Working in a coal mine - 1

Staffordshire: I arrived early in the morning, in time for the first shift. Reported to the manager and taken to a supervisor to show me where to go.

First, of course, the safety check … of me, but I was fully kitted out with helmet white suit boots and so on.

“Over here for the lift.” He took me … well you know what they look like from above ground, just a wire running over a pulley, then straight down to the lift which would be at the top of the lift shaft.

I went, taking my bag of tools.