People, Pits &' Places

RAF tribute to miners who bought Spitfires for the Few

It’s a little known fact that the North-East’s pits played a vital part in the historic Battle of Britain. During the early part of the war, when the RAF was losing many aircraft and Government finances were badly stretched, someone came up with the idea of collecting funds to buy aircraft to support the war effort.

Lord Beaverbrook introduced the Spitfire Fund into which individuals, companies, organisations or towns could donate money to buy the much-needed replacements.

Despite abject poverty and their own dangerous working conditions, men from the Durham coalfield clubbed together to buy two much-needed Spitfires.

One of them - registration number P8091 - was presented to 72 Squadron, which at the time was based in Acklington. The aircraft was officially named Miners of Durham II.

After the war the unit disbanded, but in 2002 it was reformed as a reserve training squadron at RAF Linton-on-Ouse - and its pilots have brought back the aircraft naming tradition, honouring those who bought presentation Spitfires.

Harry Spence, 79, from Tudhoe Colliery, was recently invited to the base to meet the pilots and, as one of the original contributors, to see the modern Miners of Durham II, a Tucano used to train today's fighter crews.

Interviewed by Mark Foster of the Northern Echo in September, Mr Spence said, "It's wonderful to see Miners of Durham back in the skies. I'm all for it and I think it's great".

Mr Spence was 14 when he turned up for his first shift at Tudhoe Colliery in 1941.

"It was horrible," he remembered. "We often had to work in an area no more than three feet square. All we received was £2-a-week and that included the extra money for working underground."

The £10,000 to buy the miners' two Spitfires was taken from union subscriptions. It would have been the equivalent of 100 miner's annual incomes.

The original Miners of Durham II was written off following a crash landing in January 1945

Unearthing our mining heritage

The County’s mining history is being celebrated at a new museum in Durham City.

The Durham Miners Heritage centre, at Neville's Cross Social Club, opened this spring and already there are plans for the county’s schoolchildren to use the museum as a learning zone.

The centre is run by the Durham Miners Heritage Group, formed in 2006, and is home to an exhibition of mining memorabilia collected over the last 20 years by members of the group, including the model of a pit pony and cart from the foyer of County Hall.

As well as displays on the subjects of shot firing, the Mines Rescue Service and tools of the trade, there is an art exhibition by former Durham Miner Ron Gray.

It is hoped the centre will make a real difference to the community and will be used as a base for training.

The centre is in First Floor Rooms, Neville's Cross Social Club, Neville's Cross Bank, Durham. Opening times are Tuesday to Thursday 11am to 4pm and Saturday 11am to 3pm. Admission: Adults £1.50, OAPs £1, children 50p and school groups free. Call 07950 430 334 for more details.

CISWO, championing social welfare in the mining community

Despite the demise of the coal mining industry, the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation, (CISWO), continues to provide social welfare services to our mining communities.

Established when coal mining was privatised, the independent charity operates six regional offices throughout the coalfield areas of England, Wales and Scotland and its mission is to “enhance quality of life in coalfield communities by the promotion of social inclusion and community regeneration initiatives”.

CISWO continues to maintain 19 Miners Welfare Schemes operating throughout the North-East &' Cumbria and the organisation’s active involvement in community development schemes means that they can offer essential services such as funding advice, professional training for trustees, and expert guidance on project development.

With an exemplary record in social work service, CISWO provides a wide range of valuable support services: confidential home visits, support with health and disability issues, advocacy, benefits advice and assistance with applications, as well as general information and advice for individuals, families and social groups. They also give practical and emotional support at times of difficulty, including bereavement.

Since 1976, CISWO has, through the Coal Industry Benevolent Trust, provided grants for widows of miners who have died as a result of an industry accident or of certain prescribed dust related industrial diseases and, men who were certified as suffering from pneumoconiosis during their lifetime. The Trust also gives grants to former employees of the mining industry and their widows/partners in times of hardship and miners and ex-miners’ children with special needs. During 2006 the Trust provided financial assistance totalling £850,790.

However, CISWO is probably best known for the charity’s unique, and quite excellent, holiday and residential convalescence facilities for ex-miners and their wives and widows and former female coal industry employees.

The Banner featured the impressive Sam Watson Rest Home for women, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, (Winter 2006/2007, Issue number 47), pictured below. CISWO also run homes at: Low Hall in Scalby, the Derbyshire Miners Holiday Home in Skegness, and the aptly named Vitalise at Sandpipers in Southport.

So, if you feel that CISWO can help you, your family or neighbours in any way, you can contact the local office at:

CISWO
6 Bewick Road
Gateshead
Tyne & Wear
NE8 4DP
Telephone: 0191 477 7242

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