South Wales Coalfield Collection

South Wales Colliery Managers and Officials Study

Ref No. Description Dates
AUD/26 Interview of Elliott, Raymond.
Recorded memoirs of Raymond Elliott, formerly Deep Navigation pit. Includes family members who have suffered from pneumoconiosis; Powell Duffryn as employers; work undertaken as Roof Control Officer; McLaren Colliery and it's take over; pit machinery; attitude of workforce to mechanisation and management; impressions gained as Spare Area Colliery Manager; differences of Lodges at Windsor, Bargoed and Deep Navigation collieries; decision making structure; role of management in working the pits for safety during the 1974 strike.
Covers period : 1939-1982 (c).
Running time : 3hrs 31mins 32secs.
29.4.1980
AUD/100 Interview of Griffiths, Arfon.
Recorded memoirs of Arfon Griffith, formerly Blaenant Manager. Include relationships between workers and managers; recollections of the horses, cats and rats underground in Deep Duffryn pit; Bevin Boys and the effect on discipline; social clubs; impressions of Maerdy Colleries; Tower Colliery link with Fernhill; National Coal Board investment in the South Wales Coalfield; and the strikes of 1972 and 1974.
Covers period : 1938-1982 (c).
Running time : 1hr 50mins 51secs.
4.2.1980
AUD/106 Interview of Pritchard, Glyn.
Recorded memoirs of Glyn Pritchard, Lady Windsor Colliery. Includes discipline; first impressions of the pit; colleagues opinion of nationalisation; social activities, and the standard of living; working relationships; the explosion at Lewis Merthyr pit; safety and technical improvements in the mining industry; the impact of the Lewis Merthyr Institute, especially the library, on the community; recession of the coal industry; Bedwas and Elliots Colliery; recruitment of Durham miners; opinions of the 1972 and 1974 strikes; and the future of the South Wales coal industry.
Covers period : 1940-1982 (c).
Running time : 1hr 24mins 1sec.
1980-1982
AUD/110 Interview of Williams, Brian.
Recorded memoirs of Brian Williams, Blaenserchan. Includes mechanisation at Tower Colliery; relationships with workers; recession of the coal industry; workers and management relations at Fernhill and Deep Duffryn Colleries; the 1972 and 1974 strikes; pit closures and their effect; and the future of the coal industry.
Covers period : 1953-1982 (c).
Running time : 51mins 25secs.
31.1.1980
AUD/118 Interview of Evans, Tudor Russell.
Recorded memoirs of Tudor Evans, Aberpergwm. Includes his army service; the amalgamation of Maerdy and Bwllfa Collieries, with both Lodges maintained; climatic conditions in Rhigos Colliery; the impact of mechanisation at Blaengwrach; amalgamation of Aberpergwm and Blaengwrach Colleries; future of Aberpergwm Colliery; differing interpretations of the National Power Loading Agreement; opinion of incentive bonus schemes, 1966-76 and in the 1980's; problem of absenteeism; and the future of the coal industy.
Covers period : 1945-1982 (c).
Running time : 1hr 12mins 45secs.
19.5.1980
AUD/121 Interview of Clark, Terence.
Recorded memoirs of Terence Clark, Treforgan. Includes his first impressions of coal mining; community and social life in Port Talbot; relationship between workers and management; merging of Ffaldau and Garw Colleries; reluctance in South Wales to mechanise; opinion of returning to the piece-work wage basis; threat of closures; role of the National Union of Mineworkers; investment and future of the South Wales coalfield.
Covers period : 1944-1980 (c).
Running time : 1hr 3mins 45secs.
13.2.1980
AUD/130 Interview of Edwards, Harold Vincent.
Recorded memoirs of Harold Edwards, formerly Merthyr Vale. Includes his return to the mining industry after serving in the Navy; discipline within the mine; reasons for, and attitude towards mechanisation; radio systems within pit; relationship between area management and colliery managers; relationship with National Union of Mineworkers; effect of closures on internal coalfield mobility; recession of the industry; the Lodges at Abertillery Colliery; absenteeism in South Wales; comparison of different coalfields; and investment and future of the South Wales coalfield.
Covers period : 1939-1982 (c).
Running time : 2hrs 8mins 41secs.
7.1.1980
AUD/136 Interview of Hicks, Henry Royston.
Recorded memoirs of Royston Hicks, Central Coalfield Surveyor. Includes the death of his father in an accident underground; his education and political background; nationalisation of the coal industry; transfers of men from Cilely Colliery; differences between Lewis Merthyr and Lady Windsor Collieries; development of the South Wales Coalfield; his opinion of pit closures; development of 'super' pits; safety and contractors; and utilising the sterilised reserves in the Rhondda.
Covers period : 1930-1980 (c).
Running time : 1hr 36mins 56secs.
17.3.1981
AUD/139 Interview of Phillips, Aubrey Powell.
Recorded memoirs of Aubrey Phillips, Phurnacite Plant. Includes his decision to begin his career as an industrial chemist; working in the research department at Powell Duffryn, and the work involved; developments in coal preparation; usages of coal for carbonising, extending the range of coals, and the biological oxidation of trade waste; collieries that produce the coal for the Phurnacite Plant; future investment of the plant; environmental aspects in the Cynon Valley ie pollution; and the future of the coal industry.
Covers period : 1930-1980 (c).
Running time : 48mins 18secs.
19.11.1980
AUD/146 Interview of Schewitz, Graham Brynmor.
Recorded memoirs of Graham Schewitz, Taff-Merthyr. Includes his first experiences of working underground; identity of individual collieries; Lodge leadership in Abercynon; differences in industrial relations between collieries; effect of Aberfan Disaster on the workforce; Taff-Merthyr Colliery working practices and conventions; run-down of the coal industry, and its effect on workforce morale; motivation of the workforce; and the work involved during the 1972 strike.
Covers period : 1950-1980 (c).
Running time : 1hr 33mins 41secs.
22.1.1980
AUD/149 Interview of Thomas, Thomas.
Recorded memoirs of Thomas Thomas, Nantgarw. Includes early underground working practices of his career; relationships with workers when he entered management; differences of Abercarn pits; relationship with Her Majesty's Inspectors of Mines and the National Union of Mineworkers; methods of mining, and payment; a National Coal Board scheme for Training Future Managers in 1950; social life in Newbridge; introducing mechanisation into the collieries; standards at Oakdale Colliery; methods of dust suppression; and the workforce and working methods at Big Pit and Cwmcarn.
Covers period : 1942- 1982 (c).
Running time : 1hr 21mins 13secs.
6.2.1980

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