Pitmen brothers at Netherton

Those were the days when miners had to carry on working as long as they were able to..till health reasons made them retire!

Love the improvisation for a presentation table...two barstools and a well-worn coal-hoose door!

This looks like the 1950's to me,going off their suits,..oh!,and the old type cast-iron based Microphone stand in the background![I would notice that wouldn't I...being a musician..!]

Salt of the Earth,these guys,utmost respect to all of them...I followed in their footsteps,in 1971,for three weeks ,as part of my Deputy's course training,I was along with Dougie Moore,and Norman Smeaton,[Deputies in charge of me],and Bob Cowell was the Safety Officer..aal canny fellas,but mind a didn't care for the Undermanager at the time...Peter L....he treated me as if a was a five year aad kid!

Nivvor mind,Matty Smith was the Deputy's Union official,[Secretary or Chairman..canna mind which,but a smashing natured fella!]

Bob,if ye ivvor see these pics,a kept me word in your office..never forgot to this day how you helped me!

Thanks to Bob,and also to Carole for posting these great pics.!

The three brothers in the picture are my great uncle Billy Swann Joseph Swann ( my grandfather) and my great uncle Tommy Swann 

@Jennifer Ann AtkinsonI assume your family has this photo. If you could give me any info eg. the year - who the two guys are on the left as you look at the photo etc. I will add the info to the photo.

With the info we have so far :-  

Billy Swann my great uncle is the one on the left Joseph Swann ( my grandfather) in the middle and Tommy Swann my great uncle on the end  . My grandad was a winder at netherton pit , not sure what my great uncles did . Im not sure of the year but i know my grandad died in 1964 age 72  . Sorry i cant give you any more information.  The picture is now at woodhorn museum  with other items from when my father died in 2013 

Ive no idea who the two guys on the left were , i assume they were pit manager's  

@Jennifer Ann Atkinson - according to the Durham Mining Museum site the Howard Pit closed in 1974 and from the info you posted above your grandfather must have retired in the late 1950's as he would have been 65 in 1959. I won't add any year on at the moment but if we get any further info I will update.

Edited November 26, 20214 yr by Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)

Thank you 

@Jennifer Ann Atkinson & @Carole - Nigel Scarr says gentleman first left as you look at the photo is the Colliery Manager - Charlie ? Moore.

If only my dad was still with us ,he would have told me