Andy Boag Photographer

North Gawber Colliery - Closed 1985

We had twelve months on strike and then I moved on to Woolley colliery. I was there for about twelve months, then moved again to Barnsley Main, until it closed about 3 ½ years later. Then I moved on to Frickley Colliery, which closed in 1991.

The strike was a bit a rough. We had a small child, and believe it or not we had 19 pence a fortnight from the social. My wife worked three jobs to try and keep us going, plus I had to do bits and bobs on the side. It was very hard, but there was a lot of good people.

The atmosphere was very different when we came back. Miners are proud people, and we were very proud the day we marched back in through the pit gates. We gradually got back into the work, but we knew it was time to say goodbye to North Gawber Colliery, it was winding down.

I really miss it, I really enjoyed it. They were good people to work with, always helped each other out. If you were in any kind of trouble they’d help you out if they could. I wish I was back in there.