South Yorkshire Times September 22, 1956
Weighmen to Retire
After Long Service at Cadeby
Due to retire this week after 54 years at Cadeby Colliery, is Ald Ben Roberts, J.P. He was given a week’s notice on Monday by the Checkweigh committee, along with Mr Horace Saxton (65) of 12 March Street Conisborough.
Mr Saxton has been Checkweighman at the colliery for 14 years and Ald Roberts for 30 years. Due to coal now being measured by the length in the seam and not by weight, the two men are no longer needed.
Ald Roberts, a well-known public figure in Denaby and Conisborough, lives at “Aberford”, Doncaster Road Conisborough. He is 67. He started work at Cadeby colliery at the age of 13, and has done almost every job in the colliery.
He was elected president of the NUM branch at Cadeby at his first attempt, and held the position for 17 years. He has also been delegate and secretary
He has been a Councillor on Conisborough Urban Council since 1930, Chairman of the Council four times and is present Chairman of the Council. For 22 years he has been a County Councillor, and for the past four an half years a County Alderman. He is a magistrate.
Ald Roberts told a “South Yorkshire Times” reporter on Monday that he was rather surprised at the sudden decision, and expected to work at the colliery for another 10 months or so. “I shall have plenty to do, though, without the work at the colliery, I have been offered several temporary jobs.”