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Post by John on May 27, 2015 5:27:06 GMT -5
Yeah, I caused a panic, but it was smoke and not shotfiring fumes, even the switchman agreed with me. I've only ever seen smoke once underground, and that was at Clifton, a frictional heating from a conveyor belt. Ironically, we had the Inspector underground at the time, everything was hush hush...LOL When I worked at the Cinderhill Lab I was called out to man the Divisional Mobile Lab at Clifton where there was an incident with a fire. We did gas analysis on samples brought in by the mines rescue. There was a lot of Carbon Monoxide, you wouldn't like to be in it. but it gradually went down. I understood that the problem was a conveyor drive. Possibly the one you refer to above. It would be the early 1960's. |
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Post by paultay22 on Jul 17, 2015 17:05:20 GMT -5
Paul lived at Cotgrave earlier before moving back to Ilkeston. Knew Gordon well, great guy. Had some laughs together. Sad to hear about his illness. Did you know Geoff Nelson, emigrated to Aussie. Hi Paul Taylor here, son of Ralph Taylor (Overman) (now 84, just had a minor stroke, he is ok) We both worked at Cotgrave, myself for 20 years as a fitter, same shift as Mick Wolvin I started at Moorgreen 1 week before Gordon, (so sad to hear of his death, we had many nights out before he married) here is a picture of Gordon taken from a newspaper reporting his passing 
A few names I remember from the pit Keith Austin, Brian Renshaw, Terry Talbert, John Merriman, Don Parsons, Arthur Kilby, Jimmy Gordon, Alec Hannah, Alan Dickinson, Maurice Hulme (jnr) Paul Anderson, Norman White Loads more....
Cheers Paul
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Post by eleceng on Jul 25, 2015 8:57:10 GMT -5
Hello Paul, nice to hear from you after all these years. I'm sure we share so many memories! Please give my best wishes to you dad & hope he keeps OK! Sadly Alec Hannah as passed, he died in USA, but his body was brought back & memorial service was held in Cotgrave, unfortunately I wasn't able to attend. Try & keep in touch. Regards, Mick Wolvin. |
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Post by smshogun on Aug 18, 2015 21:59:19 GMT -5
Its an early start again Mick, so some more names while my ride arrives.
Johnnie Wheeler due to start at Cotgrave but had a heart attack after leaving Moorgreen and started late at Cotgrave, went onto the surface. Colin Williams left Moorgreen and started at Cotgrave, worked regular nights U/G and went onto the surface at Cotgrave. Dave Mee came from Babbington along with Pete Barber. Steve Fisher came from Pye Hill.
Jewson Jimmy Marrs took over from Don Parsons. John Howitt was EOM with Dave Martin. Mick Nevin, Jess Drew on the winders, Stu Mold left and set up a nursery for toddlers in West Hallam.
Viv the managers secretary who always had a cup of coffee for me, she was lovely and always had the kettle on and she never gave me the cheap coffee bless her.
Ken Bragg and John (willy wanker) Morley both came from Moorgreen, John came via area.
Its airport time. |
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Post by paultay22 on Aug 21, 2015 14:58:36 GMT -5
Hi Mick, i passed your message onto my dad, he sends his wishes
I'll just throw a few more names into the hat
Mick Newton
Geoff York
Steve Thacker?
Clem
Jack Hallam
John Sabin
Mike Need
Keith Wilkinson
Charlie Brentnall
Cheers
Paul
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Post by John on Aug 21, 2015 15:27:08 GMT -5
And don't forget my old drinking mates, Johnny Booth, Bill "Lou" Blair, There was another who started with us at Tech, can't recall his name now, all elecs
Mick tried to locate "Lou" Blair for me, sadly no luck.
Last time I saw Johnny Booth was not long before I left Nottingham to work at Cleveland Potash, that would be 1975, he'd not long been back in the UK. He'd been on a contract in Zambia for the "Copper Belt Power Company".
I often wonder what happened to him and his family.
Clem's wife is on my FB friends list, they just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
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Post by eleceng on Aug 24, 2015 16:03:50 GMT -5
Great to hear about old mates.
Sadly some no longer with us. Keith Wilkinson passed about 20 years ago.
John, please pass my congrats to Clem & his wife. Nice to know they're still together. Can't remember her name though! Do they still live at Cotgrave?
Steve Fisher was part of my team on development & installation during my last couple of years. Great guy as was all my team.
It's really nice remembering these old friends. After all it's a great big chunk out of my life. 32 years in the pits, 25 of them at Cotgrave!!!
John, I'm really sorry I couldn't find any info on Lou & Johnny. |
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Post by eleceng on Jan 4, 2016 10:21:12 GMT -5
A little tale. We had a small communications room, just a tannoy system linked to UG & prep plant. I went there about 3 o'clock on afters. Ted Musgrove manned it. Lovely man, was PoW under Japs. Well, shortly after a man in a suit arrived. "How's the pit going" "Just a minute, let me finish taking this message" said Ted. "Do you know who I am?" Without a word, Ted Looked at me, turned back, picked up the phone & dialled. "Luis, ( first aid man), it's Ted in control room, can you come straight away. There's a man here who's lost his memory" The man asked what was he doing. "Now you'll be alright I've called first aid room, cos if you don't know who you are, how the effin hell do you expect me to know?" He stormed out. Manager came in half an hour later. Turned out he was big wig from Doncaster. "You'll not only get the sack but me as well" We all had a good laugh about it. |
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Post by John on Jan 4, 2016 11:01:56 GMT -5
A little tale. We had a small communications room, just a tannoy system linked to UG & prep plant. I went there about 3 o'clock on afters. Ted Musgrove manned it. Lovely man, was PoW under Japs. Well, shortly after a man in a suit arrived. "How's the pit going" "Just a minute, let me finish taking this message" said Ted. "Do you know who I am?" Without a word, Ted Looked at me, turned back, picked up the phone & dialled. "Luis, ( first aid man), it's Ted in control room, can you come straight away. There's a man here who's lost his memory" The man asked what was he doing. "Now you'll be alright I've called first aid room, cos if you don't know who you are, how the effin hell do you expect me to know?" He stormed out. Manager came in half an hour later. Turned out he was big wig from Doncaster. "You'll not only get the sack but me as well" We all had a good laugh about it.
Shearer was broke down, we were waiting for a part from the surface for the haulage end, our Manager, Bill Clements was noted for "blowing his top" when we had a face down, usually the phones was thrown through his office window. Joiner was always notified when we had a major breakdown U/G, so he could get a new piece of window glass cut.
Phone rang, elec got up and answered it, he held the earpiece away, was the Manager screaming at the other end, FFS calm down, said the elec, more screaming from the Manager, elec answered, Manager shouted "Do you know who this is" "Elec said yes, now do you know who this is"
"No the Manager screamed"
"Then eff off you stupid "C" " said the elec and put the phone down.
We knew the reaction would end up with a new window and new phone for the Managers Office.
We were all laughing so hard, Manager never did find out who it was ... |
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Post by dazbt on Jan 5, 2016 3:24:21 GMT -5
A little tale. We had a small communications room, just a tannoy system linked to UG & prep plant. I went there about 3 o'clock on afters. Ted Musgrove manned it. Lovely man, was PoW under Japs. Well, shortly after a man in a suit arrived. "How's the pit going" "Just a minute, let me finish taking this message" said Ted. "Do you know who I am?" Without a word, Ted Looked at me, turned back, picked up the phone & dialled. "Luis, ( first aid man), it's Ted in control room, can you come straight away. There's a man here who's lost his memory" The man asked what was he doing. "Now you'll be alright I've called first aid room, cos if you don't know who you are, how the effin hell do you expect me to know?" He stormed out. Manager came in half an hour later. Turned out he was big wig from Doncaster. "You'll not only get the sack but me as well" We all had a good laugh about it.
Shearer was broke down, we were waiting for a part from the surface for the haulage end, our Manager, Bill Clements was noted for "blowing his top" when we had a face down, usually the phones was thrown through his office window. Joiner was always notified when we had a major breakdown U/G, so he could get a new piece of window glass cut.
Phone rang, elec got up and answered it, he held the earpiece away, was the Manager screaming at the other end, FFS calm down, said the elec, more screaming from the Manager, elec answered, Manager shouted "Do you know who this is" "Elec said yes, now do you know who this is"
"No the Manager screamed"
"Then eff off you stupid "C" " said the elec and put the phone down.
We knew the reaction would end up with a new window and new phone for the Managers Office.
We were all laughing so hard, Manager never did find out who it was ...Both stories are absolutely hilarious and, just possibly ................... universal.  |
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Post by John on Jan 5, 2016 6:37:28 GMT -5
Something similar, Clifton, on Mech/Elec scheme, I would never have believed this had I not witnessed it myself. I was a young apprentice with probably the most belligerent elec on the staff.
Shearer was broke down, we were waiting for a part from the surface for the haulage end, our Manager, Bill Clements was noted for "blowing his top" when we had a face down, usually the phones was thrown through his office window. Joiner was always notified when we had a major breakdown U/G, so he could get a new piece of window glass cut.
Phone rang, elec got up and answered it, he held the earpiece away, was the Manager screaming at the other end, FFS calm down, said the elec, more screaming from the Manager, elec answered, Manager shouted "Do you know who this is" "Elec said yes, now do you know who this is"
"No the Manager screamed"
"Then eff off you stupid "C" " said the elec and put the phone down.
We knew the reaction would end up with a new window and new phone for the Managers Office.
We were all laughing so hard, Manager never did find out who it was ... Both stories are absolutely hilarious and, just possibly ................... universal. |
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Post by eleceng on Jan 26, 2016 16:38:30 GMT -5
Got another amusing story. There was a spell of car thieving from the car park on nightshifts. A few of us when on nights took time to walk around the car park to try & catch anybody who shouldn't be there. One very misty night in October I heard a car trying to be started. It was about 3.30. Went into lamproom to see if anyone had come out the pit just before. Nobody had. Grabbed a big spotlight, rushed back outside just to see two blokes disappearing into the mist up the pit road. Me & Ray Edgar (senior o/man) started to search the car park while lamp men phoned police. Our search found a young girl crouched between the cars. Any way police arrived with a dog. Needless to say the dog soon found the two blokes. The funny part of this lengthy story Ray & me were nick named "CAR KEY & CLUTCH" by everybody at the pit. Super memories !!! |
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Post by John on Jan 26, 2016 16:47:49 GMT -5
Can't recall his name Mick, but I'll bet you remember this, I'd been left a couple of years, was married and lived down the Meadows. A couple moved into the empty house next door, I found out from someone he used to work at Cotgrave as a bathroom attendant.
The story goes, someone was stealing money and valuables from the clean lockers, Management laid a trap and caught this feller red handed, of course for his own safety he was sacked on the spot, cleared his possessions and handed over to the police. Been too long now, so don't recall his name, but used to give him a wide berth after finding that out, made sure the front and back doors of our house were securely locked at all times.
I did hear, there were a few pitmen who wanted to settle some debts with him though.
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Post by eleceng on Jan 27, 2016 10:20:40 GMT -5
Yeah, I remember the bath attendant, can't remember his name though. Ray Edgar came from Wollaton as a shotfirer. Many years later becoming s/oman. Before your time. Maybe you might remember his brother Ron. He was an elec. on 4s D/S about your time. They didn't get on at all. |
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Post by John on Jan 27, 2016 12:14:59 GMT -5
Yeah, I remember the bath attendant, can't remember his name though. Ray Edgar came from Wollaton as a shotfirer. Many years later becoming s/oman. Before your time. Maybe you might remember his brother Ron. He was an elec. on 4s D/S about your time. They didn't get on at all.
I don't recall a Ray Edgar, but Ron Edgar seems familiar, it's been 48 years since Clifton closed and I was transferred to Cotgrave.
Two fellers who were working at Cotgrave at that time, I never knew either of them until I worked at Wongawilli Colliery in NSW, were Father and Son, Clarrie Beresford, who was a Deputy at Cotgrave and Mal Beresford who served his electrical apprenticeship at Cotgrave and worked as an electrician there until the whole family migrated to Oz.
Sadly Clarrie passed on a few years back, he was one of life's true gentlemen, Mal was leading hand elec on nights at Wongawilli. |
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Post by eleceng on Jan 28, 2016 9:40:49 GMT -5
Yes John, I remember Clarrie & Mel. I think I've mentioned it before. I'm sure you remember Ron Edgar he was on Denly's shift along with Alan Buck, Tony Eden (apprentice) can't remember anyone else at the moment.
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Post by smshogun on Mar 28, 2016 13:39:08 GMT -5
I remember the car thefts on nights Mick as I was the one who battered the area security patrolling the car park. For those who don't know what happened it wasn't just stealing from a car it was removing complete interiors, engines and gearboxes, wheels and axles, so it was serious theft and not chancers. I was working late on a project and knew I would have a lot of spare time so took a home job to work and did some machining in the machine shop and was returning this job to my car, as I walked to my car and loaded this into the boot and locked my car I saw a vehicle turn into the pit lane which was long and straight, as they were turning in they turned their lights off. It was a plain van which stopped and two men in plain clothes got out and were looking at cars. I crept through the cars to the nearest phone to summon help then went back to the car park and located them, they weren't wearing security uniforms or in a British Coal marked vehicle which area security did, they got nearer and nearer to me and as they were split up walking different rows of cars I pounced and sparked one of them out, the second one came rushing through the cars and I battered him and he surrendered, some of our lads came rushing and the police came and took them away.
I received a call to wait for the manager and did, I got the mother of all bollockings and was told Area security were in a dark hire van and plain clothes and were legitimate and I asked how I was supposed to know this as I had checked the side of the vehicle for British Coal livery and them for a security uniform as they went under some of the lights and as none were present I assumed thieves, large van, lots of thefts on nights, turned lights out, creeping round cars, it was a reasonable assumption to make.
It did have one upside, when area security came to site at night with no uniform on they rang the pit first so within about 2 minutes we all knew they were coming. |
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Post by eleceng on Mar 30, 2016 5:42:23 GMT -5
I can vaguely remember that incident. Wonder if Brian took the call LOL! Think it was after the incident which Ray Edgar & myself were involved.
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Post by geoff5888 on Dec 13, 2016 1:20:50 GMT -5
Must be Mick Wolvin, I got onto this forum only today. 30 years next year since I left Cotgrave
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Post by John on Dec 13, 2016 10:09:36 GMT -5
Must be Mick Wolvin, I got onto this forum only today. 30 years next year since I left Cotgrave
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Post by geoff5888 on Dec 13, 2016 14:51:11 GMT -5
I left in November 1987 to emigrate to Australia, never looked back.
I had nearly 11 years at Cotgrave, great memories, great people, although a few now have gone. |
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Post by eleceng on Dec 14, 2016 16:04:46 GMT -5
Hi Goeff! Must be Geoff Nelson??? We have some memories together if it is?
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Post by geoff5888 on Dec 15, 2016 0:31:17 GMT -5
Yes it is. I got onto this site after I was doing a google search. I had an email from Brian Hubbard who told me about John Sabin passing away.
It is here where I learned of Gordon Harris passing, so young so sad.
I emigrated to Australia 1987, for the last 11 years I've been the Managing Director and shareholder of a company in Australia, I'm low living in San Francisco, where I've been the President of a company, in the same group, for 7 years.
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Post by eleceng on Dec 18, 2016 8:54:59 GMT -5
Hi Geoff. It's good to hear from you after all these years. Great you have done so well. I've often thought how you got on after emigrating to Os?
As you are in touch with Brian Hubbard, he has probably told you that Kieth Wilkinson, Alec Hannah & Dave Marriot have passed away?
Keep in touch, Mick.
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Post by geoff5888 on Dec 18, 2016 22:17:31 GMT -5
Brian has told me of a few more that have gone, Alan Dickinson, Norman Dixon, Ben Sheehan. It's like I get to know someone has gone in every email.
i was in UK on business in 2014, and I made the trip to his house to see him. I called in on Norman Evans a few years back too, although I travel a lot and go through Uk quite often, I do not usually make such visits.
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Post by charliesdaughter on Jul 23, 2021 2:49:07 GMT -5
I’ve enjoyed reading these. This site came up in a search for information about Cotgrave. My Dad was The Engineer in the mid 70s to mid 80s I think…Charlie Brentnall. Sadly we lost him in 2012. The church in Hucknall was full. I know there were many stories during his time there. A few of you may have met me at his 40th or I remember a Greek restaurant? Some may even have been on the infamous sailing holiday? Any (good) memories greatly appreciated. Thank you
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Post by simit on Sept 22, 2022 17:31:28 GMT -5
Hi all....just been reading these posts and bought back many memories. To those that remember Bill Smith who sadly passed last year due to falling down the stairs. Sadly missed...son Malc
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Post by tankslad1951 on Dec 8, 2023 5:49:05 GMT -5
Hi John Moss (Tank) lad here. Just to let u know that unfortunately my dad passed away on Monday 4th Feb 2023.He passed with all his family around him and. He battled Cancer for 3 years right up to end with little help from the Dr's. His funeral will be at Greasley church on 21/12. we do not have a time at the moment. Thanks
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