Careers

Apprentice Mech. eng. at Hardy Spicer. Trained in work study & after working for several companies joined Rover in their management services unit. Worked at their spares depot in Cardiff for 6 months, Rover 2000 supplied & resided in a country club in Penarth. The night life was not good for going to work the next day :nonod:
Then joined W/S consultancy firm travelling around country. Did a days survey at Aston Martin but they were not impressed with my ideas to improve efficiency :coat:
Decided I wanted to run a Pub. & was with Ansells for 9 years, then bought a free house in Welshpool just before the bubble burst
After that it was get what job you could, so I went in the DIY trade. Designed & sold fitted kitchens & bathrooms & was a manager for a builders merchant.
Made redundant at 59 & ended up working for a Vauxhall dealership as a valeter
Best job yet - retired :bust:

Wow, there is plenty of experience in just about every field on here, I'm glad to see the are some others with a mining background.

When I was in school I though I wanted to study law however during my first year I discovered the uni bar was far more interesting than lectures filled with pompous gits, so I dropped out and started working at the bar pouring drinks and working security for those said same pompous gits. Obviously I didn't think that one through all that well, however I did enjoy working behind the bar and many of those so called pompous gits are still friends....... :lol:

After that I drifted into a few different jobs over a few years including; Photographer, Photographic Technician/Lab Manager, Cook, Scuba Instructor and First Aid Instructor until I had an opportunity to start my own business providing First Aid and Mines Rescue Services to a couple of Mines here on the West Coast of Tasmania. My wife, Kelli and I ran that until she decided to move to the other side of the state to study nursing. I stayed put on the West Coast until she finished her degree and then sold the business and moved to Launceston with her, in the interests of staying married. I then took a job as the Tasmanian Territory manager for Draeger Safety selling safety equipment including; breathing apparatus and gas detection equipment to government and industry.

While working for Draeger, I was offered the job of OHS Technician and Mines Rescue Coordinator at Beaconsfield Gold Mine and so I returned to the mining industry for a while. Following the Beaconsfield Mine Collapse in 2006, I received a job offer with the Local Natural Gas Distribution and Transmission company and I'm still working for them in Risk Management today.

Craig

I started out as an Avionics Engineer working for British Aerospace Military Aircraft based at Kingston/Dunsfold (where top gear is filmed now). Whilst designing systems for and troubleshooting issues with military jets was fun, the pay was terrible.

So sold out and moved into IT. Worked as a programmer, through various systems/business analyst, software architect roles and I'm currently the business/IT change programme manager for my current employer, which means I'm responsible for the delivery of a fair number of projects.

Since BAe I've worked in IT for all sorts of companies, department stores, logistics & shipping, motor breakdown, travel insurance but for the last 15 years it's been financial services.

Davem wrote: I am "semi-retired" now but spent all my working life in the electricity supply industry. Started as a apprentice electrician the become a operator. A lot of my years was working with the HV switchyards but also keeping the boilers/turbines running smoothly. Working shiftwork slowly wore me down and I was real pleased several years ago to leave the nightshift. I am always busy and you people that still work don't know how lucky you are to go to work and have a break. Dave

I'm a lifer in the electricity supply industry too: 40 years this September. Where have you worked: our paths may have crossed!

bacchus wrote: Wow, there is plenty of experience in just about every field on here, I'm glad to see the are some others with a mining background.

When I was in school I though I wanted to study law however during my first year I discovered the uni bar was far more interesting than lectures filled with pompous gits, so I dropped out and started working at the bar pouring drinks and working security for those said same pompous gits. Obviously I didn't think that one through all that well, however I did enjoy working behind the bar and many of those so called pompous gits are still friends....... :lol:

After that I drifted into a few different jobs over a few years including; Photographer, Photographic Technician/Lab Manager, Cook, Scuba Instructor and First Aid Instructor until I had an opportunity to start my own business providing First Aid and Mines Rescue Services to a couple of Mines here on the West Coast of Tasmania. My wife, Kelli and I ran that until she decided to move to the other side of the state to study nursing. I stayed put on the West Coast until she finished her degree and then sold the business and moved to Launceston with her, in the interests of staying married. I then took a job as the Tasmanian Territory manager for Draeger Safety selling safety equipment including; breathing apparatus and gas detection equipment to government and industry.

While working for Draeger, I was offered the job of OHS Technician and Mines Rescue Coordinator at Beaconsfield Gold Mine and so I returned to the mining industry for a while. Following the Beaconsfield Mine Collapse in 2006, I received a job offer with the Local Natural Gas Distribution and Transmission company and I'm still working for them in Risk Management today.

Craig

Theres not really that many of us left in the mining industry, theres only 3 major coal mines left in England and one of them that I'm at is going to be closed next year. I hate the thought of getting a job outside of mining theres no other job in the world like it :broon:

onefastmoke wrote:

onefastmoke wrote: I know we all have the MGF/TF in common but was wondering what sort of background people have here, what does everyone do for a living?

For me I've been an underground mechanical fitter in a coal mine for the last 13 years, working on all kinds of hydraulic machinery, conveyor belts and some diesels. I started out at Ellington colliery in northumberland then transferred to Dawmill near coventry in 2005

so thats me lol

well, further to this topic. I actually got caught on camera at work the other day when someone was leaving so thought I'd share my ugly mug pictures at work with you lot lol

the machines in the background are some of the things I work on

me on the right

lol excuse the beard in these pictures as it was my nightshift week and I'm allowed to be scruffy and tired

After a life spent in coal fired power plants burning several thousand tonnes per hour of your product,

and also several deep mine visits I respect you Sir.

John and Sue wrote:

onefastmoke wrote:

onefastmoke wrote: I know we all have the MGF/TF in common but was wondering what sort of background people have here, what does everyone do for a living?

For me I've been an underground mechanical fitter in a coal mine for the last 13 years, working on all kinds of hydraulic machinery, conveyor belts and some diesels. I started out at Ellington colliery in northumberland then transferred to Dawmill near coventry in 2005

so thats me lol

well, further to this topic. I actually got caught on camera at work the other day when someone was leaving so thought I'd share my ugly mug pictures at work with you lot lol

the machines in the background are some of the things I work on

me on the right

lol excuse the beard in these pictures as it was my nightshift week and I'm allowed to be scruffy and tired

After a life spent in coal fired power plants burning several thousand tonnes per hour of your product,

and also several deep mine visits I respect you Sir.

Thankyou John :beer: , I've made a good living out of it so far but there has been some bad points including the loss of 7 lives over a span of 4 years, most of which could have been avoided and way too many serious accidents in recent years but unfortunately the company I work for is only interested in getting out of mining as fast as possible, regardless

John and Sue wrote:

Davem wrote: I am "semi-retired" now but spent all my working life in the electricity supply industry. Started as a apprentice electrician the become a operator. A lot of my years was working with the HV switchyards but also keeping the boilers/turbines running smoothly. Working shiftwork slowly wore me down and I was real pleased several years ago to leave the nightshift. I am always busy and you people that still work don't know how lucky you are to go to work and have a break. Dave

I'm a lifer in the electricity supply industry too: 40 years this September. Where have you worked: our paths may have crossed!

John I live in Australia so our paths probably have not crossed. I have read some of your posts and we have a few things in common. MVARs and Mollier diagrams are one, but you did mention something about the clan Sutherland which I have been told my family name is associated. Another shiftwork and working Xmas day were also a weight to carry. Also my MGF is also very standard (but I have been tempted by the dark side). Dave

Johns teetering on being in the darkside...... He just needs a little encouragement

bensewell wrote: Johns teetering on being in the darkside...... He just needs a little encouragement

Au contraire, Benjamino. I have been on several deep mine visits and I was knackered just waking round looking at stuff. I couldn't imagine working down there. Power plants are hot and dirty, but you can always nip out for a fag and some sunshine.

John and Sue wrote:

bensewell wrote: Johns teetering on being in the darkside...... He just needs a little encouragement

Au contraire, Benjamino. I have been on several deep mine visits and I was knackered just waking round looking at stuff. I couldn't imagine working down there. Power plants are hot and dirty, but you can always nip out for a fag and some sunshine.

You do get used to the environment underground with time, the main thing with the job is your mostly your own boss, loads of freedom. no two days are ever the same and there is much improvisation and thinking to get round problems and the camaraderie is brilliant, everyone looks out for each other and we do have a laugh.

Unfortunately though I may be looking for a job sooner than I think, we got evacuated out the mine yesterday, the mines rescue came but even they have been pulled out now so it doesn't look good. I can't say what is happening just yet until it gets released in the public domain but can say that no-one has been hurt in any way :broon:

onefastmoke wrote:

John and Sue wrote:

bensewell wrote: Johns teetering on being in the darkside...... He just needs a little encouragement

Au contraire, Benjamino. I have been on several deep mine visits and I was knackered just waking round looking at stuff. I couldn't imagine working down there. Power plants are hot and dirty, but you can always nip out for a fag and some sunshine.

You do get used to the environment underground with time, the main thing with the job is your mostly your own boss, loads of freedom. no two days are ever the same and there is much improvisation and thinking to get round problems and the camaraderie is brilliant, everyone looks out for each other and we do have a laugh.

Unfortunately though I may be looking for a job sooner than I think, we got evacuated out the mine yesterday, the mines rescue came but even they have been pulled out now so it doesn't look good. I can't say what is happening just yet until it gets released in the public domain but can say that no-one has been hurt in any way :broon:

Its finally made it into the newspapers, friday afternoon we were evacuated out of the mine, part of one of the face roads went up in flames causing the roof to collapse, rescue teams were called to ensure we all got out safely but then they in turn were pulled out, the decision has been made to isolate all power to the mine and cease ventilating it, carbon monoxide readings were at 10,000 ppm but now there is no ventilation methane will also be building up, very dangerous times ahead, thats if they let us underground again so guessing I'm going to be needing a new job now worst I've ever seen, you could only see a few feet in front of you because the smoke was that thick