South Yorkshire Times, January 19, 1963.
Death of Mr E.T.Hardy
Many of the older surface employees of the Denaby, Cadeby, and Maltby Collieries will regret to learn of the death of Mr Eli Thomas Hardy (75), who died on January 1 and was cremated at Mansfield.
Our Denaby correspondent writes: “Mr Hardy came to the local collieries in the early 1920s as assistant engineer to the late Mr Ralph Williamson, and upon the death of the latter, he became the chief engineer, and when the amalgamated Denaby collieries was founded he became chief engineer to the Denaby, Cadeby, and Maltby collieries.
Mr Hardy’s instructions to his staff were: “if at any time there is a doubt in the case, give the men the benefit of the doubt.” He was greatly esteemed by all who knew him and he entered into the village live and served on several committees.
“When appointed chief engineer he moved to Buckingham Road, Conisbrough,but he and Mrs Hardy kept their interest in Denaby Main. They were members of the Parish Church and for a time Mrs Hardy, who died a few years ago, was theEnrolling member for the Mothers Union branch.
“They had two daughters Muriel and Joan, and Joan died in her early teens, and Mr and Mrs Hardy gave the stone front and baptistery in the Denaby Parish Church to her memory.
“When the National Coal Board took control, Mr Hardy was appointed to an area post. Later he had a house built at Cuckney in Derbyshire in readiness for retirement, and it was there that Mrs Hardy died.
“Whenever Mr Hardy was in the district he called to see members of the staff at the collieries. He retired a few years ago.”