moorfield pit disaster

[taddy]

I have just finished reading Harry Tootles book "The Moorfield Pit Disaster",I knew Harry for many years when he lived in Huncoat and to be honest I did not think that he was a "Man of Letters", until I heard of and read the book.
For any one interested in local history in general and Mining history in Particular the book is a must read.
The appalling conditions suffered by the men and boy's at the time, some of them as young as 10 year's old,has to be read to be believed.
I come from a mining family and when I was sixteen years old I was taken on as a trainee at "Bank Hall Colliery" in Burnley, This was one of the most modern, up to date mines in the country at the time; I started the job on Monday morning, went underground Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and packed the job in on Thursday.
The youngsters at Moorfield must have been terrified.
Thank you Bob, I will let my Grandchildren read,Mark, Learn and Inwardly digest it.
Regards, Taddy, The Lancahire, (now much wiser Luddite).

[taddy]

Sorry, just noticed that I left out the (S) in Lancashire.

[Margaret Pilkington]

they can't hang you for it Taddy!

[Bob Dobson]

I had known Harry for several years when he asked me to publish his book. He was a pleasure to work with. He had poor health , which I think was a result of working down the pit, but he had a tremendous love for the work and the history of it. He was no great age when he died. Likewise for Huncoat.