General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

Owd 'Un - don't feel inferior just because you've never been down a pit. I know an orthopedic specialist who's never been down a pit in her life.
I, myself, have never rode on an engine all over the Lancashire Coalfield. Neither have I any idea about orthopedic specialism! However, I have worked at a colliery for twelve years and have been down a pit. Numerous pits, in fact.
I can second what Whups says about miner's wages. Most were poorly paid.

Here's a couple of examples - My last wage, in 1986, was £87.60. That was for a full week, on the surface. My Dad's last wage , in 1985, was over £800. You see the difference? He's done seven x 16 hour shifts, in the shaft, as part of the shaft team, changing the guide ropes what the cage slid down. I'd done nothing!