Nottinghamshire - Push-Button

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 19th Year

Issue

Issue No.

1

Date Released

Sep 1965

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1Lancashire - Guys and Dolls
2. 2Nottinghamshire - Push-Button
3. 3Yorkshire - Miners at Sea
4. 4London & Denbyshire - Big Show

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 4

Summary

NoS synopsis: Colliery self-service canteen
NCB Commentary - Shireoaks Colliery near Worksop, has been winding coal for a 100 years.
Manager Alker, sitting in his office, keeps his eye on two things - the state of the barograph: how it affects air pressure underground - and the picture in his mirror. Are his headstocks winding coal? The mirror by the wall tells all.
But Shireoaks is a go-ahead mine in other ways. Take the canteen - it’s more like the best bar of a modern pub - pleasant woodwork, lighting and water colours on the walls - and coin-in-the-slot self-service.
The new canteen is a big change from the old.
But no problem over this sort of change.
Tea for six in a handy tray. You don’t have to be a professional waiter to carry this lot.
A sausage roll? Each is sealed behind-the-scenes in a fresh plastic bag.
A first cigarette - and a light.
But you can’t buy boots from a slot. Friendly Manageress Mallender has things sized-up. Miners boots - comfortable to wear and safe to use underground.
There’s bookwork to be done despite heigh-presto service.
The men of Shireoaks have progress in mind. But as one old Shireoaks miner said "Tea-in-slot’s alright - but it doesn’t say good-morning." Mrs Mallender, the manageress, and Annie - 24 years at Shireoaks - are still there to give the old greeting.

Keywords

Food and cooking; Mining

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases
Films on Coal Catalogue   1969, p.51
The National Archives COAL 32   /13 Scripts for Mining Review, 1960-1963

Credits:

Sponsor

National Coal Board

Production Co.

National Coal Board Film Unit