South Yorkshire times, July 25.
In the Family.
A Conisbrough mine worker has just retired from a post in the National Union of Mineworkers which he and his father between them had held for 51 years.
Mr Albert Hunter, of 16 Taylor Street, Conisbrough, had been treasurer of the Yorkshire Main (Edlington) branch of the NUM for 24 years when he relinquished the position last month. His father, the late Mr Ralph Taylor, who died in 1940, aged 71, became Treasury in 1912 and kept the job until his death, apart from one year.
In the Village.
Mr Taylor, who retired at the age of 65 as a check weighman at Edlington earlier in the year, is pleased that the post is to be kept “in the village.” For the new treasurer is Conisbrough councillor, Mr Albert Tyas, who lives in Minneymoor Lane, less than a quarter of a mile from Mr Hunter’s home. I’m very pleased that Mr Tyson gets position of Conisbrough,” commented Mr Hunter, who began work at Edlington in 1912, who says that in his unique capacity. He has been down 15 South Yorkshire collieries. Mr Hunter is a former president of Conisbrough Minus Welfare, and has been a member of the Mona WMC since it opened in 1919.
Well Occupied.
A former member of the Conisbrough Homing Society, Mr Hunter, is still a keen pigeon fancier. This interest, together with his enthusiasm for gardening, will occupy him during his retirement.
Meanwhile, his stepson, Mr Albert Downing is keeping up the family tradition of union activities as a member of the Branch committee at South Kirby Colliery. Mr Hunter looks back on the days of oil lamps in collieries and declared on Wednesday: “I think it is a bit easier in the pits nowadays, but they still have to watch themselves, following a machine. In the olden days, there was much more time see what was going on.” He said.