| Description | Peter Beynon, manager of a pit at Ammanford, talks to Charles Parker.
Tracks 1-7: He says that he went round the pit shaking hands with the staff when he first started work at the pit and says that this was appreciated. Charles Parker talks about the impact of nationalisation on the industry; it has distanced men from management. They look at a map of a pit and talk about the seams, shafts, and problems with making roadways in the pit. They discuss the problem of movement in the pits of South Wales and Scotland and whether the pits in England are easier to work. He describes how the coal is worked at Ammanford and says that some of the 'old skills' such as working with a hatchet and with pick and shovel are still used. They talk about other pits where the old skills are still used and mechanisation. He says that people who work in factories do not use their skills, whereas in mining people are still required to use their initiative. He talks about the effect of pit closures on local companies who supply the mining industry, and the need for the public to realise this. He says that the country needs to decide whether we need a coal industry, other countries' energy policy, and the need for jobs for redundant miners. He talks about lack of demarcation of jobs in the mining industry and the advantage of having a single union in the industry - he compares this with other industries. He says that mining 'sorts the men out from the boys'. Charles Parker asks whether he enjoys his job and he talks about the satisfaction and frustration involved in the job. He says that Welsh people like to talk.
Tracks 8-10: Charles Parker talks to 'Roy Davis', a miner. This interview may have been recorded in the mine. He says that miners would work in other industries if they had the choice, but the atmosphere in the pit is better than in other industries. They talk about the future of the mining industry, wages, danger, and health hazards. Ben Lewis and Tom Evans talk about the good spirit at Ammanford pit and about other pits they have worked in.
Total: 32.33 mins
Dubber's reference number: PLA KF 565D0431380 |