Golborne colliery

Any ex Golborne men about ,pey partridge as posted before ,tuddy did you live in whelley now hindley green

handsomeminer i worked at golborne for a time.

golborne was my next move from bold, people I met great people, shep was a character

Not many of us around now a days

thats true

Handsomeminer, Yes, I worked at Golborne and I lived in Whelley and then Hindley Green but I moved from there about twenty years ago. Give us a clue, who are you?


Whups, I got that photograph that you sent me, thanks mate.

Colin electrician from ince

no probs tuddy. got some of the last walk we had at golborne

happy days no one can replace them

Hello Colin, long time no see, don't suppose you're still playing rugby,I was talking to you're old mate Owldin a few weeks back.

Tuddy are you Stey w

no it,s stey n.

Nice to here from you where you living now

stay?

strange reply never mind

graneyjoseph,
You will get many strange comments from tonker. I have a feeling that he is one of those men who makes the bullets for someone else to fire

evelyn good to hear from you,handsomeminer is colin off that picture in parsonage workshop small world,I hope you are both well,

Hello evelyn hope you and don are ok pass on my regards to don

colin are you in contact with shep?

i see him occasionally usually in a pub but ive no contact no for him

if you see him pass on my regards.colin my e-mail address is on guestbook including spelling mistake oops,

Back in Whelley now Colin.

Just a link Here to some photo's of Golborne Colliery, I've a friend that worked there named Mitch

Mitch, is he that shy quiet feller who worked in the headings?

That will be the one a very quiet chap

Knew Syd Harrison sparks I think,Hes Godfather to one of My kids, also Alan int Lamp Shop

good days in the mines syd not sure if I know him

sid was chief lecky at the pit . i won the ciswo darts team ko with sid , ronnie lynn & dicky walls & dicky eccleston was our reserve . i do have a pic of when we won it & iv,e just put it in the golborne pictures selection .

Hi Whups
Im due a sat afternoon round ashton shortly probably drop on you

not been out for a drink for over 2yrs now handsomeminer.have you seen the pic iv,e put on in the photos of wigan , it,s in the album & golborne colliery section.

Hi graneyjoseph and handsomeminer,
Yes Don told me that was Colin on the photo. We are both fine thank you. Don has no interest in computers but I let him know what and how you are all doing.
By the way Colin I like your Wigan World 'nom de plume'

Hi Evelyn Don always made us welcome in the workshops a real gentleman

And a gentle man --- my soulmate.

Evelyn we all had some good times at parsonage both colin and myself best wishes to you both

anyone looked at the pic iv,e put on yet ? .

Joe and Colin
Don has always said that he doesn't miss work but does miss his workmates.
He still tells me funny stories of things that happened at Parsonage which I find amusing (sometimes overgrown schoolboys comes to mind ).

whups,
I looked at your photo on the day you put it on but I don't suppose I count.
Good photo by the way.

hi evelyn overgrown schoolboys is probably a complementary description ,but i wouldn,t of missed it for the world

hi whups
good photo still see dicky walls occasionally still wearing the cap,worked with dicky eck,was syd a fitter on the surface,think ronnie lynn went working for gullicks ,dosn,t seem 2 years since i saw you round ashton

we are all young at heart evelyn

yep , just over 2 yrs now . thinkin of makin a comeback.

I knew Sam Prior and i think he worked at Golborne, i don't know what he did there or when he started, but he often talked about the people he worked with, i think he left before the strike in 1984.

He was quite a character and always having a bit of fun and he was a keen fisherman as well.

It would be great if anyone remembered him and what he did there, he sadly passed away a few years ago.

yep knew sammy . he lived for a time at downall green rd near brocksteads .

I think Sammy worked at Quaker house pit un till it closed & then went to Golbourne,He was a rum begger, loved a joke,

hi guys , just put another pic on the album section of our snooker team from 1981 . no doubt it will be in the work section under golborne colliery in the nean future.

Hi whups , if you couldn't beat them at snooker you could talk them to death, you all look so young there

i was 26 at the time . the others were in their early 20s.graney joseph is that colin richardson at the side of you in your pic ? .

is there only that,s keeping this thread going ? .

whups yes that is colin "handsomeminer" oops there goes his anonymity

it is, bret ? at my side came from Hapton Valley , Kenny Williams top right came from bold worked at golborne ,the tall Fellow at the back is Don his wife Evelyn posts on variuos mining threads taken in workshops at Parsonage 1990ish

how are you doing colin ? did you ask graham burke about mick gregson?,talk soon.

are you still playing darts col ? .

whups colin said no not playing darts

An 'owd friend o'mine worked at Kid Glove, drove the underground manrider I believe...Trevor(Bill)Jones.
any of you know him?

Did my face training there in the late sixties,any body remember John Willie Fox,the shotfirer on the training face?

message for Whups ,Handsomeminer is having trouble logging on to wiganworld he as e-mailed me to say to let you know he is not playing darts anymore. "ART" where was kid glove pit or is it name for golborne or parsonge? I have heard the name mentioned before but recall which pit it referred to,the name trevor jones sounds familiar

graneyjoseph, if you type kid glove into the search box at the top of this page there's a thread about why Golborne colliery got that name, Colin will find it interesting as well.

well done tuddy regards to you

tuddy I took your advice and looked on that link thanks

Happy to help. Still laughing about some of those tales about Jeff Blackburn, whups must have a few tales about him.

yes best time I had it was a pleasure going to work in those days hard work and laughter a great mix

tuddy I dont know if handsomemminer as got back on WW I know he can read but not send messages yet ,do you remember the names of the underground chargehands at Golborne ?

Derek Wharton!

Tonker I remember Derek Wharton I thought he was an assistant engineer ? the charge hands I can remember are Billy Hayes and Kenny Stevens cant recall the others.

I wasn't an electrician, but I remember all the lads you've mentioned. I think your right about Derek being an assistant engineer.I think Jackie Greenhalgh, the rugby referee was also an assistant engineer.

tuddy your right about jackie greenalgh,tonker derek wharton "chinless" say no more. merry xmas

a few names to bring a smile to faces , jimmy rowlands ,bert james ,ernie rainford ,tommy horridge ,jimmy wood , dodger , some characters there

always enjoyed my days in the mines great mates lots of characters.

yes tuddy , i can tell a few tales about jeff blackburn . had a few run-ins with him over the years .

When the tunnels to the Florida faces were being driven anyone remember the Indians that worked there for a short time they were training to be managers when they returned home to India.

new plenty cowboys

There was an Indian at Parkside in the early 60s who was a trainee manager!!,he was only looking after an ancient compressed air pump.

i dont know about indians , but there was plenty cowboys at golborne LOL.

to many with sheriff badges on.plodder at golborne coldest place I worked I knew the reason why good ventillation needed, go over to Bickershaw the plodder was hottest I ever worked Colin would vouch for that.

hated working in plodder at golborne ,used to it nice and warm in florida ,also seemed freindlier set of men , maybee that was because i wasnt a regular in plodder

I remember working nights for a week in the plodder one winter, shortening at the bottom end of the face. Had to spend half an hour under the showers thawing out in the mornings. That was the only place that I wore a donkey jacket while working on the face. But as you say there was a need for good ventilation in the plodder. Went from there to S12, working in just a pair of football shorts.

That was a hard place to work but the people we worked with made up for it

Colin just to let you know Ste Dixon as been in contact on my blog site,

has anyone on here seen tuddy,s blog on general called "thatchers hit list did exist" & some of the comments that some of the jokers on here have put on it . take a look guys & vent your spleen on them especially that none of them worked in the industry & never suffered under the torys . true thatcherites all of them.

whups I read tuddys blog other people are allowed their opinions but we got the T-shirts.

i understand that , but it,s hard to take from the idiots on here who never worked in the industry & never suffered under thatcher . there on here just to stir the shit.

whups we lived through 12mths and came out stronger we worked with people who watched their backs and ours for safety reasons I will never forget that comradeship.worked hard had some laughs,

i think it,s mark isnt it , i agree with wot you say but some who reply on this site do so out of ignorance & malice which comes out in their replies . the others quote bent facts & figures & will not admit the truth even wen stevie wonder can see it .yes we did have some laughs ,but it was more or less killed with the strike & the bonus scheme which was more so at golborne.

dont let them get to you our memories are stronger

In addition to what Whups has said, the bonus scheme came first and caused the rift before the strike and led to a lack of support within the workforce.
Could there be a strong possibility that the bonus scheme was engineered that way?

Food for thought tonker, but I think the bonus scheme came in about 1977ish, that's before Thatcher came to power. I'm pretty sure there was a ballot about a bonus scheme when I first started in 1974, and it was rejected, but it was still introduced a few years later. You know the old saying, "where there's a scheme there's a schemer".

sorry to disagree tuddy ,but the bonus scheme came in when i started in c9 about 1980 & thatcher was in power. it was designed to stockpile coal at the same time to split miners who suddenly went from council houses to detached properties because of the money they were making . except for us at golborne who.s face men made their own deal with the manager & left the rest of us out to dry. it was,nt much fun when you came to draw your money only to see the typists at anderton house who were on the area bonus getting more than us who was working near the face & on the pit bonus,as we were drawing sometimes half of what they got in bonus.and just to add insult to injury we had a ballot on whether to accept the bonus scheme or not , we voted as an area 2-1 not to have it . so much for ballots.

You could be right whups, but I thought the bonus scheme was introduced a bit earlier. I started coal face training at the end of 1978, and I seem to remember being paid 75% of the face bonus while I was training, but I could be wrong, it was a year or two back.

whups,
With all that seemed wrong why didn't you pull the plug and go into a different Industry? I certainly wouldn't have stopped anywhere I thought I was being shat upon.

because i,d took a loan out to get my central heating done so i could,nt afford to leave .

Most other industries paid better money. And look at the redundancy payments the miners were given compared to the likes of the Gas Board and the Water Board.

My wages at Parkside were poor. Very poor.

bonus payments have always been good if you get a good bonus ,redundancy payments I would rather have been in a job I loved, production of coal is missed .years to come when we are gone coal is still there to late .

your right tonker as other national industries got upto 4 times what the miners got .looks like your a biker tonker , you may know a mate of mine who was at parkside jimmy hodson.

Hi Joe remember Kenny going in to sort some bunus out with Tony MgGarry & coming out with a big orange

Hi Colin, he would have ate it himself,Seriously Tony was the best boss I worked with,do you remember the pineapples we shared

sure do yes tony was a good boss ,remember gibbo when we asked him did he want some pineapple and he asked have you got a tin opener

gibbo that was just like him he earned the name gobbo good bloke though

If any ex Golborne men are interested the next Golborne ex miners meeting will be held at Golborne bowling club, next to All Saints church, on Wednesday January 29th at 7pm.

To far for me tuddy,

I'll get one of the leccys to set up a video link.

tuddy good idea have a good night,

talking to alan parr on tuesday & he was going to the meeting . he was saying that there may be another walk . can you get more info on this tuddy ? .

is that alan parr the electrician ?

yes it is joe , he,s just lost his wife .

I am sorry to hear that whups .not a good start to the year my thoughts are with him and his family

yep me to .

people we know and worked with sadly pass away but our memories dont,I am still waking up in the mornings I think

we need to take care a lot of stress being an electrician

stress affects everybody in all walks of life and family life keeping our heads above water I think our parents had it harder only my opinion,

whups, yes, there is a walk and service being planned to mark the 35th anniversary of the Golborne colliery explosion. Eric Foster is working hard to organize it.It will probably be on Sunday 16th March, but not confirmed yet. I'll post again after the meeting on Wednesday.

ok ste , i,ll pass that info on.

good luck with that they will always be remembered

who,s the tall guy behind in your pic joe ? .

don armstrong on the pictures of parsonage it names us all have a look at it let me know when you see it that picture was taken in 1991 I forgot all about it that is what got me on to Wiganworld let me know whups

As graney and handsome know " the tall guy " is my soulmate

and a top bloke to how are you both evelyn?

iv,e put this on the old boston thread joe . i remembered his name , it,s kevin sharkey .

your right sharkey was a character sadly not here no more godbless

the government asked for an apology on the way they treated the miners during the strike,I personally want nothing off them.

They won't even pay out for my lungs!

sorry about your health phred ,

Many a time I have been asked if the pits where still open would I still be working there. I reply I have pit dust in my blood and after nearly 45yrs working I would still be there because I would not have known anything different in my life(only did just short of 20yrs at the pit) I count myself lucky I have only minor battle scars. A Broken finger and a blue scar on my arm, Two bad knees and slightly deaf but I am still alive.]Many an ex-pitman where not so lucky. Ill health has blighted many men some who where not old at the time due to the conditions down the mine( dust/heat/water)to name a fewThe government are slowly admitting these where dire conditions to work in and are very slowly compensating ex-pitmen but in most cases it is too little and to late these men are no longer with us or to ill to enjoy their retirement years

lets be honest they arnt goin to give us anything are they least of all an apology. we got a pittance compared with other nationalised industries on payouts & claims .who ever worked in the pits must have dust in their lungs , but trying to get anything for it is another thing.

true but they will find a way out.

for anyone interested in the disaster walk . planned for-
sun 16th march - assemble @ 1-30 - 2-00pm at the queen anne-procession starts between 2-00 & 2-30 . after church refreshments at the catholic club near the naylors club.
come 1 come all as i,m sure our lads wont let us down.

good luck with the walk I am sure it will be well attended and rightly so.

I'll be on the march on the 16th, along with my wife and 3 grown up daughters and not forgetting our Grandson. I was working at Bold on the Sunday of the explosion and could'nt believe what at happened but it was all confirmed when I got home to Stubshaw. Did'nt know the lads, people spoke of them when I moved to Kidglove from Bold in Jan 1986.
To get the ball rolling !!! does anyone remember the mad Scotsman Alex Bole ??? he was at Bold, Golborne, Parsonage and Parkside along with me and I believe he unfortunitly passed away some years ago.

campfire I knew alex worked on the same face at bold with him he worked the advanced heading on T26 ,sadly passed away a while ago as a result of cancer.good bloke. What is your name Campfire?

Hi graneyjoseph- Ste Stonehouse, started on the Belts, Re-rip and then into drivages. My dad was Ernie Stonehouse and passed away in 1992. Our Frank was also at Bold, Golborne and Parsonage but finished when Parsonage folded. I do remember your name but cant seem to put a face to it !!!. Lot of water has gone under the bridge as they say...

I remember you Ste ,sorry to hear about your dad great bloke I worked in the trencherbone seams also W16 Ithink you worked in the south dip area ,the photo on my blog and this thread I am bottom left you will also know Kenny Williams top right ,top left is Colin Richardson you would have known from golborne and parsonage,good to hear from you .best regards to you and Frank.

i knew alex bole well & my mate colin hayes knew him quite well too.

good times whups not to be forgotten.

Hi whups - I worked with Colin at Golborne in the headings, along with Pete Smith from Atherton and Rod Blackhurst from Wigan. Made goods friends with Colin and had a few good pints with him, was one of the strongest men I have ever known and a gentle giant until he flipped... Only seen him flip a couple of times and was glad I was on the same side as him, even if I was only holding his coat and watching his pint.

Ste do you remember Bob Potts from bold giant of a man.

Certainly do Joe, when I transfered from Golborne to Parsonage I worked with Big Bob in a Dosco heading, along with Trevor Gurry and another Gurry from Abram, his Dad was a Overman at Golborne but names have gone !!!. Did you know that Bob had a Brother who was bigger than him??? but didnt work in the Pit, I think he worked at Bulldog Tools in Wigan. I've seen him once and if you think Bob was big you should have seen this fellow... When Bob took his money, he took over the Bell Green Pub in Higher Ince and was'nt there long before they won a small furtune on Littlewoods pools. Not seen him since, hope he is still with us.. still recall his size 15 steel boots though.

yes a big lad ,hes probably got a bar in spain good luck to him,I preferred parsonage to golborne the lads at golborne were great didnt like the upper management on the electrical side, one was ok frank clarke from bold ken lowe was ok to.

Campfire,
The overmans name was Alf Gurhy.
I remember the Potts boys who lived in Ince not far from where I lived. They were a lovely family and their mother was a very tall lady too. I believe Bob still lives in Ince.

Evelyn - nice to hear that big Bob is still going, thanks for advising about Alf.

Ste on the parsonage picture site evelyns husband Don is top right ,top man too.

who are you campfire as i,ll mention you to colin as he will be visiting me shortly.

Hi evelyn , hope you & Don are o/k ,as always your correct Alf Gurhy was an overman at Golborne ,his son trevor also worked their

Whups Campfire is Ste Stonehouse

yes we hope you and don are well.

Hi handsomeminer and Joe, yes we are both fine and we thank you both for enquiring about two old cronies.

We hope the same goes with you "young ones "

Handsomeminer, I think Trevor is Alf's nephew, John is his son.

tuddy - Thats correct, Trevor is Alf's Nephew. I still see Trevor from time to time and he still lives in Bamfurlong. Do you remember his Brother In Law Ste Sudworth, he was a electrician at Parkside????

Evelyn and Don age is but a number our minds are still young.and these recollection keep it that way.

hi Tuddy dont remember John were did he work

yes campfire i knew suddy . it was a shame wot happened to him . was,nt he trev gurry,s brother-in-law .

Hi whups - thats correct ... I see Trevor from time to time. Did you work at Parkside?

I think John was a beltmon, not sure if he did his face training before Golborne closed.

no i did,nt ste . wen golborne finished i finished in the pits.

Hi whups - are you going on the anniversary march tomorrow in Golborne?

i planned on goin , but colin did,nt fancy goin . so it ruled me out .

I hope it gets the attention of the media ,it will be well attended good luck to the people who are going.

Joe - it was really well attended, standing room only in the Church. The Church choir, Parkside Male Voice Choir and Children from 3 local Primary Schools provided the support for the singing. The service was well thought out and presented nicely and must have been appreciated throughout... Went back to the Catholic Club for some light refreshments and a spot of socialising and I was still coughing up coal dust this morning ....

Ste I can imagine all the memories that must have been told,glad it was a good day to remember a very sad time for both golborne families and ex-miners.not just golborne miners but all miners.

I don't know about light refreshments,there was so much food on some of them plates leaving the buffet table you needed a Pickrose engine and two lashing chains to move them.


But, yes, your right Ste, it was a nice service and well attended.

Ste - how did you remember a Pickrose haulage engine ????. Nice one... however, regarding "lashing on" did you ever master the technique of it?? only joking... Reverting back to the "Jack Bit" did you see the full plates that Parky took home??? not mentioning the pies he had in his pocket. It was a sad occassion but it was great to see and speak to the lads, even though I knew their faces I still needed to ask them their names, not to worry as I was was called John, Frank, Bill and few others as the day went on. Great day and a good turn out.

hopefully it will become an annual event .

I thought that I could lash on when I left Old Boston, then when I started on the haulage the bloke who was training me could do it one handed. Regarding names and faces on Sunday, I found it easier to remember nicknames: Skunkyed, Whippetyed, Emptyed, Wigwhamyed, etc.

I can imagine the tales retold.there was a shedyed amongst many.

We had a 'Rubberyed' at Parkside!

there was a bungalowyed at bickershaw you can guess why he got the name.

skunkyed= kenny williams, whippetyed = karl bryant ( ponzer jr ).

whups that cant be the kenny williams on the picture with me and colin can it ?.

diffrent Kenny joe

thanks colin it did get me a bit puzzled,do you remember bungalowyed cant remember his real name?.

remember the name joe cant put a face to it ,can you remember what bunkermouths name was, he had a brother brian worked at golborne

What is it with pitmen and yeds?

kenny williams was on the haulage in the crummy. ponzer worked in the crummy then got on the surface through a shadow on his lungs .i,ll bet ponzer was there on sunday wasnt he ste .

Colin I can see and hear bunkermouth, struggling to put a name to it .somebody will know.

there was a lad with the surname wallwork or similar worked at golborne his name just popped up in the memories he worked at golborne.he wasnt bunkermouth though.

Yea, Young Ponzer was there Brian, but he's not that young now.

photo in this weeks observer looked like Nobby & Brian C carrying banner

yes iv,e cut it out colin.

colin ,whups can either of you put these photos on WW.?

i,ll try joe , but it will be in the album section of photo,s of wigan.

ok thanks whups.

There was also some photo's in the Wigan Evening Post, I think it was on Tuesday, Mitch was on one of them.

thanks tuddy I will have a look.

iv,e cut out the pic from the observer & uploaded it & if accepted it will be on either album or golborne colliery in the works pics.

thanks whups have a good weekend .

as nobody put a name to bunkermouth yet,?

for anyone who remembers taffy , he passed away on saturday.

another miner left us R.I.P .

Brian, when he finished at the pit did he start a roofing business?

thoughts with our mining mates have a good weekend ,obama as gone home he didnt buy a round next time perhaps .

Did you know ...... Golborne Colliery was one of the 'Haydock Collieries' from 1880 until 1947?

Along with over 20 others too! (Wigan? Coalopolis? )

where have you been tonker ?.

yes he did ste & he died on a roof in scotland while mixing business with pleasure .

tonkers been on his holidays to sunny wigan

did he have his injections.

Holiday in Wigan? That's rich! I've been grafting, again!

good on yer,

It's not good at all! I should have my feet up by now!!

where abouts in wigan tonks its a big city

Handsomeminer - Replied: 11th Sep 2014 at 05:52

'Ast' pissed i'bed?

another classic from tonker.

just earning a crust tonker

colin take a look on the pics of wigan in album . there,s a couple of rugby pics on there of wigan rugby union going on tour to the usa & dublin . dave ruddy is on the dublin trip , but the big lad standing next to him worked at golborne & i cant remember his name . i think he was either a fitter or lekkie.there on page 2 in album.

morning Brian just had a look dont know the lad stood next to david ,think the lad your on about is dave mccoombes who was an electrician in the plodder he played at wigan r u dont think hes on that photo

Colin,I remember Dave McCoombes from plodder,do you remember Tony Redford played for Salford,?.I started at old boston same time as him.

certainley do joe tony,s well up with south african rugby league ,he came over with the team the world cup before the last one

good luck to him,his only fault was hanging around with chris clarkson,

I think Chris had a few rough years after the pit shut ,think he lost his wife ,last time i heard he was living down south coast somewhere

sorry to hear about his wife,I think it as been mentioned before on another thread.

i think it maybe him colin . tony redford is a mutli millionare from wot david austin tells me & lives on the coast . he married his business partners wife after he passed away.

that sounds like tony .good luck to him but it seems he as had that,

Whups do you ever see out of Richard Walker

not seen him for years colin.

colin thats a name from the past not a bad bloke,

Mick Duff? Barry Briers?

Think I saw Richard at the anniversary march.

tonker i started with mick & barry if i remember right they transfered to parkside around the time they came out of their time ,I beleive Micks done ok for himself running his own company ,not heard about barry since he transferred his dad Alf was a face overman at golborne ,think a lad called Glyn Tither transferred at same time who became a bobby

Mick works for a company called Harath, part of Chloride, doing UPS systems. They're on the South Lancashire estate in Ashton.

Baz still lives in Haydock, near my mum. Here He Is!

Glyn made it to Inspector, has retired and now lives near me.

i feel like a right failure now tonker

Colin your not a failure to all the people who know you me included.

Thanks Joe thats a nice comment

Used to be my get out clause with my wife if I did out wrong "Don't ask me I am just a thick pitmon" After reading this thread I will drop this saying

I think weve all used that when it suited peter

Golborne ex miners A.G.M. will take place on Wednesday 4th February at 7pm in Golborne community bowling club. All ex Golborne men are welcome to attend.

tuddy have a good night pass on my regards.

are you going tuddy ? .

Thanks Joe, will do.

Yea Bri, All being well I'll be there.

perhaps Colin might go being a man of leisure from friday.

tuddy - can us Golborne / ex-Bold lads attend.

tuddy - can us Golborne / ex-Bold lads attend.

if you worked at golborne yes i think you can attend ste.

That's right, you can all attend. Next meeting, Wednesday May 6th, same time, same place.

Is it pie and peas or butties ????

you all enjoy ,,black peas and green bank butties seasoned with snuff and coal dust.

their still cleaning scufftin from under the tables ,tuddy does Frankn Waterworth ever show up

Colin thats a name from the past,

Colin do you remember one time when we was working at parsonage and having our sandwiches and Shep opened he,s and looked at the contents and threw them away he did it the next day saying cheese again mouldy,the next day before he could throw them away we looked at them they were cheese with chives, good old Shep mouldy cheese ,

Certainly do joe

Colin big day tomorrow for you,enjoy

Do my best joe start of a new phase of life

Colin certainly is look at life differently ,good luck.

Hopefully Colin gives his lovely Chris breakfast in bed EVERY morning

Evelyn a nice thought it might happen.

No Colin, big Frank dose'nt attend the meetings, I saw him after the anniversary walk last year. I think his daughter made the buffet.

saw him in ashton about a month or so ago.

thats good not seen him since 1986 or there abouts .

Used see them both & Mrs water worth at cricket. Nice family

hi guys, does anyone remember a lekki called ian cross ? .

whups hope you are fine ,Ian cross not known to me if Colin reads this he might know him,best regards whups.

I remember him whups not seen him for years finished in the pits a long time before the strike,he'd finished years before you came over Joe I'd guess he'd be about your age possibly a little older

Colin best regards to you ,this site as brought a lot of memories back long may it continue,you all have a great weekend.

Whups have you heard anything of another electrician from ashton John Berry ( bezzer) think he went South Africa around time of explosion,heard he came back about 10 year ago but not sure

i hav,nt colin ,richy walker told me ages ago that bezzer had gone off the rails. met ian in tom & gerrys in ashton over the weekend . i vaguely remember him as he said he worked in c9 on the staple shaft. he says he finished 6 months after the explosion .

Just had a phone call from Eric Foster. The next Golborne ex miners meeting is this Wednesday,May 6th at 7pm in Golborne Bowling Club (next to All Saints church). All welcome.

Thanks Ste - much appreciated.

listen guys , iv,e heard a rumour that snowy cavanagh has passed on. if you went to the meeting ste maybe something was said.

Unfortunately it's true Brian, his funeral was last Friday.
R.I.P. Snowy.

yes ste , bad news all round. i was only talking to him in aldi in ashton about a month ago.

R.I.P. Snowy

always sad to lose a member of our mining community god bless to snowy and his family,

totally unexpected this one. does anyone know how he died ? .

Apparently it was due to an aneurysm, quite sudden.

Don't want to be morbid but I wonder who,ll be the last golborne mon left

as long as he puts the lights out,buying the local paper I am getting like my Dad checking the obituary page,not seen mine yet.

Brian Goulding was a briccy at ypur pit. He liveed in A-in-Mak. Left to start a building business in mid 70s. He lives in Spain.

soreen good luck to him .life is what youm make of it well done to him.

Hi Handsomeminer just seen your post did you know My Dad Allen France he worked at Parsnidge Sadly no longer with us passed away 2003.He lived in Whelley.

Sorry alfranco the name dosnt ring a bell,maybe graney Joe may remember

Colin sadly no,perhaps Evelyn and Don might know if they are reading this ,I hope somebody will be able to help.

Sadly Brian Rosser passed away yesterday RIP Brian

R.I.P. Brian.

How old was he Colin?

Think he was 59/60 stey

I thought he'd be about that age, not old at all.

Ste / Colin - Was it Brian who worked in the headings with Colin Farrell ??? If it is, I worked with them at Golborne in the drivages Me, Brian, Colin and Trevor Gurry.

Ste they will get back to you ,I know those names ,good luck to you and Frank,Merry Christmas to you and your family and all that know us ,God bless to you all .

Yes it was campfire

What a quartet that was, Rosser, Farrell, Gurhey, and your good self.

Have you seen out of any of the farrells stey

Handsomeminer - I bumped into Colin Farrell ages ago, in Stubshaw Cross Labour club of all places and I was surprised.. as he had is Son with him... I had no idea that he had been married (he was then separated) and had a family !!! Their Sammy, I've not seen him since I left Golborne for Parsonage.
We used to joke to both Colin and Sammy about their blow up doll !!! we said they were to tight to buy their own and would share the same one. I've tried to remember the her name but for the life of me I can't..
It's a pity I can't ask Rosser, as he would have remembered.
Never mind.. RIP Brian and I have some great memories that I could talk about for ages.

Hi Joe.. All the best to yourself and the family. Don't over do the merriment !!! and make yourself ill. We are all getting any younger.

absolutely Ste enjoy yours as well.

Cheers campfire I havnt seem any of them for over 20 years despite living close to them did you know teddy their dad

Colin, no, I've not seen any of the Farrells for a few years. I do remember their dad, Teddy, very well. I used to catch the bus in Scholes with him. He got hit with the Eimco bucket when we were on the rip on one of the six feet faces. He refused to get on a stretcher, and walked out to the rider. They don't make em like that any more!

Indeed they don't stey

Colin - unfortunately I didn't meet their Dad Teddy. as I transferred from Bold on the 6th Jan 86 (I remember it well) I think he had retired.

there was also another Teddy Farrell who was an overman at both Bold and Bickershaw in the plodder district,sadly he died on his way to work of an heart attack.he had a son Eddie who also worked in the mines.Colin would of known his dad you to Ste(campfire).

Hi Joe.. I do remember Teddy Farrel at Bold, he lived at Bryn and I also remember him passing away going to Total Fitness, I'll take a guess at 1982???. His Son went to Parsonage and was nicknamed Bushack due to him always shouting BUSHACK when he was breaking lumps at the bottom of the face with the 14lb hammer.

Hi joe ,I remember him we used to have a laugh with him , didn't know Bushack was his son

Ste, it would have been about 1990/91 when Eddie's dad, passed away, it was while they were both working at Parsonage. The Bickershaw men moved to Parsonage about 1990, and it closed in 1992.

1990ish I think Ste.your right I forgot the bushshack nickname.

End of an era gentlemen

Seasons greetings to all friends and ex colleagues

and the same from me to, have a great one.

All the best Gentlemen for the festive season, hope you and the family enjoy it and best wishes also for the New Year.
Memories also for the lads who are no longer wish us.

Well said campfire

Whups - Sorry, but I didn't notice your post to me last year!
As a belated answer ..... Yes, I do know Jimmy. I never knew him to work at Parkside, though. I thought he was at Parsonage!

just to let you guys know that roy southworth died last tuesday.

That's a shame Brian R I P Roy

Brian Colin another of our mining friends ,sympathies and respect to his family.R.I.P. Roy.

I was talking to Dave (Roy's Son) at the Latics game on Saturday and gave him my mobile so he can advise me of the arrangements for his Dads funeral...He is away next week and the funeral may be when he gets back.

I don't want to miss the funeral, so could any WW member post the arrangements when they hear anything ???? Ta..

Sorry to hear about Roy, I always got on well with him.
The last time I spoke to him was at Tommy Hampson's funeral,about eight years ago.

Hi Tuddy...How's things with you matey ???

Roy used to go watching Wigan Athletics on a Season ticket in the west stand and just before the game we would see each other and have a chat. Unfortunately, over the last 2 years Roy wasn't able to go as often due to ill health but their Dave would use the ticket and he would nip round before the game for a chat and update on his Dad..

Sad loss for the family..I respected Roy as a person and for being a fair Overman at the Pit. I didn't really know Roy that well personally only at the match and the odd time when we met up but what little bit I did know about him and my contact at the Pit was always well received.

Doing O.K.thanks, nice to hear from you. let us know if you hear when Roy's funeral is, I've got a couple of weeks off work, so I should be able to attend.

Will do Ste... I think it will be whups who will be advising us of the arrangements.

we will remember him regards to his family.

Dave Southworth has contacted me this evening and advised that the funeral for his Dad (Roy) in on Monday 4th April at Wigan Crematorium, commencing at 13:00, then moving on to Golborne / Parkside Rugby Club.
I believe the club is just past Golborne High School on the left and signposted..

Ste I saw your comments on PLACES .Richard Walker he got a mention on here a couple of years ago,I am glad he as been seen and is ok,along with Colins best wishes pass on mine as well.best regards.

Will do Joe...

Ste thanks,I wonder how Charlie Fox is doing ?.have a good weekend.

Thanks for the details Ste, I should be able to make it.

Nice turn out for Roy's funeral people stood outside no room in the crem building proves he was a well liked bloke.

PeterP another miner gone sad.

Showed my respects today and it was well attended. Some old faces and some fond memories spoken about. Like always, there was coal dust everywhere....but in a nice way !!!
would have liked to go for a pint afterwards but was unable to, did you for a drink afterwards PeterP???

Campfire went to the club had a coffee and a nice chinwag with both of Roy's sons and fellow pitmen who I have not seen since the pit finished.

I was thinking when we were stood outside of the chapel, there must have been close on a thousand years of combined skill, knowledge, and experience assembled there, and it won't be passed on to anyone.

Your truly right Ste...the skills and knowledge are slowly being a thing of the past. Another 20 years and then there's none..

When I started at St Helens college in 1969 most of the mining books were already 20/30 years out of date Today I bet there are not many books around about modern mining methods and even the miners who have just been made redundant do not have the skills to open a new mine

I remember starting there 1967 and the head of the mining part was a mr dickie he brow beat us in to buying 2 mining volumes,long gone now,

just letting you know that young ponzer- carl bryan has passed away.

sad news another of our brothers gone Brian.sympathies to his family R.I.P. Carl .

RIP young ponzer

R.I.P matey....

hi ste, seen the blog about fracking by tommy 2 stroke. wot a numpty.

Orgreave inquiry rejected no surprise well done to those who tried.

did you expect anything else joe ? . it aint over yet.

no Brian they have had one humiliation with Hillsborough cant afford another.it goes on like you say.

Our day will come

absolutely Colin.

hi guys , the trolls are at work on the orgreave blog. take a look at 2 strokes comments on miners.

two strokes where that come from.

whupsy

So you are picking on me in this topic too

My great grandad was a Ewer in the mines and he worked at the Blundells Colliery in Pemberton and he lived in a two up two down terraced house on Billinge Road in Pemberton, with his twenty kids, three of whom were stillborn (I got all that information from the the 1911 census entry) so I have got miners blood running through my veins

listen 2 stroke this is our blog for those who worked at golborne & you,ve been having a go yourself hav,nt you. you wont get any sympathy on this blog.i dont care on your so-called background as it,s you that has,nt done a tap in the mining industry. wait til some of the lads on here see your replies on the orgreave blog about miners & your pics of thatcher & scargill getting arrested at orgreave on your fracking blog.

Brian well said.

So you don't want me

absolutely NOT.

Reet then I am going to go and have a sulk

GOOD.

Iam sure I heard the noise of toys falling out of the pram.

no doubt joe.

.have a good weekend Brian.

Whups ,talking to Gary jelling tonight he's good sends his regards

Colin you have a good weekend plenty of rugby on this weekend

And you too Joe

glad he,s ok colin. tell him i,m thinking of making a comeback LOL.

Haha will do Brian tell us when your first match is I,ll come and watch