IN reply to the recent criticism of the miners, I am old enough to remember the 1926 General Strike. Miners were the “salt of the earth”.

My granddad worked down the pit for 57 years, retiring at 72 years old. He travelled underground three miles each way to his work. He never had dole, sick pay or holidays; only work and sleep for him.

His only pleasure was reading his copy of The Northern Echo.

A deputy, his pay was £3 10s a week. My dad, a pony trainer, only had £1 6s 8d a week.

I remember a fall of stone in the pit. Eight men and a pony were trapped. Granddad stayed down three days. Bread and tea were sent down in the cage and the men were rescued. Grandad would not leave until the pony was out, too. He was regarded as hero in the village – “Big Jack the Deputy”.

Have the men who have written these letters criticising the miners ever been down a pit?

They don’t know what they are talking about.

Mrs Vera Jackson, Darlington.