Another great day out for the retired miners, partners and widows organised by the trustees of the Somerset Miners Welfare Trust.

The full coach left Midsomer Norton to travel to Sanders Garden Centre Axbridge for a coffee, then on to Brent House for a splendid lunch with a drink or two.

Some miners were meeting up for the first time for over forty years. Don Bull worked at Braysdon, he is probably one of the few miners left that worked there as it closed at the end of the 1950s.

There was talk by Des Rees about an under manager who dropped dead underground and a trainer being hit in the head with a sledge hammer.

Trustee Mo Duery told the story of a miner getting buried by a roof fall and how they had to dig him out.

Many more stories were shared, it would have been good to have recorded the conversations.

A great day was had by all. The next trip is in May when the retired miners will be transported to Weymouth with a cream tea on the way home.

If there are any ex NCB employees out there that we haven’t got addresses for please ring: 01761-471350 to register your address.

Bryn Hawkins