Mining at the Manor

A “NOT SO GRAND” LIFE AT THE MANOR

By definition, “life at the manor” implies a life of wealth and comfort. For this week’s Audlem PROBUS Club speaker, little could be further from the truth about his years spent in such grandiose surroundings.

The manorial grounds in which Gary Conley spent many years were those forming Sutton Manor, in the then Lancashire town of St. Helens, a domain of power and influence for centuries. Gary, though, was initially a coalface miner there after the National Coal Board had established Sutton Manor Colliery within the estate grounds.

Audlem PROBUS Club’s members, retired businessmen and women, will hear at this Thursday’s meeting (22nd Oct) how Gary’s 19 years at Sutton Manor played out. He says: “I worked initially underground and on the coalface before transferring to the pit surface and eventually into the colliery management.”

Gary reflects on how his working life was mapped out for a totally different occupation until a chance meeting led to something totally different . . . a career in mining! He adds: “My talk tells the story of my growing up in a mining family, the working conditions my forefathers endured, the horrific conditions, the injuries and ill-health, but also the camaraderies and close-knit communities this bred.”

A story of humour and heartache, says Gary, who was made redundant when the colliery was closed in 1991, some six years after the year-long industrial action which hit the British coal industry in 1984-85. “Sutton Manor Colliery”, Gary adds, “was finally closed with more than 40 years of coal left in it!”

Guests and visitors are welcome to join PROBUS members for Gary’s illustrated presentation “My Life At The Manor – Mining Memories”,  in Audlem Public Hall from 10am, Oct 22nd.