WHO ARE CISWO? Club News CISWO are the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation, a UK-wide charity providing free support to former coal miners and their families. Continue reading on the official site...
Supported excellent sporting facilities in this area connected to the pits. Used to play on some great cricket grounds. Don't know if they're still doing it though.
They once sponsored our Raft Racing team at the Black Bull pub at Stairfoot. We used to enter a 100 mile annual charity raft race down the River Wye over 3 days. It was run by (CHAR) Committee for Herefordshire Amateur Rafters and started at Haye- on- Wye and finished in Chepstow. Taking in some beautiful scenery in the Wye valley including the Forest of Dean. It was absolutely one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. CISWO, helped a lot with finances and equipment. We adopted the Special Care Baby Unit at Barnsley DGH as our charity. Great times but knackering.
I think they packed in years ago, I'm nearly sure they gave the miners welfare and all their equipment free of charge to Worsbrough Bridge CC
My late dad used to work for them on Huddersfield Road. They used to do a lot for convalescing of injured miners and their families back in the 70s/80s but also didn't know they were still going. Definitely not on Huddersfield Road anymore - now flats...
Yes to all ex miners out there. Once Covid is sorted discounted weeks and weekends at convalescence places by the sea. I've never took it up yet but had all the paperwork when a representative came from CISWO couple of years back. They also support ex miners with industrial injuries claims.
Yes there was loads of great standard facilities in and around this area. Rockingham, Houghton. Dearne. Cottonwood. Wolley. Wombwell. Brodsworth. Some of them huge round flat surfaces. Wath is of that style but don't know if that was a colliery ground. Elsecar as well but that was probably set up by the fitzwilliam estate.
Back in the 60's they used the facilities at Carlton as a pre-season training camp. Almost sure the ground was used by Woodmoor 4 & 5.
Used to play in the CISWO Golf comp, had some great times. They also owned the res’ at Ryhill before selling them on.
Yes it was, part of the 3rd section on the last day which started just up river near Goodrich Castle. Beautiful surroundings but potentially a dangerous stretch with the fast waters and rocks. Saw a raft out of control mount the rocks and skittle a photographer. After Tintern Abbey the river totally changes character and very tidal on the final stretch to Chepstow
