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New Book "the Coal Mining Industry Of Sheffield And North East Derbyshire";


Unitedite Returns

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A number of you will know Ken Wain as one of the contributors to our Sheffield History Forum and of his excellent work and his contributions to our knowledge of local coal mining history, [Westwell Colliery; Collieries Near Mosborough; Coal Lorry At East Birley Colliery; Etc].

Many of you will therefore be interested to learn that Ken has now produced his first book, titled "The Coal Mining Industry of Sheffield and North East Derbyshire"; ISBN: 13-978-1445639635, published by Amberley Publishing, [30-06-2014].

Containing 192 pages and with over 250 illustrations, this book has much to interest those of us who would like to broaden our knowledge about this district's coal mining past.

There are specific chapters covering coal mining in Woodhouse, Birley East Colliery, The Sheffield Coal Company, Gleadless, Fence Colliery, Orgreave Colliery and Coking Plant, Nunnery Colliery, Handsworth Colliery, Tinsley Park Colliery, Aston - Beighton - Brookhouse Collieries, Killamarsh Collieries, Renishaw Park Colliery, and many others of local interest.

I recommend this book to you, as the author's knowledge of and the depth of his research into our local coal mining industry is well illustrated here, and I would also like to think it worthwhile that we should support one of "Sheffield History's Own".

I believe that a second book, by the same author, covering the coal mining industries of Rotherham and Barnsley is to be published in a few months' time, and that a third book, with specific emphasis on the Sheffield coal industry is already in the course of preparation and will follow.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mining-Industry-Sheffield-North-Derbyshire/dp/1445639637/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405765607&sr=8-1&keywords=ken+wain

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Hello Unitedite Returns, Thank you very much indeed for your kind words regarding my book, this is the very first contact I have received and I am very grateful. The book has now been released for three weeks and is available via Amazon and will be in book shops very soon. If anyone does buy the book I would like to see any kind of feedback.The book is available direct from myself for £15, saving three pounds on the publishers price.Send me a message and I will contact you and deliver it free.

Many thanks ,

Regards ,

KEN.

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Hello Ken, firstly I must congratulate you on your book about mining in Sheffield and North East Derbyshire. We have just purchased the book for a family member for Christmas who is a former miner. We have only had a quick look at the book but am amazed at the information it holds. There appears to be lots of information about my family. Turner Ward who owned the Mine in Killamarsh was my 2nd great grand Uncle. I have all the inquest information for the terrible disaster that occurred there. You mention in your book about the info his great great granddaughter gave you. This is really interesting to us as we weren't aware he had children. I have been researching my family history for a few years now and never found a marriage or children for Turner. I would love to learn more about this as Turner has always been of interest to me due to the awful accident at his mine. You also mention about Henryk Sikorski who married Sheila Ward my 1st cousin. Her father and my grandad were twin brothers. Maria their daughter is my 2nd cousin but I have never met her. I also love the photos of the Booth and Fisher buses. Geoffrey Booth married my 1st cousin Muriel Jackson. We are so fascinated with your book that we have ordered a copy for ourselves. I am really looking forward to reading it. Mining has been a part of my family for many years and to find a book that also has family information in it is very exciting. My dad David Nicholls says he remembers you and used to hang around with your younger brother Roy and used to go to your house on Rotherham Road. Dad used to live on Sherwood Road and his dad, my grandad was Percy Nicholls who worked at Westhorpe Colliery and then moved to Highmoor when Westthorpe closed. My dad seems to remember you being a pianist in the Savahna band? We would love to hear from you and learn more. My email address is helenn1971@yahoo.co.uk

Best wishes Helen. X

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Hello Helen,

Thank you for contacting me, its nice to get feedback which gives me an insight into the thoughts of others regarding my book,I am pleased that you like it and I hope that it gives you some useful information about your family.

I have contacted Maria who tells me that as children both her and her sister Christine seem to recall being told that "Great Grandad/Great Great Grandad" was a mine owner,and that as children they never had cause to pursue it so did not remember any Christian names of either of these persons.

I can only conclude that as they grew older and heard of the accident and that the mine owner was called Turner Ward, that they would innocently assume that he would be their Great Grandad or Great Great Grandad.

It seems to me that after the research that you did into your family history which tells you that Turner Ward was your 2nd Great Uncle and because you and Maria and Christine are 2nd cousins that it would follow that Turner Ward would also be their 2nd Great Uncle .

My Dad was a driver on Booth and Fisher's buses for many years and I knew Geoffrey and Muriel very well,also Muriels sister Barbara married a friend of Mine Harry Ibberson who was an electrician at Westhorpe colliery at the same time as myself.

I met your dad at the Killamarsh Festival earlier in the year and he echoed your story of his friendship with my brother but I am sorry to say that I truly cannot

remember your family.

I was indeed the pianist in the Savanna Band along with Mick Hallam (Accordion),Cecil Causer (Drums) and Lewis Heeley (Trumpet).

Since the book was published , the second one is now available ,The Coal Mining Industry Of Barnsley,Rotherham and Worksop which highlights Local pits such as Waleswood,Treeton, Dinnington,Thurcroft, Manton and Creswell e.t.c. I will Send you an E-Mail.

KInd Regards,

KEN.

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