MINING HONOURS

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 11th Year

Issue

Issue No.

7

Date Released

Mar 1958

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1CARDIFF COLLEGE
2. 2MINING HONOURS
3. 3SLICER
4. 4Sneyd Old-timers

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: faceworker George Windsor is awarded a gold medal by a national newspaper in recognition of service to humanity and good workmanship. Also, Sneyd Colliery honours veterans
NCB Commentary - Sneyd Colliery, near Stoke-on-Trent, lies in the grimy heart of the potteries.
The fore shift comes up and, with it, face worker George Windsor, seen here gathering congratulations from colleagues Eric Harrison and John Picken.
55 year old George Windsor has spent 42 years in the pits. Now, with 27 of those years at Sneyd behind his, a special form of recognition is coming his way.
Arriving home, George Windsor finds that he has been singled out by a national newspaper for an award in recognition of a service to humanity and for good workmanship.
There is an invitation to come to London - for George it will be his first visit - to receive the award.
Next day at the Colliery, George Windsor and Eric Harrison, who nominated him for the award, talk to Mining Review in the lamp house.
"George, were you surprised when you got this award?"
"Tell me, George, you’ve been in the mining industry for 42 years, do you consider it a good job for a lad today?"
"You think that’s important?"
"If you had your time over again, would you do the same thing?"
"Harry, what made you recommend George for this award?"
"And you think he deserves it?"
In London, the presentations took place at Church House, Westminster, in the hall used during the War by the House of Commons.
George Windsor was not the only representative of the mining industry. There were a matron of a miners’ convalescent home, mine workers from Durham and South Wales who also qualified for awards.
The panel of judges included Donald Campbell, Lady Pakenham, Sir Tom O’Brien, Marjory Proops and Canon Collines of St. Paul’s.
At the banquet, guests were welcomed by Editorial Director Hugh Cudlipp.
After dinner, the presentations of the awards.
Here comes a midwife from a mining area who has brought some 3,000 babies into the world and has a long record of helping the poor and needy.
Collecting her award for devotion, Miss Candler has had 10,000 mine workers in her care.
And here’s the big moment for George Windsor.
George’s family have been miners for three generations. They’re known as the "Coaler Windsors" back home. George’s daughter is married to a miner.
One by one the panel of judges pay their friendly tributes to a man who has earned the respect of his colleagues and who finds himself the chosen representative of the mine workers of Britain.
For George Windsor, this is a day he’ll long remember.
To remind him, he takes with him this gold medal in recognition of his service.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 3rd February 1958.

Keywords

Royalty; Mining; Social welfare; Awards and honours

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board