ADD: No You're not Going Down Kirby Pit Lads

Subject: Lyr Add: No You're not Going Down Kirby Pit Lads
From: Monologue John
Date: 07 Oct 24 - 04:11 PM

NO YOU'RE NOT GOING DOWN KIRKBY PIT LADS by David J. Nuttall

My sisters, brother and I will always
be eternally grateful to our parents
who worked unselfishly to provide
opportunities for us in later life . They
valued education and these verses recall
my dad taking us lads down the pit
to put us off coalmining as a job....
all true !!!
' No ! You're not going down Kirkby pit lads !
The graft down below's not for you
So you'd better work hard at your schooling
There's no way you'll end up there too . '
And I still can recall those dark mornings...
Warm in bed , we could hear dad at four
Down Pit Lane his steel boots would rattle
But for his lads he wanted much more.
We were born and brought up in South Yorkshire
South Kirkby , the pit with rich seam.
Me dad , Sam, were a cutter at this modern pit...
His trypanner the N.C.B. 's dream .
He wore shorts and a vest always sweating..
On his belt were his dudley and snap.
Dark brown bacca twist he would chew all his shift
Hard helmet he wore for a cap.
Each pony he loved and gave sugar
And the mice from his sandwiches ate
And I can't recall those who had bad words for him
His condor he'd share with his mate .
But four times in his life he was buried...
His back and his legs under stone
And the brave rescue team always found him
Some men silent whilst others made moan !
Blue scars on his back told their story
His left knee cap... not there anymore
With a stick he must walk...not needing to talk
Of the N.U.M / N.C.B. war.
One Sunday he called me and our Peter
He said ' HURRY.....you're coming wi' me .'
We put on our old clothes and we followed...
He'd arranged us the coal face to see.
' Now this underground trip's not intended
To broaden your minds or impress .
It's just that for you all pit work is taboo
You'll have reight jobs....don't settle for less .'
I remember quite clearly the dropping
As the cage made descent deep and down
I remember me stomach leaping up to me gob
And I saw on Pete's face a dark frown.
So he showed us the water, he showed us the props
And he showed us the face and the muck
He showed us his cutter and hydraulic jacks
Said ' With this lot you're having no truck . '
But for you two the future will be different
For you......education's the key !
And the reason he went down Beamshaw each day..
His lads teachers....from pits we were free.
And although our dad's passed away now
Arthur Scargill warned what was in store....
Educated M.P.s killed the coalfields
And South Kirkby pit is no more.
The community died with the coalfield
And me dad he would have much to say
'Cos the houses where we lived are flattened
But the sign there says ' SCHOOL...STILL THIS WAY. '