Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 21 October 1932
60 Years’ Labour
Conisboro’ Horsekeeper Ready for a Rest
Work among Ponies
Rest has come as a pleasant change after 61 years of work to Mr. Frank Nicholson, of Burcroft Hill, Conisborough, who last week received from the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Company and employees a handsome timepiece to mark his retirement after 49 years with the firm as horsekeeper.
A native of Newton, near Sprotborough, Mr. Nicholson started work at the age of six. His job was holding sickles at the works at Conisborough. Two or three years later he assisted in the building of Morley Place Schools, Conisborough, where he afterwards received a little education.
From 12 to 18 years of age, he worked on farms in the neighbourhood and learned much about the care of horses. He then found employment with the pit ponies at Denaby Colliery where he worked for fourteen years, being transferred to Cadeby Colliery as head horsekeeper, a position he held for 35 years.
Mr. Nicholson’s work has been his hobby; he has devoted his life to the welfare of the ponies in his care. He has studied their ailments and was even successful on several occasion in setting broken limbs. On the morning of July 9th. 1912, he was on his way to attend to seven ponies when the pit exploded and the ponies were killed. Mr. Nicholson took charge of the rescue of the remaining ponies.
Until recent months he had never missed a shift or an emergency call. Ill-health caused his retirement about two months ago at the age of 67. Now he is getting plenty of walking and gardening and is already much better.