David Lye

I left Islwyn Boy's School, Porth at the age of 15 with no qualifications. I entered the NCB at National Colliery Wattstown at Easter 1958.

Preliminary and Secondary Training was completed at the National Colliery, where I continued to work as Assistant Collier and Packer. At age 25 I gained an All Mines Deputies Certificate.

When the National Colliery closed in 1968, I was transferred to Ty Mawr/Lewis Merthyr where I carried out shot firing and deputies duties. After 14 years these Collieries also closed and I went to work at Abercynon Colliery for my final 2 years work in coal mines. I was made redundant in 1986.

I have since worked in 2 factories and with a Security Firm returning to work at Lewis Merthyr, now The Rhondda Heritage Park in November 2001 as a Guide.

Dai retired in March 2008

Peter Arundell

Having left Treherbert Secondary Modern School at 15 years of age with no qualifications whatsoever, I joined the National Coal Board (NCB) January 1963.

I started preliminary training at Wattstown Colliery (National) three months after which I went to Fernhill Colliery, Blaenrhondda as a trainee.  This covered numerous jobs within the colliery some being repairing coalface, working haulage, systems conveyor maintenance, lamproom, pithead baths, stores & fitting shop.  Whilst doing my training in these jobs I sought permission to go on Further Education within the Coal Board.  This eventually lead to a job in the Ventilation Dept within the Colliery and the Qualification of a Ventilation Officer and job of the same title, however as the workings of Fernhill were being changed and the ventilation system reduced I was given the job of Training Officer (Nov 1972).  I held this position until my redundancy in Sept 1989.  After 12 months unemployment I attained a job here at Rhondda heritage Park from 1991 to date.

Pete retired in June 2008

Ron Eveleigh

Born Treherbert - Rhondda 10th Jan 1944

Started work at Lewis Merthyr Colliery in 1960 at 16 years of age as an Electrical Apprentice. Served a five-year apprenticeship surface and underground and was appointed as an underground Electrician in 1965. After a year I went to Maerdy Colliery as an underground electrician on  T27 face (2'9') where I was the coal face electrician.

I was later promoted to shift charge electrical engineer, having qualified academically at  Glamorgan Polytechnic, now known as University of Glamorgan. I was then selected for management training after which I was appointed as a deputy unit electrical engineer finishing my coal-mining career at Merthyr Vale Colliery, Aberfan for thirteen years to 1987.

I have been a guide at Rhondda Heritage Park for 7 years, back to where I started.

Ron retired in November 2009

Terry Conway

Born 1945 worked in Tymawr Colliery, pit bottom - traffic, also worked as Chargeman maintaining 11 miles of conveyor belts. 10 years service before that in Army Service - Royal Artillery for 6 years. 

Hobbies  

Reading, Photography, Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society.  LRPS

Education  

City and Guilds. Photographic printing

O Level Grade A Photography

A Level Grade B Photography

City and Guilds Man Management

Terry retired in November 2009

Alan Davies

I started work at the age of 15 at Ty Mawr Colliery, Pontypridd working underground as a faceworker. While working I went to College on day release on a mining engineering course (deputy course). I was then transferred to Lewis Merthyr Colliery (the Heritage Park) where I worked on development. I opened the last coal face to work at this Colliery I was then transferred to Nantgarw Colliery as a faceworker until it closed after the miners strike in 1996. I then came to Lewis Merthyr (Heritage Park ) to work as a guide.

Alan retired in June 2010