Snippets of Memories
A few sentences and occasional photos from ex-miners, their families and friends.
From his son:
"My Dad . Love this photo of him . He loved his lamps and was very proud of every lamp he worked on. He even brought his work home with him. I have very fond memories of him working on his lamps in the garden shed. Clifford Williams . Gresford 1937-1974 Bersham 1974-1980."
and from others:
"He was a great bloke to know always friendly. He made sure your lamp was fully charged before you went underground. A very important aspect of mining."
"Lovely guy I remember him well"
(from Anne Evans nee Fowles)
My stepfather, Eward Davies (Edda) was a Deputy at Bersham colliery and had the authority to take visitors down the pit and in 1966 I had the privilege of being taken down to the coalface at Bersham. What an experience and one that will re-enforce my admiration for the men that went into that black hole on a daily basis.
On a lighter note, I acquired a Pithead Baths towel in the early 1970s via my stepfather and it was only last year. 2012, that I finally threw it out, it was well and truly used!
Chewing tobacco - pipes and cigarettes were not allowed because of the fire risk
"I would be sent by my father to the local Co-op for his weekly ounce of Twist (chewing tobacco). One day I asked him for a piece to try. He said ok as long as you keep it in your mouth for ten minutes. Needless to say I failed.I would like to ask the former miners what was their first experience of chewing tobacco?"
"Swallowed my first taste felt sick all shift"
"My first chew was from a shafts man and I tried to swallow, well you can imagine the laughs from all the men."
The Pithead Baths meant that miners' families rarely saw them covered with coal dust - hence this Snippet
"Looking at the photos of the miners underground with their black faces,brought back memories of the day I passed my driving test. I went home and said to my mother I'll surprise my father and pick him up after he finished his shift at Hafod Colliery.Iwas waiting as the men made their way towards the baths when one of them walked towards me ,completely black face,red lips ,torn clothes carrying his water bottle and snap tin.I was about 4 feet away and did not recognise him,until he said what are you doing here? He was my own father.It was a strange sensation not recognising him and it brought a shiver down my back.It's something I'll never forget.He worked at Hafod for 47 years until it closed.his name was Thomas Williams better known as Tommy Xmas."
The "Miners' Crouch" - a typical position, sqatting, feet flat on the floor and back against the wall. This sitting on nothing position was common when they took a break for their snap.
(Click on the thumbnail to see the larger photo of two fathers crouching against a wall sometime in the early 20th century.)
"I well remember the colliers walking home in the bottom of Cefn after finishing their shift in Ifton. After being dropped off by the Bus in Newbridge they used to walk along Cae Gwilym Lane right across the road eight or ten abreast."
Glenda Fox posted on the Facebook Group:
"Photo of my GRT granddad John Hughes at Hafod
The photo I think was taken in the 30's John lived in Gyfelia near Ruabon and was born 1868."
(click on the thumbnail to see the larger photo of John standing by the winding engine)
G. M. posted on Facebook
"A 1966/67 Gresford Colliery diary which I won in a safety competition during training."
(click on the Thumbnail to see a larger photo of the diary)
"I remember the colliers waiting, crouched down, for Hanmers bus out side the Coop in Tanyfron with their snappin tins under their arms."
"Used to do the crouch whilst waiting for the Crosville bus to go to work at the Hafod colliery in the early fifties."
A lady who'd worked in the wages department at one of the collieries in the 1960s said,
"Then there was the one who always had two wage packets - one with all the details but containing just two pounds, which he kept for himself, the other with just his name and no details - this he would hand to his wife."