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Ross Llewellyn - Committee

I come from a coalmining family originally from S Wales my grandfather, father, uncles and my brother all worked in the mines I was born in Hersden in 1938 the village would have only been in existence for 9 years.

I entered the coalmining industry straight from school and started my basic training at Betteshanger on the 7th September 1953, 5 days after my 15th birthday, on completion of the training I moved to Chislet Colliery working mainly on haulage, in 1955 I left the industry and went to sea returning to Chislet in 1959 after two years my turn came to do my coal face training after which I joined a front ripping gang where I stayed until the closure of the colliery in July 1969. In August I transferred to Tilmanstone colliery where I was deployed to a mechanised face team eventually becoming a face charge hand.

In 1978 I did my schooling at Canterbury College becoming a deputy in June 1978. Served as a committee member for 4 years of Tilmanstone branch of NACODS eventually leaving the industry in June 1986. Worked in the motor industry as a transporter driver for 8 years followed by 3 years at a Canterbury College as a minibus driver retired in 1999 on incapacity.

A this point I started my research and collection of photos and memorabilia of Hersden and Chislet Colliery and in 2003 with the help and finances of the Society of Sturry Villages I published my book “Hersden Chislet Colliery Village” Became the Chislet representative of The Coalfield Heritage Initiative Kent in 2004.

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