A MINER who started
down a County Durham pit at the age of 14 is celebrating his 100th birthday
today (Wednesday, December 16).
Born and bred in
Trimdon Colliery, Anthony Greathead spent almost half a century as a pitman -
taking voluntary redundancy only to make way for younger lads at a time when
the mines were closing.
The father-of-three
started out in 1929 after leaving school as a teenager and worked at Deafhill
Colliery before moving to Trimdon Grange Colliery.
Following the closure
of the Trimdon Grange pit, Mr Greathead spent three years on the area salvage
team, reclaiming support and machinery for the then National Coal Board.
"When I look
back one might say it's with a rose-tinted romance," said Mr Greathead.
"It was dark but it was a good life because everybody knew they had to
work for a living.
"There was
nothing easy about it - just something which, if you were prepared to do and
try, you were alright.
"It didn't do
you any harm really and you thought you'd had it rough because the job wasn't
very pleasant some times.
"There were good
times and rough times. In the pit you were all mates."
As part of his
working life in 1960, Mr Greathead took on the role of finance secretary for
Trimdon Grange Miners' Lodge where he stayed in office for eight years -
completing quarterly accounts with the help of his late wife Jane Ann.
He was also a
delegate for Trimdon Village Working Man's Club.
After his retirement,
Mr Greathead, who now lives in Trimdon Village, dedicated his time to gardening
and writing.
But during the past
six years, following a stroke, the grandfather-of-three has focused on the
latter and keeps a daily journal where he analyses the news alongside newspaper
cut outs and writes hymns, poems and songs.
His daughter Anne
Robson, who lives in Canada, said: "He has amazing handwriting from the
first word to the last and still has a thirst for knowledge.
"We are so proud
of how he has kept his mind so busy and his sense of humour well
developed."
National Union of
Mineworkers general secretary for the North East area, Davie Hopper,
congratulated Mr Greathead on his 'milestone' age.
"In my time I've
never known a miner get to that age," he said. "It's pretty unique
because of the conditions that they worked in.
"It was a very
difficult job where accidents and fatalities were fairly regular.
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"It's a great
achievement and he must have had a strong constitution, it's remarkable."
The last deep coal
mine in the country, Kellingley Colliery, in North Yorkshire, will close on
Friday.
Many Congratulations Anthony, and I hope you had a fantastic birthday
