LAST week I was talking to a old friend who is an ex-miner like myself. He questioned the validity of the help I have given to many ex-miners over the years since the collieries were closed.

For many years I have helped many miners and ex-miners to get the benefits they richly deserve.

I was able to do this thanks to the education I received by going to a union class room on a Sunday afternoon.

It hurt when someone told me I did little to help my fellow exminers.

At times I was kept busy, or actively employed, in helping exminers to the compensation they deserved because of the injuries they had sustained working underground.

I am proud of my achievements and proud that I could help people less fortunate than myself.

Because of my own ill-health, and the many other places this information is available, I have decided to retire myself.

Jimmy Taylor, Coxhoe.