My grandfather left school and became a grocer's delivery boy. He joined the army at 17 and served in France for 2 years being invalided out after a gas attack. He went down the mines and did 50 years retiring at 70 in 1969. He then got a job as a park attendant and was still working when he died aged 74.

His father was also a miner for over 50 years and I have his certificate celebrating 50 years as a member of the NUM.