South Yorkshire Times, July 7th 1933
Thurnscoe’s Godfather
Retirement Of Mr. John Minnikin
Life Of Service
Lived By The Golden Rule
“Do unto others as you would they should do unto you,” is the commandment Mr. John Minnikin, lately agent of Hickleton Main Colliery, has rigidly adhered to throughout his life. His love for his fellows made him “father” of Thurnscoe during his thirty years stay there. Next week he is to sever his connection with the district and take up residence at St. Annes.
Mr. Minnikin is a native of Staveley, educated at Staveley Grammar School, and started his career under his father. who was manager of Carleton Main Colliery. He went “through the mill” and became deputy at East Gawber Hall Colliery, near Barnsley. After five years he was appointed deputy and assistant surveyor at Bestwood Colliery, near Nottingham. During five years stay there he attended the first class to be held in Nottingham University College and won the only prize offered for practical coal mining. He secured his manager’s certificate in 1889 and came back into Yorkshire to the Rockingham Colliery first as deputy, then as chargeman of the Thorncliffe thin seam and Parkgate seam, and later as under-manager of the three seams. His stay at that colliery was about ten years, six as undermanager.
On November 2nd 1903, he came to Hickleton Main as assistant manager; was appointed manager in 1905, and agent in 1923.