Oldest Miner Retires

The oldest miner employed by the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Company, Mr. William Smith, of Market Street, Mexborough, who is 73, worked his last shift at Denaby Main on Friday, and has retired on pension.

“I have never worked away from a pit,” he said to a “Times” reporter this week, “and I don’t think it does you much harm.” He has had 63 years in the pit, with no more than six months illness in all.

He started work in a Staveley pit at the age of nine, and in those days worked twelve hours a day and attended evening classes.

He has a very good word for Denaby Main. “It is the best pit I have worked in,” he said,”and the safest round here.” He added that lie would be sorry to leave the pit, though lie appreciated the pensions scheme, which enabled him to retire in some degree of comfort. He is the son of a Nottinghamshire miner, and his only son is also a miner. He has been in this district over fifty years, and has been a reader of this paper “ever since he can remember.” He means to have it sent on to hint every week to Dartford, in Kent, where he is going t to settle down with his daughter.

In his 4 years experience, Mr. Smith has been involved in only one accident, and that, though connected with the mine, actually occurred at his home, for in some way nine pounds of powder which he had stored in his pantry ready for firing shot in the pit was exploded and he was badly burned about the head and chest, and had a spell in Chesterfield Infirmary.