Rare footage of William Francis in action at Baddesley Colliery

Courtesy of an ex-miner friend of mine who found this on Facebook - filmed by Ivo (Peters ? I assume) and features local legend the Rev Teddy Boston.

Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/Baddesley/videos/874140649319964/?__mref=message_bubble

 

Thanks for a precious view of coal mining - and the sight of the late Teddy Boston doing "God's Work" on the line. It reminds one of the privileged era when enthusiasts were made welcome at many sites and enjoy a freedom no longer allowed under modern regulations.

 

Super find Sheff. Thanks for sharing

 

The mining footage is also worth watching, as it's a way of life that will soon be lost and deserves to be recorded for future generations to wonder at. A world that I grew up in but has now almost been airbrushed away.

 

Yes the mines shots were good, brought back a few memories of life underground. I am not sure I would want to go back down now but at the time it was an adventure. The coal mine was always the most extreme 'black snotter' experience. Life down the gold and diamond mines was a lot cleaner..

 

Super stuff Mr Sheff, I enjoyed it.

 

The simple answer is that every now and then someone didn't.

 

What a great and enjoyable video to watch. Seeing the Rev. Teddy Boston brought back memories and how young he looked there. I have sent a link to someone who was also a clergyman in the same area at the time. In fact he was a very good friend of Teddy and his wife so I know he will be delighted to see it.

 

A bit like today even with the Hi-Viz on people still get killed, as they never save your life if you don't think what is/might happen around you.

 

I suspect that the copyright of this film belongs to Julian Peters, Ivo Peters son. I don't think it should be posted on something like Facebook unless permission has been obtained.
The film was made available on video and DVD for purchase.

 

If it is for sale then Google can't find it? Could you provide a link please, then I'll replace the link in my OP.

 

For sure, but many vehicle accidents happen because two people do something wrong they've done many times before, and only when two things combine do you get the accident. So you only have to stop one thing going wrong and no accident. People will always say "but I've done that loads of times before and nothing went wrong". But if the guy who isn't keeping as good a lookout as he might (because the baby kept him awake last night) spots the bloke in the hi viz who's standing where he oughtn't (as he has often before but today he's tired too and isn't keeping a good lookout either), then that's a accident avoided.

If you study safety statistics its depressing how well ridiculously silly sounding safety precautions work. Banning the sale of bottles of paracetemol big enough to get a fatal overdose really has cut down the number of suicides.

 

Be nice to see her running again

 

I've edited my post.

 

But enshrined in stone forever by Jimc

 

Definitely part of the IVO Peters collection, and under copyright. However, the originals are far better quality, this material has been professionally edited from 16mm original stock, not the grainy 8mm you often get. The VHS tapes were marketed by Railscene. I hope the youtube clip inspires people to go out and get a proper copy.

Tim

 

An interesting video, but one practical issue struck me; how on earth was the ash cleared from the smokebox?

Unless perspective is playing tricks, there looks to be next to no gap between the smokebox door and the water tank.

 

Tim, maybe on this one? http://railwayrecollections.com/pro...o-productions/b-r-no-52-industrial-steam-dvd/

 

Looking at this pic the diameter of the door is quite small, and there could be a cut-out in the rear of the tank too.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/geoffsimages/8037101137

 

Yes, thanks for that. The gap looks a little bigger there - probably designed for the 15 year olds employed at the colliery