NATIONAL COAL BOARD

VISIT OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH TO THE NORTH-WESTERN DIVISION

THURSDAY. 3rd APRIL. 1952.

P R O G R A M M E

9.15 a.m. H.R.H. The Duke of Edinourgh alights from train at Lowton siding, wearing pit clothes. Accompanied "by his Private Secretary (Lt. Cmdr. Michael Parker, R.N.) and Detective Inspector Kelley.

His Royal Highness is received by the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Derby, M.C., Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire. Colonel T.E. St.Johnston, C.B.E., Chief Constable of Lancashire, will be presented to His Royal Highness.

9.25 a.m. Party leaves for Mosley Common Colliery in cars to be provided by the National Coal Board.

1st car: H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh. The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Derby. Inspector Kelley.

2nd car; Lt. Cmdr. Parker. H.R.H's Valet (who will have with him the ordinary

clothes of H.R.H. and his party).

9.45 a.m. Arrive Mosley Common Colliery (Rescue Room).

Received by Sir Hubert Houldsworth, Q.C., D.Sc., Chairman of the National Coal Board.

The following persons will then be presented to His Royal Highness:- [

Councillor J. Derbyshire, J.P., Chairman, Tyldesley U.D.C. Mr. R.F. Wilson, Clerk to the Tyldesley U.D.C. Colonel G.G.H. Bolton, Chairman, N.C.B., North-Western Division. Mr. W.H. Sales, Deputy Chairman, - do -Mr. E.H. Browne, Director-General of Production, N.C.B. Mr. G. Hoyle, H.M. Divisional Inspector of Mines. Mr. H.W. Barker, Finance Director, N.C.B., North-Western Division. Mr. F.G. Glossop, Production Director, - do -Mr. L. Plover, Labour Director, - do -Mr. T.J. Sales, Marketing Director, - do -Mr. H.R. vVarburton, Secretary, - do -Mr, E. Lane, Area General Manager, No. 1 (Manchester) Area. Mr. A. Beaumont, Area Production Manager, - do -Mr. F.E. Smith, Agent, No. 2 Sub-Area, - do -Mr. H. Aspinall, Manager, Nos. 1 & 2 Pits, Mosley Common Colliery. Mr. C.H. Richards, Manager, No. 4 Pit, - do -

National Union of Mineworkers (Lancashire Area) - President, Secretary and Miners' Agent for Mosley Common Colliery.

Two representatives from each of the following:-

British Association of Colliery Management. National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies

and Shotfirers. N.U.M. (Colliery Officials and Staffs' Association). N.U.M. (Lancashire, Cheshire and North Wales Enginemen,

Boilermen and Brakesmen, Group 2 Area). N.U.M. (Lancashire and Cheshire Colliery Tradesmen and

Kindred Workers).

N.U.M. Mosley Common Branch - President, Secretary & Delegate. N.U.M. Boothstown Branch - President, Secretary & Delegate.

Mr. J. Thompson - Checkweighman, Mosley Common Colliery.

Members of Mosley Common Colliery Consultative Committee.

Continued/

- 2 -

10.15 a.m. Visit No. 3 Shaft Sinking. His Royal Highness descends in a hoppit, accompanied by Lt. Cmdr. Parker and Mr. C.H. Richards, Colliery Manager, No, 4 Pit.

11.00 a.m. Underground visit. His Royal Highness descends the pit.

1st cage: His Royal Highness. Lt. Cmdr. Parker. Inspector Kelley. Mr, G. Hoyle, H.M. Div. Inspector of Mines. Mr. H. Aspinall, Colliery Manager, Nos. 1 & 2 Pits.

2nd cage: Sir Hubert Houldsworth. Colonel G.G.H. Bolton. Mr, E.H. Browne. Mr. F.G. Glossop. Mr. L. Plover. Mr. E, Lane, Area General Manager.

/~Note; Five of the accredited Court Press Correspondents escorted by the Chief Press Officer, N.C.B., will descend in an earlier cage, and join the underground party at the pit bottom_y\

12.45 p.m. Ascend. Party goes to baths block to bathe and change into ordinary clothes. (Valet to be present with the clothes of His Royal Highness and his party).

1.15 p.m. Lunch in Colliery Canteen.

The following persons to be present:-

His Royal Highness. Sir Hubert Houldsworth. Lt. Cmdr. Parker. Mr, G. Hoyle, H.M. Div. Inspector of Mines. Inspector Kelley. Colonel G.G.H. Bolton. Mr. E.H. Browne. Mr. F.G. Glossop. Mr. L. Plover. Chief Superintendent If, Mercer,

Lancashire County Constabulary - Leigh. Mr. E. Lane, Area General Manager. Mr. H. Aspinall, Colliery Manager, Nos. 1 & 2 Pits. Mr. C.H. Richards, Colliery Manager, No. 4 Pit.

fNote: There will be no interruption in the normal service of meals in the Canteen during the course of the visit of His Royal Highness. J

rNote: At His Royal Highness' table there will bej-

Lt. Cmdr. Parker. Mr. J. Mills, Undermanager. Mr. J.L. Huxley, Overman. Mr. J. Heap, Deputy. Mr. S. Howarth, Chargeman Collier. Mr. A. Hancock, President, N.U.M. Boothstown Branch. Mr. J. Longshaw, President, N.U.M. Mosley Common Branch. 3 Miners (Names not available) .J

rNote: The ten accredited Court Press Correspondents, along with the Chief Press Officer, N.C.B., and the Public Relations Officer, N.W. Division, will also be present at the Luncheon.J?

Continued/,

- 3 -

2.00 p.m.

2,10 p.m.

2.20 p.m.

3.20 p.m.

3.45 p.m.

Depart for ̂ stley Green Colliery.

1st car: His Royal Highness. Sir Hubert Houldsworth. Inspector Kelley.

2nd car: Colonel G.G.H. Bolton. Lt. Cmdr. Parker. Mr. E.H. Browne.

3rd car: Mr. G. Hoyle, H.M. Div. Inspector of Mines. Mr. F.G. Glossop. Mr. L. Plover. Mr. E. Lane, Area General Manager,

Arrive Astley Green Colliery (Rescue Room).

The following persons will be presented to His Royal Highness

Mr. J.H. Unsworth, Agent, No. !+ Sub-Area, No, 1 (Manchester) .urea.

Mr. J. Wood, Colliery Manager, Astley Green Colliery. Mr. C. Grundy, Checkweighman, - do -Mr. T. Jones, - do - - do -Mr. J. Burns, - do - - do -

N.H.M, Tyldesley and Astley Branch — President, Secretary and Delegate.

Members of ̂ stley Green Colliery Consultative Committee.

Proceed by No. 1 Engine House to No. 2 Pit Bottom to see skip winding arrangements. His Royal Highness will be accompanied by:-

Lt. Cmdr. Parker. Sir Hubert Houldsworth. Inspector Kelley. Mr. G. Hoyle, H.M. Div. Inspector of Mines. Mr. E.H. Browne. Mr, F.G. Glossop. Mr. L. Plover. Mr. E. Lane, Area General Manager. Mr. ,J. Wood, Manager, Astley Green Colliery.

/"Note: Five of the accredited Court Press Correspondents and the N.C.B. Press Officer will join the party at the pit bottom.J?

Depart Astley Green. Party and cars the same as for Mosley Common to Astley Green.

Arrive Howe Bridge Training Centre.

The following persons will be presented to His Royal Highness:-

Councillor 0. Hatton, D.C.M., J.P., Chairman, Atherton U.D.C.

Mr. S.J. Blakeborough, Clerk to the Atherton U.D.C.

Councillor W. Woolstencroft, J.P., Mayor of Leigh. Mr. A. Jones, Town Clerk of Leigh. Mr. J. Brass, Area General Manager, No. 2 (Wigan) Area. Mr. E. Lane, Area Training and Education Officer

No. 2 (Wigan) Area. Mr, J. MacChrystal, Chief Training Instructor,

Continued/

- 4 -

3.50 p.m. Inspect Centre.

4.20 p.m. Informal buffet tea in Canteen.

Z Note: The ten accredited Court Press Correspondents along with the Chief Press Officer, N.C.B., and the Public Relations Officer, N. 1 v. Division, will be present during the inspection and tea.__/

4.45 P.m. His Royal Highness and party leave Howe Bridge for their train at Lowbon siding.

1st car: His Royal Highness. Sir Hubert Houldsworth. Inspector Kelley.

2nd car: Lt. Crudr. Parker. Colonel G.G-.H. Bolton.

5.15 p.m. Arrive Lowton siding.

The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Derby, M.C., Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, will be present to say Goodbye to His Royal Highness, before he leaves at 5.25 p.m.

5.25 p.m. Train departs.

NATIONAL COAL BOARD

North-Western Division - No. 1 (Manchester) Area.

ASTLEY GREEN COLLIERY.

The colliery, which is situated south of the East Lancashire Road and is one of the largest collieries of the No. 1 (Manchester) Area, was previously owned by Manchester Collieries Ltd.,

No. 1 Shaft commenced winding coal from the Trencherbone Seam in 1912, having been sunk to a depth of 2,670 ft,. No, 2 Shaft which was sunk to a depth of 2,500 ft. wound coal from the upper seams, Birm, Crombouke, and Rams.

Coal is extracted by the conventional British system of Longwall advancing, and is brought to the pit bottom by endless rope haulage.

Since Nationalisation the following results have been obtained, showing a considerable increase in saleable output.

Saleable O.M.S, at Output the Face (Tons) (Cwts.)

on Books. Others Surface Total U'gd.

Year

1947 1948 1949 1950 1951

398,094 514,874 635,507 595,669 637,907

64.7 67.3 69.5 67.8 73.7

O.M.S, Overall (Cwts.)

17.0 20.8 26.1 24.0 25.5

No. of men Coal Face

621 862 757 834 838 815 764 713 713 795

558 553 512 513 494

2,041 2,144 2,165 1,990 2,002

The previous owners entered into a reorganisation scheme for No, 2 Pit by which it was proposed to transfer the output from the Binn and Rams to No, 1 Shaft, and to enter into the Worsley Seam from No, 2 Shaft. The scheme included the provision of a new pit bottom at a depth of 850 ft, and the introduction of Skip winding. The 10 cwt. tubs then in use at No. 2 Pit were to be replaced by 1 ton tubs. The work of reconstruction was well advanced by Vesting Date and in July, 1947, the new Skip winding plant was put into operation. It proved successful from the start. Physical conditions underground, however, have not been easy and excessive quantities of water have prevented the maximum benefit being obtained from the plant. It is anticipated that as the workings go deeper conditions will improve and the full benefit will be derived from the scheme,

A further scheme for the re-organisation of No, 1 Pit is now in the course of preparation. The main features of this scheme are the introduction of locomotive haulage underground and the use of 3 ton mine cars to replace the 10 cwt. tubs which are still used in this pit.

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The colliery is equipped with a self-servicing lamproom and pithead baths were opened in December, 1935*

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Extensive reserves exist in the virgin areas which lie to the south of the present workings and a series of surface boreholes is about to be commenced which, it is expected, will prove that the colliery has accessible sufficient coal to last for more thai SO

NATIONAL COAL BOARD

North-Western Division - No. 1 (Manchester) Area.

MOSLEY COMMON COLLIERY.

The colliery is the largest of the group known as the No, 1 (Manchester) Area, and in terms of output is the second larg.est in Lancashire, It has already had a life of some 80 years and has a prospective life of over 100 years.

Its present daily output of 3,197 tons (Saleable) is wound up three shafts. The method of working is on the conventional British lines of Longwall advancing, the coal being drawn to the pit bottom by a series of endless rope haulages. The pit tubs are brought to the surface in cages which are hoisted up the shaft by steam-driven winding .engines.

Ascertain areas of the pit are gassy the energy used for operating the underground machinery is duplicated, compressed air is used where there is any risk from gcs,and electricity elsewhere.

The results since Nationalisation are shown below and indicate an improved Saleable output, and an increase in the Overall 0,M,S,

Year Saleable 0.M.S, at 0.M.S, I Output the Pace Overall Coal (Tons) (Cwts) (Cwts) Pace

1947 610,954 75.9 21,1 806 1948 679,189 72,6 20.8 964 1949 693,729 72,7 20.8 915 1950 725,007 64,6 22.2 1,062 1951 828,017 07.0 23.9 1,091

). of men on Books. Others Surface Total U'gd,

1,159 658 2,623 1,399 688 3,051 1,346 562 2,823 1.122 469 2,653 1.123 493 2,707

In 1945 the former Owners, Manchester Collieries Ltd., embarked on an extensive reorganisation programme. The reorganisation was planned in two phases and comprised

PHASE I.

fa) Concentration of all coal underground to one winding shaft, (b) Winding coal up the shaft by 12 ton capacity Skips, using

electric winding engines, (c) The use of No. 3 Shaft for this purpose after being

widened from 12 ft. dia. to 22 ft. dia, and lined with concrete through a depth of 580 yards,

(d) The replacement of 10 cwt, capacity tubs by tubs of one ton capacity,

(e) The installation of electrically-driven fans to replace steam-driven ventilating plant,

(f) The installation of new Coal Preparation Plant capable of mechanically cleaning 600 tons of coal per hour. At the time of its inception this plant was the largest in the country.

PHASE II. This provides for:

(a) The deepening of the No, 3 Shaft from 580 yards to 1,003 yards,

(b) The introduction of 3 ton mine cars to replace the 1 ton tubs,

(c) The driving of level locomotive haulage-roads to replace the endless rope haulage.

The National Goal Board endorsed the proposals of the previous Otmers and to date 90% of the work associated with Phase I has been completed.

,The T/ork on the Goal Preparation Plant is being carried out in three stages. Stage I, which mechanically cleans by the Dense Medium Process all Run of Mine coal over 2 inches, came into operation in February, 1949. Stage 2 is expected to be ready for putting into commission in July, 1952; this will enable all Run of Mine coal to be cleaned by the Dense Medium Process down to 1 inch until Stage 3 is completed. When the final Stage of the plant is completed the whole pf the Run of Mine coal will be treated, plus •§• inch by the Dense Medium Process and -Q. inch to 0 inch by the Hoyois' process. The final Stage of the plant should be ready By June', or July 1953,

ooOoo

With the completion of Pha.se I of the scheme by June9 1954, the output of the colliery is expected to be raised'to 4,000 tons per day saleable coal with an overall O.M.S. of ' 27.2 cwts.

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Pithead Baths were erected in March, 1933, and until 1950 the canteen provided snack meals. In February, 1950 a full meal canteen was opened and provides excellent facilities.

NOTES ON' UNDERGROUND VISIT.

The Party will descend No. 2 Shaft, 520 yards in depth to the coal winding level. They will travel along the Doe' tunnel to the Binn Seam, a distance of 1 ,800 yards. On reaching the coal face they will see a coal plough of German design as well as the standard English equipment for the hand loading of machine cut coal on to conveyors.

NATIONAL COAL BOARD

North-Western Division - No. 1 (Manchester) Area.

HOWE BRIDGE TRAINING- CENTRE

Every new entrant to the ooal mining industry who is going to work underground rrust first be given Preliminary Training in accordance with the Coal Mines (Training) General Regulations, 1945, which came into operation on January 1st, 1947,

The object of the training is to familiarise boys with their new industrial surroundings and to inculcate a "safety consciousness" which is essential in an occupation with as many hazards as mining.

In 194S, by agreement with the Ministry of Fuel and Power, juvenile training was put on an intensive basis and now extends for a period of 16 weeks full time, half of which is spent at the Centre and half at the Technical College. The usual practice is for three days to be spent at the Centre one week and two the next and vice versa at the Technical College.

The Howe Bridge Centre was opened in October, 1950, and caters solely for juveniles. Its present capacity is 160 and for some time now it has been fully occupied. It is one of seven Training Centres in this Division,

The period under instruction also enables the staff to nute boys whose practical aptitudes and potentialities warrant their encouragement to take full advantage of the board's Education Schemes which can lead those with ability and willingness to work to the top of the promotion ladder.

The Centre confines itself to practical instruction, including underground visits and surface visits to surrounding collieries. On the surface the instruction covers primarily First Aid and Fire Fighting, and in order to develop trainees, physically graded tasks are performed. The underground instruction comprises practical experience in haulage work such as coupling tubs and signalling.

In addition to training juveniles, the Howe Bridge Centre serves as a Divisional Centre for training newly appointed Colliery Training Officers and as an Area Centre for lectures and film shows demonstrating correct practice for men being upgraded to work at the coal face. These facilities are provided as and when required.

The staff of the Centre comprises one Chief Practical Instructor and 1lf Practical Instructors working under the general supervision of the Area Education and Training Officer

DIAGRAMMATIC OUTLINE OF 16 WEEKS TRAINING COURSE,

Technicali 240 Hours!

English 30 Hours

Physical Training 42 Hours

Mining Operations 36 Hours

Weeks _80 Days 480 Hours

Mining Science 24 Hours

Works Train 72 Hoi

hop ing ars

Maths. & Drawing 36 Hours

Practical 240 Hours

(227 Hours!

i Surface I H05 Hours!

First Aid I i 20 Hours j

1

!Travelling ? 13 Hours

[Underground ' 122 Hours ;

..Centre I 112 Hoursi

Visits 10 Hours

j Surface Practical

I 75 Hours

Visits 10 Hours!