My father and both grandfathers were miners in South Wales. My dad started as a collier's boy, having failed to get into grammar school. When the war started he was of course in a reserved occupation and not susceptible to be called up, but he joined the Royal Air Force anyway. He served as a bomb-aimer/navigator in many missions over Germany, and after the war he went to college and gained mining qualifications. He ended his career as a colliery manager. I'm very proud of my dad, even though he was the other Welsh miner who couldn't sing.

Cheers
Ray (who can just about hold a note)