South Yorkshire Times, May 19th, 1935
A 17 year-old Thurnscoe mine worker, working only his second shift at Ollerton Colliery, was killed on Saturday when buried by a fall of roof. He was George Theobald, who had come to New Ollerton last Thursday from his home at 18 Kingsway, Thurnscoe, to jive his brother, Mr. J. Theobald, of 278, Walesby Road.
An inquest was conducted at 011erton on Monday by the Worksop District Coroner (Mr. Eliot G. Warburton), and a verdict of “Accidental death” was returned Evidence of identification was given by the boy’s mother, Frances Burton. 18. Kings-way. Thurnscoe.
Dr. J. Cuddigan, of New Ollerton, gave evidence of how he had been summoned to the colliery at 6.30 p.m. He examined the body but found that life was then extinct. The boy was removed to the ambulance room at the pithead and, upon further examination, witness found that he had sustained a fractured skull. broken neck and fractured right thigh. Death would have been instantaneous.
A ripping contractor, Thomas Fisher, of 77, Newark Road. New Ollerton, said that he had been repairing the roof on 150’s main and had taken a girder out of the roof of the roadway in order to give greater headroom. He had started to remove a heap of stone and dirt when a further fall occurred just as Theobald was passing underneath. One of witness’s men, Mr. Austin Kirkham, had asked the youth to wait until the roof had been supported by timbers. These were put into position and. as the roof was then considered safe, Theobald was given permission to pass underneath.
Witness, in replying to a question by the Coroner, said that he had been under the roof himself two minutes before the accident occurred. There was a break in the roof and this splintered the temporary timber which had been erected. Witness thought that the ‘tall was quite accidental and could not have been prevented in any way.
FALL OF TWO TONS.
An overman. .Tames Plummer. 2. Savile Row. New Ollerton, described how he had visited the men who were repairing the roof. He had stayed to watch the timbers being put up and had remained there about is minute Shortly afterwards he was called back to find that there had been a further fall, this being of about two tons which D.S.O had buried Theobald. he assisted in uncovering the boy. He did not think that the break in the roof Could have been foreseen.
Replying to Mr. W. S. Fletcher. aged and manager of Ollerton Colliery witness said that the first fall of stone and dirt had purposely been pulled down to enable the roadway to be made higher_ He himself had gone over this debris and considered the roof quite safe. A haulage hand. Cyril Finney. Of 29. Newark Road. New Ollerton. Escaped a similar death by inches for he described how he himself had just passed over the heap of debris. Being closely followed by Theobald.
The Coroner. summing up, agreed that on the evidence the fall could not have been -foreseen. Among those present were Mr. W. Gray. H.M Inspector of Mines. Mr. W. S. Fletcher. representing the Butterley’ Co.. Ltd.. Mr A. Jenkins. Notts and District Miners’ Federated Union. and Mr. R. Price, representing the Deputies’ Union. all of whom expressed sympathy I with the relatives of Theobald. Among those present were Mr. W. Gray. H.M Inspector of Mines. Mr. W. S. Fletcher. representing the Butterley’ Co.. Ltd.. Mr A. Jenkins. Notts and District Miners’ Federated Union. and Mr. R. Price, representing the Deputies Union. all of whom expressed sympathy with the relatives of Theobald