READER LETTER: Mining Statue - No changes are needed

In response to the article in last week's Dispatch (MinerS tatue Has '˜Wrong Type Of Pick'), Barry Tooley states that the pick held by the statue is not a miner's pick but a rail road worker's pickaxe.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Apr 2016, 18:30 BST
Former Linby and Hucknall miners gather at the mining memorial in Hucknall for a vigil for their lost industry, to coincide with the funeral of Baroness Thatcher in London. The mining statue is strewn with floral tributes.Former Linby and Hucknall miners gather at the mining memorial in Hucknall for a vigil for their lost industry, to coincide with the funeral of Baroness Thatcher in London. The mining statue is strewn with floral tributes.
Former Linby and Hucknall miners gather at the mining memorial in Hucknall for a vigil for their lost industry, to coincide with the funeral of Baroness Thatcher in London. The mining statue is strewn with floral tributes.

Far be it for me to question a man with 35 years’ experience, so I did a bit of research and it would seem that a rail road pickaxe would have a pointed end and the other end squared like a chisel.

The miner would have a pick with a point at both ends and a shaft that could be shortened to adapt to the conditions where he was working, this was called a Mandrill pick. Of course the miner that’s featured may well work in the headings or any other area of the pit where it is warm, judging by his attire.

The bottom half of the monument depicts mining of a bygone age and the top, judging by the battery lamp and self rescuer, is of the miner that can be dated to the recent closure period.

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It is my opinion that the statue does not need any changes as it represents mining through the ages.

Do you think you are being a little bit pedantic Mr Tooley.

Former miner

Barrie Lewis,

Kenbrook Road,

Hucknall

Related topics:DispatchHucknall