Box Arthur Markham Box 1
Contains 37 Results:
The Stopping by William A. Croft, 1932
'The Stopping' by William A. Croft won the 1932 Award. A short story based around a colliery in Yorkshire where a miner disappears in the mine, told from the perspective of his deputy.
The Miner’s Tale by Kenneth Greenwell, 1934
'The Miner’s Tale' by Kenneth Greenwell won the 1934 Award. A short story where a mysterious stranger arrives in a village pub and tells the locals a story of a mining accident.
Joe Benton - A Story of the Mine by Kenneth Greenwell, c1934
'Joe Benton - A Story of the Mine' by Kenneth Greenwell. It seems this short story was submitted around the same time as Greenwell's prize-winning essay 'The Miner's Tale' in 1934, although it is unclear if this essay was awarded a prize. This short story follows Joe Benton, who is excited to leave school to become a miner at fourteen but has become disillusioned ten years later.
Genevieve by John S. Robinson, 1934
'Genevieve' by John S. Robinson won the 1934 Award. A short story of a young miner who played the 'mouth-organ', in particular a song called 'Sweet Genevieve'. The song saves the miners from a tunnel collapse. It was selected by Mike Kirkup for his 1994 anthology and attached is a letter dated 1993, to Mike Kirkup from the son of John S. Robinson.
The Life of a Miner by John F. Brown, 1936
'The Life of a Miner' by John F. Brown won the 1936 Award. This essay follows his life starting as a miner at thirteen and discusses his experiences of the pit work (including injuries), housing conditions (with particular mention of women) and leisure activities for miners up until World War One.
Work and Play. A Page from Mining Life by W. Tyler, 1937
'Work and Play. A Page from Mining Life.' by W. Tyler won the 1937 Award. A short story following a group of miners working down the pit. Two of the miners go poaching for rabbits later that evening and have a fight with the gamekeepers who catch them.
The Gaffer by Bert L. Coombes, c1938 - 1941
The Gaffer by Bert L. Coombes. The date of this piece is not confirmed. Coombes submitted entries in 1938, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1957, 1959 and 1960. The condition indicates this is an early entry: as the entries for 1943 and 1947 are also in the collection, this one is likely to be either for 1938 (‘distinguished’) or 1941 (‘commended’). It was selected by Mike Kirkup for his 1994 anthology.
Portrait of a Friend by Bert L. Coombes, 1943
'Portrait of a Friend' by Bert L. Coombes won the 1943 Award. A short story in which the narrator describes his friend, a fellow miner, who introduced him to climbing mountains and observing nature. The friend then loses his eyesight due to injuries sustained in the mine.
The Bridge by Sidney Chaplin, 1945
'The Bridge' by Sidney Chaplin won the 1945 Award. A short story in which the narrator recollects his childhood in a mining village, including the night his mother gives birth to a baby sister. It was selected by Mike Kirkup for his 1994 anthology and attached is a letter dated 1993, to Kirkup from Sidney Chaplin's wife, along with a signed copyright permission slip.
Miners’ Superstition by David E. Shanks, 1946
'Miners’ Superstition' by David E. Shanks won the 1946 Award. The short story follows an old miner, who believes that washing his back will weaken it, and so hasn't washed it for years.
Bevin Boy by Bert L. Coombes, 1947
'Bevin Boy' by Bert L. Coombes won the 1947 Award. This short story is set in 1944, when two Bevin Boys arrive in the village, from London and Ireland, to work in the mine. It was selected by Mike Kirkup for his 1994 anthology and attached is a signed copyright permission slip from the grandson of Bert Coombes.
The Bevin Boy by Daniel Jones, 1947
'The Bevin Boy' by Daniel Jones was Commended in the 1947 competition. The essay discusses the Bevin Boys, the reaction to them and the contribution they made to coal mining, and therefore the war effort.
Workmates by Dalton R. Davison, 1950
'Workmates' by Dalton R. Davison won an Award in 1950. A short story in which the narrator is watching the funeral of the village preacher and recounts the mining accident that caused his death.
Mine Disaster in North Wales! Hundred Trapped in Blazing Pit by Ernest Denson Williams, 1950
'Mine Disaster in North Wales! Hundred Trapped in Blazing Pit' by Ernest Denson Williams won an Award in 1950. This essay provides an eyewitness account of the Gresford Disaster at Gresford Colliery in 1934 and the aftermath, by the author looking back sixteen years later.
Out of the Sun by Ernest William Mackley, 1951
'Out of the Sun' by Ernest William Mackley won the 1951 Award. This story focuses on three miners, one deputy and two cutters, who get caught in an accident down the mine.
The Old Timer-s by Glyn Roberts, 1951
'The Old Timer-s' by Glyn Roberts was Commended in the 1951 competition. The narrator of this short story describes a miner 'Old Tom' who is much admired for his efficiency but has to leave the pit due to lung damage from inhaling coal dust.
The Old Timer by William Spark, 1951
'The Old Timer' by William Spark was Commended in the 1951 competition. The narrator of this short story describes the colliery band's bass-violinist, 'Old Bill', and his great musical talent.
The West Wind Blowing by Lewis Burt, 1953
'The West Wind Blowing' by Lewis Burt won an Award in 1953. Attached is a letter written by Lewis Burt to the judges of the competition, ensuring them this is a true story. The narrator makes a promise to a fellow miner, dying of 'Pneumoconiosis', to create a garden in his memory, which the narrator does.
Money for Jam by Gwilym G. Jones, 1953
'Money for Jam' by Gwilym G. Jones won an Award in 1953. This short story is set in the Welsh mining village of Cwmpant, where the the Cwmpant Male Voice Party organise a prize draw to raise funds to attend the Miners' Eisteddfod in Barry.
More Light – on Enlightenment by J. C. P. Taylor, 1954
'More Light – on Enlightenment' by J. C. P. Taylor won an Award in 1954. The author's grandfather recounts stories from his time as a miner, and the author then discusses the advancements in safety and science in mining.