Huncoat Colliery

[keep the faith]

I'm Bob Bannister's nephew. I can confirm that my uncle Bob did work in the mines. He was called up as a "Bevin Boy". I'm not sure what year.

My Grandad, Dad and Uncle Bob all worked for the family business as window cleaners after the war. My dad left the business, setting up on his own. Bob and my Grandad carried on the window cleaning business until Grandads death in 1973. Bob then carried on until he retired around 1980. He then moved to Middleton, next door to Heysham, where he lived until his death in 2008.

During his wrestling career he was known as Robert Retsinab from Hungary. The reason this came about was when a promoter had forgotten his "ring name" and at the last minute turned his real name around. This stuck with him throughout his wrestling career

[Mog]

Originally Posted by keep the faith

I'm Bob Bannister's nephew. I can confirm that my uncle Bob did work in the mines. He was called up as a "Bevin Boy". I'm not sure what year.

My Grandad, Dad and Uncle Bob all worked for the family business as window cleaners after the war. My dad left the business, setting up on his own. Bob and my Grandad carried on the window cleaning business until Grandads death in 1973. Bob then carried on until he retired around 1980. He then moved to Middleton, next door to Heysham, where he lived until his death in 2008.

During his wrestling career he was known as Robert Retsinab from Hungary. The reason this came about was when a promoter had forgotten his "ring name" and at the last minute turned his real name around. This stuck with him throughout his wrestling career

Thanks very much for the info, You should be very proud of Bob and your Grandad. I dont think I remember your dad on the Windows but I am sure you were proud of him anyway, but I do remember your Grandad and Bob very well. Bob was a Bevin boy therefore he worked in the mines through the war years. I remember Your grandad always carried a small triangle shaped ladder as he did the downstairs windows but Bob carried the long extension ladder on one shoulder the bucket etc in the other hand and walked as if he was on Parade all the time. A big strong man. All us kids, Me our Brian, Malcolm Taylor, Tony Boardman all wanted to be like him when we grew up. A fine man and a gentleman. In fact he was one of my hero,s when I was a kid.

[shazfury1]

My brother-in-law Steve Clough worked Hapton Valley around about that time.

[keep the faith]

That's a wonderful tribute Mog, I know from lots of other people that my Uncle Bob was highly respected throughout the town. Thanks.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by keep the faith

That's a wonderful tribute Mog, I know from lots of other people that my Uncle Bob was highly respected throughout the town. Thanks.

Mog was up last weekend, Tell him yerself next time he ventures north. he popped in Railway fer n hour sat dinner.

[Mine2mkt]

I worked at Huncoat Colliery from 1956 to 1964 prior to that I had been at Hoddlesden Colliery. I have a photo of me and David Sidebottom coming out of the pit about 1958.

[Bob Dobson]

I was clerk to Jimmy Cregg, the Hincoat undermanager ( under Mr Holroyd) 1957. I loved Jimmy and the job. I moved to Hapton Valley as clerk to manager Eric Whatmore for a year. Great time for me.

[Mog]

I remember david sidebottom very well you must remember the three duffy brothers. Mick, Pat and Bill. I worked up the Rise until Huncoat shut. When i was at Bank Hall we used to go to Hoddlesdon to make clay stemming for shotfireing.

[brownmick]

re.huncoat.colliery.i.worked.there.for.10.years.be tween1954-1964...first.of.all.as.a.timber.runner.pushing.a.b ogy.full.of.pit.propsup.a.gradient....there.were.2 .lads.to.a.bogy.we.gripped.the.rails.and.pushed.wi th.our.heads.probably.about.half.a.mile.to.the.coa l.face.we.did.3.trips.a.shift

[Rowlf]

My Grandfather was the President of Accrington & District Miners Federation and was the first ordinary miner to sit on the National Executive of the Miners Federation. He took over as president from his father. He worked tirelessly for the miners arguing for better pay and conditions for them. He never worked at Huncoat pit although that was where he lived. He worked at Altham and got them pit head baths but because he had fought so hard for them they moved him to Scaithcliffe and he never got to use them himself. He had been to Edinburgh to the TUC Comference the week before he died. He died of a heart attack down Scaithcliffe just as he finished his shift. He was only 40yrs old. He was very well respected as the page long report of his funeral in the Observer testifies. That was in 1934. My dad always said if it was up to him they would sell coal like boiled ham at so much a quarter as it was so hard to get it.

[Rowlf]

Incidently my father in law was the first ambulance man at Hapton Valley when they had the explosion. He went straight down the pit when he got there which I think took guts.

[Bob Dobson]

I was greatly saddened by the deaths at Hapton Valley, as I had known many of the men who died. One was an Italian, Mario Lepri, who lived in Ossie. He had a great sense of humour and was famed for catching rats with his hands.

[landhusweg]

We had a big discussion on this website on whether Bob Bannister actually worked down the mine. Thanks to his nephew “Keep the Faith” this topic has been cleared.
I would just like to add a photo of Bob (sitting down 3rd from the right).

Cheers

Philip Kenyon

[Bob Dobson]

Rowlf - what was grandfather's name.? I recall my days at Hapton Valley with great affection. When I was a policeman working on the miners' strike, I got on well with the miners.

[Rowlf]

My Grandfather's name was Harry Smith. His father was Thomas Edward Smith. My Grandfather lived in Huncoat but never worked at the pit there as far as I know. He was at Altham then Scaithcliffe. He died in 1934. I got in touch with Accrington library and asked if they had any records showing minutes from the meetings of Accrington Miners Federation. They very kindly found the relevant books for me to look through. I found my Grandfathers reports from the Executive Committee. Very interesting and moving for me.