Category Archives: NUM

National Union of Mineworkers

Roberts, Bryn

First name/s: Arthur Bryn Last name: Roberts Known names / nicknames: Date of birth: 07/04/1897 Year of birth: 1897 Life before Ruskin Date and place of birth: Abertillery Family: Mary (mother) and William (father). According to Dupre (2011), William was a mining engineer and a Tory. Work: Collier (Penybont Colliery, Abertillery), from 1910. Politics/Trade union […]

Webster, Clive

First name/s: Clive Last name: Webster Known names / nicknames: Date of birth: Year of birth: 1941 Life before Ruskin Date and place of birth: Batley, West Yorkshire Family: Work: Left school at 16, worked in Thornhill Pit, Yorkshire Coalfields. Soon became a shot-firer using explosives to open up coal seams. Politics/Trade union activity: National […]

Welsh, Michael Collins

First name/s: Michael Last name: Welsh Known names / nicknames: Mick /Mickey Date of birth: 23/11/1926 Year of birth: 1926 Life before Ruskin Date and place of birth:Doncaster 23 November 1926 Family:Father Danny, a miner, who died when Mick was 8; mother Winnie who encouraged Mick to attend night school. Work:Shot-firer in the pit Politics/Trade […]

MacFarlane, James Edward

First name/s: James Last name: MacFarlane Known names / nicknames: Date of birth: 27/04/1930 Year of birth: 1930 Life before Ruskin Date and place of birth: 27 April 1930 at Denaby Main, a South Yorkshire coal-mining village Family: He was the second child and only son of Edward and Harriet MacFarlane. His father was a […]

Clancy, John Brian

First name/s: John Brian Last name: Clancy Known names / nicknames: Jack Date of birth: 10/09/1937 Year of birth: 1937 Life before Ruskin Date and place of birth: Bolsover, Derbyshire Family: Work: Mining – my grandfather was a miner in the South Welsh Rhondda valley area who came up to North East Derbyshire for work […]

From the minutes of a TGWU branch meeting

In the course of his research Jack Saunders came across this on the presentation by his union branch of three books to assist Len Rankin in his studies at Ruskin. The details for that minute about Len Rankin… Archive: Modern Record Centre, Coventry. Collection: Alan Thornett Collection. File reference: MSS391/1/7/6 File content: Minutes of fortnightly […]

Skinner, Dennis

First name/s: Dennis (Edward) Last name: Skinner Known names / nicknames: ‘the Beast of Bolsover’ Date of birth: 11/02/1932 Year of birth: 1932 Life before Ruskin Date and place of birth: 11 February 1932, ?Clay Cross? Derbyshire Family: Father, Edward, a miner. Mother, Lucy (Dudley) took in washing. Married Mary Parker, 1960, three children – […]

Jenkins, Arthur

First name/s: Arthur Last name: Jenkins Known names / nicknames: Date of birth: 03/02/1882 Year of birth: 1882 Life before Ruskin Date and place of birth: 3 February 1882 at Farteg, Abersychan, Monmouthshire Family: Jenkins was the son of Thomas Jenkins (1855/6–1929), a coalminer, and his wife, Eliza Perry. Work: Jenkins left school aged 12, […]

Hodges, Frank

First name/s: Frank Last name: Hodges Known names / nicknames: Date of birth: 30/05/1887 Year of birth: 1887 Life before Ruskin Date and place of birth: Woolaston, Gloucestershire, on 30 April 1887 Family: Hodges was the son of Thomas Hodges, and Louisa (née ?) Work: ODNB states that he began work as ‘an ordinary collier’ […]

Edwards, Ebenezer

First name/s: Ebenezer Last name: Edwards Known names / nicknames: Ebby Date of birth: 30/07/1884 Year of birth: 1884 Life before Ruskin Date and place of birth: 30 July 1884 Chevington, Northumberland Family: One of 11 children. Father – William Edwards, president of local miners’ lodge.  Mother – Esther Fish Work: Left school aged 12 […]