EVERY NIGHT

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 5th Year

Issue

Issue No.

3

Date Released

Nov 1951

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1CRUISING UP THE RIVER
2. 2EVERY NIGHT
3. 3CHAMPION AMATEUR
4. 4NEW BOYS

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: shaft maintenance at night at Kirkby Colliery (East Midlands).
NCB Commentary - Whenever miners come off shift and coal winding stops for the day, a very special crew takes over - the men whose job it is to see that everything is safe in the shaft for tomorrow’s working.
They meet in the blacksmith’s shop, where they collect their safety belts and gear. Then across to the bank, and their slow journey down the shaft begins.
All the ropes and guides, as well as every inch of the shaft walls, have to be examined every 24 hours. It’s a big responsibility for Lew Webster and his team of shaftsmen. Here’s something wrong - one going means STOP. A leaking water range is the first job of the night. There’s a kind of drawbridge on the cage - it’s a 1200 foot drop here - so that the men can get across to the job, and fit a clamp round the leaking pipe.
That wasn’t hard to fix, but there’s no telling what else may be found lower down. Lew and his gang don’t take chances with other men’s lives. It’ll be a long night’s work, with no let up.
When they come off duty, the early morning shift will be ready to go down. They’ll rely on a safe descent - and they won’t have to worry.

Researcher Comments

BFI sources suggest that this story was researched by Ingram from the 7th to the 8th June 1951. It was filmed from the 7th to the 11th August 1951. Commentary recorded 8 October 1951.

Keywords

Mining; Engineering

Locations

England; Kirkby

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
The National Archives COAL 32   /3 Scripts for Mining Review, 1949-1956

Credits:

Director

Basil Somner

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Camera

John Gunn

Support services

John Ingram

Camera

John Reid

Sponsor

National Coal Board