchildren - (not quite sure what) please get in touch. I was a teacher and am willing to answer any of their questions by e-mail.
Best wishes
Maureen
