Student Apprentice

[paul]

I have fond memories of my time at Cotgrave Colliery. I decided to study Mining Engineering at Newcastle University. Having failed my Maths A level I took a year out to resit (August 1973 - September 1974) and went to work for the NCB as a Student Apprentice. Having completed my basic training I was sent to Cotgrave and spent a year working across the various departments. About six months was spent working on the coal face and I still have a black scar on my hand as a memory! Of course being a place full of Geordies it was great preparation for university in Newcastle. Unfortunately I cannot remember the names of the people I worked with. I do recall showing safety movies to the area management during the 1974 strike. I also recall fondly how well everyone treated me. Miners truly are a band of brothers and a bunch of practical jokers. I went back to Cotgrave during the Summer of 1975 and worked mainly on shaft inspections. Happy days!

[John]

My maths weren't good enough for the Student Apprenticeship scheme. My first year, two were selected for a mock exam from the class I was in, one passed it and went on to University.

A few years after I'd left the industry and was working for Wilson Ford Rewinds, I bumped into him again and had a chat. He'd been sent to us to watch how equipment was being overhauled.

Seems he'd got a degree in electronics, and as yet the NCB didn't know where to place him.....In some ways, I wished I'd applied to take electronics and gone on to be a tech, as it was fast coming into use underground. I had and still do have a keen interest in electronics and repair of electronic equipment.