German Youth Party Crawl to Coal Face

County Councillor A Haywood, Chairman of Conisbrough UDC greets members of German Youth Clubs on their arrival at Conisbrough Council Offices for a civic reception

On Monday the German visitors to Denaby Tom Hill Club had the experience of descending a colliery.

There are no collieries within 200 miles of their home town of Barfelde, West Germany and only one of the 23 members of the party had ever seen one before.

The party comprising members of the Sports Community of Barfelde (similar to an English Youth Club, but with the emphasis on sporty activities, and covering a larger age group), the Youth Officer of Alfeld, Herr Sievert, and the Burgomaster of Barfelde, Herr Warnacke, and accompanied by Mr S Stones, Youth Leader at the Tom Hill centre, and “South Yorkshire Times” reporter Stephen Kind, arrived at Barbara Main Colliery at 10:30 AM.

They were fitted out with pitgear and descending the shaft just after midday. After a wait at the deputy’s office, the party was taking to a face in the West District by Paddy Mail, and were impressed to learn that they were then 2 miles from the shaft. They went right to the 3 feet seam and crawled along it for 200 yards before emerging into another road and returned to the shaft via Paddy Mail

Tobacco Too

One female member of the party was persuaded to try a miner’s chewing tobacco and the effects had to be quickly stemmed by peppermints!

Through Manfried Hunze, the only member of the party able to completely to act as interpreter, the party told the “South Yorkshire Times” their impressions when they came up after two and half hours underground. Gerhard Zastrow, who is a salt miner said that in some ways, the colliery was similar to a salt mine, “but much, much bigger.”

“There is no bending and crawling in cramped spaces in the salt mine, there is enough room to stand upright,” he added.

“It is so big,” said one girl, “you cannot imagine how big just seeing the building above ground.” They were amazed to learn that there were much bigger collieries.

Admiration

One thing was universal – admiration for the miners: “it must be a terribly hard job, underground,” said another girl, “I would not do it for a lot of money.”

Herr Warnecke said: “we are very grateful to our hosts and the NCB for making this visit possible. We have never had such an opportunity before.

“We have come here to learn about the people, and it is important that we see them at work in their most important industry.”

Civic reception

On Monday evening a civic reception was given to the party in Conisbrough Council Chamber.

The reception, attended by the visitors and their individual hosts, began with the playing of the National Anthem, followed by a welcome from the Council Chairman Councillor a Haywood. He said, pausing frequently for translation, that it was very rare Conisbrough had an opportunity to welcome friends from abroad.

He congratulated the Tom Hill Youth Club Management Committee and Mr Stones on their initiative in arranging the exchange visit.

Replying Herr Warnecke said that he brought the greetings of the people of Barfelde. “We are honoured by your warm and hearty welcome, not only at this reception, but everywhere we are staying.” he said. He extended an invitation to Councillor Haywood and Council members to visit Barfelde on the return visit in September.

“It is important that we should get to know one another in this way, and will help to avoid international misunderstandings in the future,” Herr Warnecke added

The reception was followed by films of local interest presented by Conisbrough Cine Club, and afterwards, the guests returned to the Council Chamber for refreshments.

Included in the parties itinerary were trips to East Yorkshire and the Peak District of Derbyshire.

Asked about the possibility of an official “twinning” of Barfelde and Conisbrough, Mr ET Mellor, clerk to the council said: “it is a possibility, but the matter has not yet been discussed.

Herr Warnecke said: “We must wait and see, if the English visitors to Barfelde in September are greatly impressed with us as we are with England, then perhaps, we will talk about it.”