Nationalisation of Coal Industry

Nationalisation of Coal Industry

Work

Antony Ratcliffe talked about the nationalisation of coal industry in Leicestershire in 1947.

Leicestershire County Council

Mines of memory

EMOHA

1947

You may use this item in accordance with the licence Leicestershire County Council

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English

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There was nothing prior to nationalisation. I mean I told you about doing these quarterly surveys with Horace Shackleton and we came out the pit on January the 1st, have some food in the canteen before going down the pit again in the afternoon, just in time to see them putting the board up on the end of the canteen wall inside - this colliery is now managed by the people on behalf of the people and for the people, January the 1st 1947. The actual act was 1946, but it came into force on January 1st, 1947. Apprehensive, because, oh, you buggers, we'll show you, that we run the pits now - this is the workmen, you see - but it didn't happen. It was the same people running it under different titles. A different, a very important different reason for working. It was non-profit making. Now, before, as a company, the whole essence of it was profit-making, wasn't it? Wasn't welfare, although in fairness, Whitwick was a go-ahead pit, and it was one of the earliest to have pit-head baths in this area in 1934. I remember my father coming home and bathing in front of the fire in a zinc bath. I remember him doing that one Christmas day. I couldn't open my presents until he'd come home.

Colin Hyde

Antony Ratcliffe

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