From Carting Boy to Area Manager- Illustrated, Local History Talk

From Carting Boy to Area Manager is an illustrated talk by Bryn Hawkins. This is a talk about the life of Cecil Weeks, Bryn's uncle, a remarkable man who was determined to better himself. He came from a working-class background and started work in the 1920's as a carting boy. A carting boy's role was to pull sledges (or putts, as they were known locally) loaded with coal cut from the coal face by the hewers. The boys pulled the putts through very low tunnels using a "gus-n-crook" a type of harness on all fours rather like a horse pulling a cart. The gus-n-crook comprised of a rope girdle worn around the waist to which a chain was attached. The chain passed between the boy's legs and attached by a crook (iron hook) to the an iron loop on the putt. The carting boys would drag the putt loaded with coal over rough rocky surfaces often for hundreds of yards to larger roadways where they unloaded their putt into wagons on rails usually pulled by pit ponies. This operation was repeated constantly throughout their shift. The pit ponies towed their wagons to the pit bottom where they were loaded into the cage (the mine shaft lift) and taken to the surface. 

Come and find out how Cecil weeks, through sheer hard work studying and taking exams, progressed from carting boy to Area Manager of The Somerset And Bristol Coalfield…….an amazing achievement. This illustrated talk will take place at Chilcompton Village Hall on Tuesday 3rd February. Doors open at 7pm. Talk begins at 7:30pm until 8:30pm. Free parking in the hall car park. Please try to share lifts where possible.