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Interview
47, MA200/048/048
Mantle Oral History Project

Speaker: Smith, Frank, 1911 - , Interviewee, Male, Coal miner; Trade Union Official.
Speaker: Carswell, J., Interviewer, Female

Summary of interview item: Talks about early home life and family, including father's work and politics. Describes home and conditions in a mining family, with details of bathing. Describes school and Sunday school as a Primitive Methodist. Describes in detail first day at work as a miner. Continues with more detail of work and conditions in the mine and his involvement and work with the trade union and political affiliations. Recalls the 1926 strike and details what being on strike was like. Gives account of the Second World War and the effect it had on mining, including the arrival of Bevin boys, wages and extra rations. Describes miners' leisure activities, including football, cricket and gambling, also male voice choir. Talks about various colleagues, religion, nationalisation and closure of mines and 1974 strike. Gives explanation of wage structure in mining, information on conditions, accidents and industrial diseases. Also gives international perspective of mining from his visits to mines abroad and miners from other countries he has encountered.
Place of birth: Whitwick, Leicestershire.
Education: Whitwick Church of England school.
Marital Status: Married, Children: Daughters: 2
Father's Occupation: Miner.
Mother's Occupation: Hosiery worker.
Location: County: Leicestershire
Location: Town/Place: Whitwick.
Periods Covered: 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s.
Language: English

Recording Date: 29/11/1988
Playing time:
Access Restrictions: Full clearance Item Copyright: EMOHA
Summary: Yes
Transcription: No
Copies: yes
Cross Reference:


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Last updated: 08/05/02
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