Wombwell Main

My dad worked at Hickleton and Highgate (Goldthorpe), he operated the roof supports (chocks). At Highgate he spent the whole shift on his hands and knees because the seam was only 3 foot thick so that when the roof fell in, it fell onto the sole of his boot crushing his foot against the steel toe-cap. He never made a fuss though. Years later when he was retired he had a couple of black-outs which were diagnosed as a form of epilepsy. When he went to the doctor's the doc said "I see you've had a broken ankle." Dad never knew, he had x-rays which clearly showed the break, unfortunately he was too late to claim any compo from the Coal Board.

 

1983 I think without looking back at the original.

 

Pits shutting, no revenue hence shutting down the associated railways.

 

My favorite mine Highgate, Worked on 63s 64s & 65s1980 to 1983 the went to Frickley & onto Bentley after t strike

 

Did you know my dad? Gordon Armstrong, he retired in 1980 at the age of 60, the oldest man on the face at the time he finished.

 

Wrong wording on my part really. I know why, I just think it was bad planning when a few years later local authorities were getting funding to reopen unused lines and new stations. Had that line survived just a few years longer I don’t think it would’ve been lifted.

 

No mate, can't say I remember.

 

It wouldha been closed in the sixties. As a nipper I went there on Sunday mornings to the first aid classes. My dad did his studying and became a deputyand shotfirer whilst there.
There was once a first aid competion there which included teams from other pits. They had mocked up a coalface in the canteen and they had to get out a miner with a broken back. It was timed and they had to do the fulled bandaging, splinting, stretchering etc.

Sometimes a doctor gave them lectures. I remember him with the skeleton pointing out that the lower jaw was much more flexible in the female of the species.

 

My cousin's husband Ronnie Harkness was killed at Highgate circa 1970 working for Cementation so no great memories of it for us.
However my grandad did 52 years in the pits and if he came back tomorrow he would want to know what shift he was on. I did 10 years and loved it and wish we still had our pits and communities as they were pre strike.

 

Just read your updated edited post.

Your dad sounds like a brilliant Barnsley bloke. "Al do what it teks t'see mi family reyt, and al enjoy mi life while am at it". They're the blokes who built this area after the war and who us young 'uns look up to. Just know that generation isn't forgotten; they were really something else. I hope my lot in time can live up to them. You're right to be proud of him, but your generation has contributed a lot to our town as well. Barnsley is full of good folk with good upbringings, regardless of individual politics, who want the best for their neighbours.

 

Thanks Gravy. That means a lot to me and the people I grew up with. Salt of the earth Genuine caring people. I. Was brought up in a place called Jump. And anyone from my eras would tell you what a fantastic place to be brought up in. I could tell you the names of nearly all the village. And knew ( genuinely) who lived in every house on my street Allott crescent. 105 houses.

 

Great Photos and memories.