Calverton Fitter

An NCB Apprenticeship … and what happened next

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Rochdale

Coming soon, under construction.

Contact me at………

john.round2@hotmail.co.ku
Yes I know my email address has a mistake at the end. If you know what's wrong with it you are human and not a spamming machine. Please feel free to contact me to say Hello, or Remember Me, or to make a written contribution.

I twitter at JohnRound2

Coal Anyone?

The end of deep mine coalfields has arrived with just one pit probably remaining by the end of 2015. We still use about 60 million tons of the stuff every year, mostly in power stations, and we import about 50 million tons. Relying on imports makes the country vulnerable to international economic and political vagaries (Russian coal anyone, about 40% of coal imports).

Whether you wanted to close the mines and increase the use of nuclear power stations (nimby) or go for the 'greener' options (yes please) the fact remains that we do still need the coal that has been abandoned beneath our feet.

I've written this brief history to try and give a flavour of a working environment at a coal mine. Myself and John Tew were the last apprentices to do our coal face 4 week training on a Hand-got coal face though we didn't know it at the time. I hope you enjoy reading about our experience.

I've enjoyed writing this story and so have continued to document my subsequent career in engineering especially as I am now retired. Its not complete, bear with me. Look at the menu bar and blog and feel free to contribute.

*****

"It takes four years for a human to become an engineer, after that even if he tries for his whole life he can't become human again"
anon

*****

Optimists are known to claim the glass is half full while pessimists say half empty.
It takes an engineer to point out that the glass has been over specified.

*****

Q: What is the difference between Mechanical Engineers and Civil Engineers ?
A: Mechanical Engineers build weapons, Civil Engineers build targets.

*****

"Clothes are the lowest priority for an engineer, assuming the basic thresholds for temperature and decency have been satisfied. If no appendages are freezing or sticking together, and if no genitalia or mammary glands are swinging around in plain view, then the objective of clothing has been met. Anything else is a waste."

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