The next to last deep coal mine in the U.K. closed and my 30 years as a miner came to an end.
I had started mining in 1978 and found it suited me. I had gone along for an interview with a school mate to keep him company. I had already been offered a job as a draughtsman on £21/week. After the two hour maths and English tests I was offered an apprenticeship as an electrician on £27/week. The extra £6 decided it.
I started at Bentinck Colliery and worked underground in the Blackshale seam. This was the largest of the 3 seams. We worked at about 6foot high - 1.85m.
It looked a bit like this on the coal face.
In 1981 I moved to an adjoining mine called Annesley and soon ended up on the low faces. The deep soft was about 2'6" or .75m high and to travel through the face, you tied your tool bag to your ankle and went through on your belly.
A bit higher face but about the height of my first face once out of my apprenticeship.
We used to travel about 3 miles on one of these before a mile walk. At least when you were knackered at the end of the shift you got to ride some of the way out on a conveyor.
I had a break from mining due to pit closures in the early 90s but started back at Clipstone in 2001. I soon transferred to Thoresby and spent most of my time there in charge of installing the electrics for the face.
Thoresby shut in July 2015 and I gave up mining.
I do however still work indirectly for the mining industry but this time it's in Russia.