With the news that Thoresby Colliery in Nottinghamshire is soon to end deep pit coal production, its closure could also bring to an end a truly historic link to the brass band movement: That of the brass band miner.
2012 article
In 2012 we highlighted the possible extinction of the species in our article 'A happy endangered species — The last of the brass banding miners
http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2012/1340.asp#.VYJnyvlVhBc
In it, bandsman and miner Nick Harris spoke about what it was like to work underground and still play in a brass band.
In it he also paid tribute to Dave Howells (above), the BBb tuba player with Thoresby Colliery and the only other man he knew who still provided that historic link, that at its peak saw hundreds of men swap coal face for music score every week.
40 year career
Now, after 40 years of brass band service and an outstanding mining career, Dave has announced his retirement.
With the closure of Thoresby Colliery (which was just one of three deep pits in England) he will leave behind his job as a mining deputy, and with his wonderful wife Sue, will head to Spain to enjoy a well deserved retirement.
There are men who work in the modern mining industry who still play we are sure — but none that we can come up with who still drop into the depths of the earth each day to mine coalThoresby spokesperson
No one else
As a Thoresby spokesperson told 4BR: "It may seem strange — but we think we really are seeing the last of his kind with Dave. We have asked around but nobody can think of another bandsman who still works in a deep pit in the UK.
There are men who work in the modern mining industry who still play we are sure — but none that we can come up with who still drop into the depths of the earth each day to mine coal (Thoresby's main seam is between 800 and 900 meters underground) . It is an end of a remarkable era."
Wonderful servant
They added: "Dave has been a wonderful servant to both Thoresby Band and to the mining industry. We will miss both Dave and Sue, but we are sure they will keep in touch from their new home in Spain. We wish them all the very best."
