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Peter Sykes interviewed by Colin Hyde, 25 February 2008
No full textRecalls early interest as roaming fields around Groby and Ratby and reading. Gives thumbnail of local terrain. Recalls meeting Steve Woodward at school and visiting Eyebrook with parents. Mentions travelling to Africa annually and visiting Iceland, Galapagos, Equador. Photographs moths, insects and flowers and large animals. Keeps bird records from 1970s around UK. Explains why not a member of photographic society and use of digital cameras. Notes like to understand world, how and why. Belongs to National Trust and Bosworth Natural History Society (MBNHS). Talks about Tony Fletcher, Martin Withers and Jan Dawson. Talks about getting young people involved in societies and creating presentations. MBNHS run wildflower meadow on Bosworth Park. Illustrates trying to get kids involved. Mentions interest in photographying moths. Admires Jimek at Serengeti & Dian Fossey. Favourite books 'Serengeti Shall Not Die' by Jimek, Armand & Michaela Denis; moth identification books. Explains photographing elephants. Talks about indexed photographic collection, moth records given to local recorder. Describes MBNHS survey of Battlefield railway line due to global warming for national database. Illustrates concern for mess people are leaving behind - conservation. Wants positive approach to global warming programmes. Currently member of British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and garden bird watch, member of RSPB, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), Butterfly Conservation, Leicester Funghi Study Group, Leicester Entomological Society, Hinckley & District Astronomical Society
Ghost sign for Holes Newark Ales on Belgrave Gate, 2008.
No full textGhost sign for Newark Ales sold by James Hole and Co. and founded in 1890. The sign reads: '... Holes Newark Ales'. The sign was covered between 2019 and 2020 with public art
London Road, Leicester - rush hour
No full textA view of London Road, Leicester during rush hour, facing south out of the city. Shows the traffic congestion and traffic management systems in place
David Luther interviewed by Colin Hyde at Snibston, 7 July 2008
No full textDavid Luther (DL) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH) at Snibston colliery, 7 July 2008. DL describes family background in relation to mining, father worked in mines, grandfather was unionist. DL left school in 1981, didn't initially want to work in mines, later started work at South Leicester colliery, completed apprenticeship with Stephenson College, learning about mechanics, didn't enjoy the apprenticeship, left in third year and became general underground worker. Mentions enjoyed this role, was responsible for supplies and haulage, delivering supplies of timber and equipment to coal face. Recalls South Leicester colliery was due to close, DL moved to Whitwick colliery. Talks about conditions in mines, damp, cold and dark, recalls miners sustaining injuries, incidents of fatalities. Comments on camaraderie amongst miners. Mentions worked at Whitwick until it was due to close, DL transferred to Bagworth colliery, comments on general awareness that mining was a dying industry, suggests miners were fearful of the future. Talks about wages, suggests mining wasn't particularly well paid in the 1980s. Recalls coal face training, would accompany an experienced face worker on each job. Mentions when Bagworth was due to close, private mining company took on the contract, contracted miners to close the mines. Few contract positions were offered, high pressure roles, miners didn't take lunch and were expected to complete many jobs, GB suggest corners were cut to complete work. Reflects that miners were uncertain of their careers after the mines closed, some took their own lives, other hoped to be sent to Asfordby which was regarded as the 'super mine'. DL left to work in a factory, disliked the work and treatment of workers, returned to contract roles within mines, later took job within Ranger Team at Snibston Discovery Park
Malcolm Harry Smith interviewed by Colin Hyde, 4 December 2008
No full textMalcolm Harry Smith (MS) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 4 December 2008. MS talks about family background in relation to mining, grandfather and father both held role of Overman in mines. MS started working at South Leicestershire colliery in 1952 after leaving grammar school. MS mentions father didn't want him to work in mines. MS' first role was working on haulages, then given role as 'cabin lad' taking air quality measurements. Recalls completing coal face training, had to complete this training and work two years on an active coal face in order to move into management. Mentions had wanted to join navy. Detailed description of role as 'cabin lad', air sampling, dust sampling, used stone dust to prevent explosions. Went to work on coal face, recalls mechanisation of mining, panzer used to transport coal, Anderton Shearer cut the coal. Mentions young men were asked to drive the machine, were paid more. Comments on trepanner machine used to cut lump coal which sat in front of the panzer. Started shot firing training at Coalville Technical College, took deputy training, had to get exemption as miners had to be 21 to train and MS was 20 at the time. Returned to mine and became Acting Deputy and later Deputy. Mentions later got job as Overman at Whitwick colliery at age of 27, had to get exemption as Overman had to be 29. MS and a group of twelve others were chosen to be sent to University of Nottingham to get mining degree. Returned to Whitwick colliery as Undermanager. Detailed explanation of shot firing process, describes explosive devices used. Explains roles of Deputy, booking men's time, measuring their work, deputising for the Manager to complete safety checks. Talks about role as Overman, MS was in charge of pit number three, five and six. Suggests there were tensions between deputies and overmen. Role was advertised for Statutory Undermanager at Bagworth colliery, MS interviewed and was given job. Later worked at Coleorton colliery in health and safety, taking care of explosives, details this role. Talks about becoming member of first aid teams at Whitwick colliery, recalls inter-colliery competitions in first aid. Talks about inter-colliery flower show. Talks about social lives of miners, mentions leisure often revolved around drinking, working men's clubs, whippet racing, some were poachers. Recalls miners were rewarded with barrel of beer if they broke mining records, miners were not allowed to go down into pit drunk. Recalls miners were allowed to chew tobacco. Reflects on work in explosives
Glenfield Tunnel during reinforcement project 2007-8
No full textGlenfield Tunnel: concrete strips reinforce the original 1830 brickwork of this tunnel designed by Robert Stephenson for the Leicester & Swannington Railway. The tunnel runs for a dead-straight mile from the New Parks area of Leicester to Glenfield. Trains last ran through it in 1966. The reinforcement was added in 2007-8. This shot shows a tunnel refuge, foreground left, contractor's plant in middle distance, beneath an air shaft whose grille is hanging down. The tunnel is usually virtually dry; the standing water visible is from contractor's operations
David Luther interviewed by Colin Hyde, 8 February 2008
No full textInterview begins with early life and career in mining, before becoming Senior Ranger of a team that manages country parks and a number of other sites. Explains his attraction to natural history because of the enjoyment of open spaces. Member of a number of organisations including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Wildlife Trust (WT), British Trust of Conservation Volunteers (BTCV). Mentions that he has kept records of birds and has been inspired by the work of Phil Drabble in educating many others. Recalls a number of books enjoyed before finishing the interview with his hope that he has helped some others think more about the environment. [Interview has had sections redacted from public access]
Janet Walne interviewed by Colin Hyde, 17 September 2008
No full textJanet Walne (JW) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 17 September 2008. JW describes family background with relation to mining. Grandfather worked in mines, father and brother worked at Whitwick colliery. JW left school and began working at Co-op in grocery department, had her children in 1973. Mentions got job at Snibston colliery, JW's mother took care of daughters whilst she was at work. Recalls flexible hours, could bring daughter to work with her. Role was working in canteen preparing meals for miners, mentions miners were very polite, modified their language around the female staff. JW later became Canteen Manageress, responsible for ordering items, keeping books. Mentions meals were mostly meat and vegetables, recalls that canteen tried cooking curry but nobody would eat it. Recalls canteen seated around 200, served pies, sausages, faggots and chips. Recalls fish and chips on Friday was always popular. Mentions desserts served, fruit pies, jam tarts, rock cakes, all served with custard. Describes 'windmill pie' leftover cakes cooked together. Reflects on colleagues in canteen and their various roles. Recalls making breakfasts for miners on early shifts, usual breakfast was bacon, sausage, egg, tomatoes, beans and two slices of bread. Mentions men working overtime received sandwiches and cake. Recalls catering for Miners' Welfare and ambulance competitions. Compares Snibston canteen with others she worked at including Whitwick and Measham. Detailed description of role as Manageress. Comments on health and hygiene measures, inspectors. Reflects on fond memories of working at Snibston Colliery, was able to cater for daughter's wedding at canteen. Recalls socialising with women who worked in canteen. JW later left Whitwick colliery to work at Lewis' department store
Bill Parker interviewed by Colin Hyde, 22 September 2008
No full textBill Parker (BP) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 22 September 2008. BP talks about family background in relation to mining industry, grandparents, uncles, father and brother all worked in mine. Father and brother worked for Whitwick colliery, brother played for Whitwick football team. Mentions family did not want BP to work in mine. BP got a job at Snibston colliery, was sent to Whitwick colliery to complete training before returning to Snibston. Started work in pit bottom, lowering tubs to bottom of pit, then progressed to pony driving. Mentions joined Snibston physical culture club, weight lifting, body building and boxing. BP recalls playing for Snibston football team, won the Coalville Cup. Detailed description of role as Pony Driver and conditions ponies worked in. Mentions ponies were taken to galas and competitions. Recalls started coalface training at age 18. Recalls setting up a new coal face with chocks and machinery. Talks about mechanisation of mining equipment, BP offered to take machine for its first cut and was then offered job as Machinist. Talks about challenges of using machinery, lots of dust, no masks initially, would dampen a scarf to wrap around face. Mentions some miners developed Pneumonicosis. Talks about shearer machine and panzer, mentions boring machine got lighter with mechanisation. Comments on involvement developing roadways. Talks about changes witnessed at Snibston colliery, worked there for thirty five years. Talks about general relationships with managers at Snibston, mostly good. Comments on social life, made friends with other miners, would socialise together at local pubs. BP retired after Snibston colliery closed down, misses working with friends. Talks about canteen facilities at Snibston, went to Miners' Welfare on Saturday nights, Christmas and New Year's. Talks about involvement with Retired Miners' Club, organised days out twice a month