LIKE R Robinson of Coxhoe, I started work at Thrislington Colliery at the age of 15 years. I did not want to work in that hole in the ground but my father said if pit work was good enough for him, it was good enough for me.

I must say I enjoyed the 35 years I worked underground at Thrislington, Mainsforth, Blackhall and Easington Collieries.

I had some scary moments when at times we had to run for safety because of dangerous conditions on the coal face, and sad moments when we lost a comrade.

I am often asked would I go back to working underground and the answer is yes, because of the camaraderie that can only be found 1,000ft underground and the jokes that were told on the lunch break that you would not dare repeat on the surface of the coal mine.

Jimmy Taylor, Coxhoe.