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When I was 16 years old my father said to me, "I have arranged to take you down the Naval Pit to see if you would like to become a miner." The day came, we arrived at the pit head and the manager was waiting for us. He said to my father "I can't allow you and your son to go down today. There is a fire down below so you will have to come back another day."

Seeing that deep black hole was enough to put me off for life. I ended up learning a trade as a toolmaker, which I have never regreted to this day. Mining was not for me. I think my father was testing me and anticipated my reactions. He never said anything about going back there again.