Open air mining

Published at 07:43, Wednesday, 13 February 2013

AS an ex-mines mechanic, who has worked at Stagshaw, Wylam and Hedley drift mines, North Wallbottle, Weetslade, and Montague collieries, I have worked, underground bent almost double carrying a tool bag 20 to 28lbs in wet and dirty conditions and seen miners lying on their sides in water shovelling coal onto a conveyor.

Would any child from Whittonstall school follow in my footsteps, as in the 50s, to get coal to the surface? Or would they prefer to work in the fresh open air taking several seams of coal out at the same time?

NORMAN A.S. PEART,

Hedley-on-the-Hill

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk