MARKS MANAGER

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 11th Year

Issue

Issue No.

3

Date Released

Nov 1957

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1TIN MINE
2. 2CRUNCH: Northumbria
3. 3ROOF BOLTING
4. 4MARKS MANAGER

Story

Story No. within this Issue

4 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: Ayrshire colliery manager James Love, winner of the Queen’s Prize at Bisley for rifle shooting.
NCB Commentary - Houldsworth Pit stands high on the Ayrshire hills. 34 year old James Love manages this pit.
A colliery manager’s job is like a doctor’s - you’re on call 24 hours of the day.
In his office, Love has to mediate on the hundred and one problems which beset the running of a mine.
Nevertheless, he’s found time to collect this year the highest honour attached to his hobby - rifle shooting.
At Bisley he defeated the pick of British Commonwealth marksmen to win the Queen’s Prize.
The Kyle Rifle Club, to which he belongs, is only a small one. The maximum length of their range is 600 yards. But practice on the gusty hills has given Love experience invaluable in competitive shooting.
Often the Love family make up a shooting party. His father, Thomas Love, had 25 years in the pit and started winning prizes for rifle-shooting at the age of 12. Love himself has been shooting since boyhood.
His brother, Thomas, has had 20 years on the coal face and Uncle John, who holds the British Empire Medal, started shooting in 1908. He’s had 54 years in the pit.
James Love must have inherited his sure eye and steady hand from the family.
His win this year at Bisley has brough credit to himself and an added stimulus to rifle shooting in Scotland.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 10th October 1957.

Keywords

Shooting; Mining; Awards and honours

Locations

Bisley; England; Surrey

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.12 No.138 April 1958, p168.
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board