Hi

I have just found your site while searching for grommets for the bulkhead of a 109 Land Rover Safari that I am doing a total rebuild on.

I spent my working life in coal mining, starting as a haulage lad, then progressing to a hand filled coal face, shotfiring, deputy, overman and undermanager.

For a while I was captain of Highley No3 Mines Rescue Team where I was a deputy, before being transferred to another pit. I was involved in the last big fire at Baggeridge Colliery, in South Staffordshire, which temporarily closed the mine, (and that might make an interesting story one day) and again at Granville Colliery, Shropshire, a very gassy mine, in which the fire set off several explosions. A very interesting time!

I finished my time at Littleton and Lea Hall Pits, both big pits on Cannock Chase.
I still regularly see Alex Cox, who was under manager at Madeley Wood at that period, he keeps in touch with a number of people from Madeley.

If there is any information that I can help you with, just ask.

My Mother is currently pursuing a damages claim against the coal board for my Grandfather's death. He worked in various Staffordshire mines between 1919 and 1953. The coal board is claiming they have no records of his employment and my Mother's solicitor has mailed her to request proof of her Father's occupation or alternatively his National Insurance number. She can not provide either and her Birth Certificate is a duplicate and fails to show Fathers occupation. Where can she obtain his N.I. no. or proof of his years of employment?

Hello,

I was also in the mines rescue and attended the incident at Granville Colliery that Alf Powick mentions. Is there any way I can get in touch with him?

I'm also trying to find an old workmate, Frank Nickless, who I lost contact with when Madeley Wood closed and he was transferred to Granville

Chris Strawford

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