South Yorkshire Times January 19, 1946

Retirement after 53 Years at the Pit

Mr Phares Benton, of 29, Pope Avenue, Conanby, retired from work at the Cadeby Main Colliery on Wednesday after completing 53 years service, the whole of his working life (except for war service), with the Denaby and Cadeby Main Collieries Ltd.

Mr Benton started work at Denaby Colliery in January 1893, as a door trapper, but three years later he went to Cadeby Main, and he had been employed for the past 50 years, the last 33 years as a deputy. Mr Benton has performed practically every job in the mine, and has also worked under every agent, manager and under manager since Cadeby pit was sunk.

Mr Benton was in the South African War and saw service in Bechuanaland, and holds the Queen Victory Medal for that campaign. He also served from 1914 to 1918 in the Great War and saw service in Mesopotamia with the St John Ambulance Corps.

Mr Benton, who is married and has two sons and one daughter, is very proud of the greenhouse, and these retirement hopes to make this his hobby during his spare time.