Our columnist remembers when an early start meant just that

When I started work on August 19, 1963, I was elated to be earning money, such as it was then, writes Steve Milnes.
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But so disappointed that I missed out on my school holidays of six weeks.

The other major thing for me was that I had to get up at 4.45 am to get to work on time – what a shock to the system that was.

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I had to catch two buses to get there and arrived with little time to spare.

Steve MilnesSteve Milnes
Steve Milnes

I can say that standing waiting for a bus in winter is the coldest I have ever been.

We had no insulated shoes and boots then, and the standard donkey jacket did little to help.

I still smile at how many had a donkey jacket with NCB emblazoned on the back, even though some had never worked at the pit.

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The buses had a small heater at the front but many had no rear doors so it was still cold in winter.

You could smoke upstairs on a bus then, and the air was often thick with it.

One thing I still recall fondly was the pit canteen and I think that will apply to many others too.

They had tea mugs that were big thick and heavy, but the tea was very nice.

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Everyone will of course remember their egg custards, I know I do.

They did good dinners and sandwiches too, very handy if you were asked to work a ‘double-un’.

Although mining was a tough job, I always admired the pit village community spirit.

I enjoyed listening to all of the local news and gossip.

Who was entertaining over the weekend at the welfare, who had skipped paying for a round (a mortal sin).

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If the pit manager had been for a drink and bought drinks for some and not others, that was headline news.

I worked at Blidworth Colliery in my teens and travelled from Mansfield every day.

Milkmen from the Northern Dairy and the landmark Co-op dairy, featured daily on my journey,

Now the milkmen and dairies have gone.