In conjunction with Bernards evaluation of Peters new book. It reminded me of
a book I picked up around Christmas time called 'Old King Coal'. It is
written by an ex colliery manager and overman who worked in the Rossendale &
Burnley areas.
It is about the best mining book I have ever read though you will get very
few statistics from it. Reading it is like having a conversation with the
Author, Tommy Chapman. It is written in pit talk however and is a bit near
the knuckle at times but if you realy want to know what life was like in the
pits during the latter half of the 20'th centuary I recomend you read this.
Contrary to popular belife not all pit men were good upstanding blokes who
went to chapel of a Sunday !
Tommy focuses on the funny side of pit life which is like a breath of fresh
air... Tommy Turnbel on Special Brew.
C. Seal
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