Nostalgia on Tuesday: Duke down the pit

W hen Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, announced he was retiring from public duty a couple of weeks ago, he was applauded for the countless public engagements he had undertaken.
Queen in Hillsborough Park With  Prince Philip 12 July 1977Queen in Hillsborough Park With  Prince Philip 12 July 1977
Queen in Hillsborough Park With Prince Philip 12 July 1977

Many of his solo appearances in South Yorkshire were to the former industrial heartland embracing Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster which seemingly held great personal interest and pleasure for him.

He was always surrounded by eager press photographers who captured his every movement and examples of their work from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s are featured here.

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Following his marriage to the Queen in 1947, the Duke’s first visit to Sheffield was on November 19, 1953. Cheering, flag waving crowds greeted him at the city’s Midland railway station. The rousing welcome was still continuing as he reached Yorkshire main colliery at Edlington near Doncaster after opening the British Iron and Steel Research Association’s new steel laboratories in Sheffield and lunching at the Town Hall as guest of Sheffield’s Lord Mayor.

Duke at Edlington Yorkshire  Main

Peter Tuffrey collectionDuke at Edlington Yorkshire  Main

Peter Tuffrey collection
Duke at Edlington Yorkshire Main Peter Tuffrey collection

The Duke was taken around the Sheffield Research Associations’s workshops an laboratories and saw a rolling mill which was being used for trials of various methods of gauge control on cold rolled strip.

Though he arrived 10 minutes late at Yorkshire Main, the Duke did not attempt to curtail his programme.

There was an amusing interlude when the Duke, duffle-coated and wearing a boilersuit, pit boots and safety helmet, with a miner’s lamp in one hand, a deputy’s stick in the other, strode towards the pithead for his three minute 905-yard journey down no. 1 shaft.

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The experienced eyes and hands of the banksman, were on him searching for contraband, opening the Duke’s coat to make sure that his pockets contained no tobacco, cigarettes or matches, while the Duke smilingly protested to the rest of the party: “He doesn’t believe me when I say I have no cigarettes.”

Duke at Sheffields Engineering  Industry Training Board 1969Duke at Sheffields Engineering  Industry Training Board 1969
Duke at Sheffields Engineering Industry Training Board 1969

Later the Duke joined a party, including officials of the miners’ union branch, at tea in the pit yard ambulance brigade hall.

During October, 1954 year the Queen and Prince Philip visited the River Don Works of the English Steel Corporation and in October three years later, Prince Philip was in the same city to celebrate the centenary of the Sheffield Football club and visit Hadfields’ steel company.

The early 1960s saw further visits to Sheffield in November 1961; May 1963; October 1963. On May30, 1967 the Prince began a tour of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to see how his Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme was benefitting young people.

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Starting from Bewerley Park near Pateley Bridge, at the controls of a helicopter of the Queen’s Flight, X-Ray Romeo 486, he made a perfect landing at Bretton Hall, near Barnsley.

Duke of Edinburgh arrives in  Sheffield 1969Duke of Edinburgh arrives in  Sheffield 1969
Duke of Edinburgh arrives in Sheffield 1969

Switching from his helicopter to an open Land Rover, he met 500 boys and girls camping in the college grounds. Then, accompanied by Ald. Major J.Hudson, chairman of the West Riding County Council and other council leaders, he strolled through the central block.

After a buffet lunch at the college, the Duke again boarded his helicopter and set off on the short trip to Parkgate, near Rotherham. Many press photographers were present along with hundreds of employees and their families at the Parkgate Iron & Steel Company’s Aldwarke site, to witness the Duke make a perfect landing right on schedule.

The visitor met Mr Jack Wadsworth managing director of the Parkgate company, before setting off for a half-mile drive to the works canteen.

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Afterwards, with photographers following, he journeyed to Granville College to see the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in operation.

Duke of Edinburgh meets pupils at  Parkgate May 1967Duke of Edinburgh meets pupils at  Parkgate May 1967
Duke of Edinburgh meets pupils at Parkgate May 1967

At each of the displays, representing sections of the Award Scheme projects, the Duke stopped for a quick talk and a joke.

After a critical look at the cookery exhibits he said: “That’s a meagre bit of sausage. More roll than sausage.” He then made a friendly inquiry to 14-year-old Wendy Warhurst about the future of a display of pasties, before seeing exhibitions in the college gymnasium.

Miss J. Bennett, honorary secretary of the girls sub-committee of the award scheme in Sheffield said: “He was very easy to talk to. The students had been a bit nervous about meeting him, but he put them at ease immediately.”

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On February7, 1969, he braved in snowy conditions in Sheffield to open the Engineering Industry Training Board.

An occasion the Duke was said to enjoy was the visit on July 29 1975 to the Doncaster Plant Works railway site, noted for precision engineering and building the Mallard and Flying Scotsman. Photographers snapped Prince Philip in the Apprentice Training School talking to Operational Training Instructor Arthur Shaw.

The following day, the Queen and Prince Philip arrived in the Royal train at Silverwood colliery sidings and then travelled a few hundred yards by motor car to the colliery offices. There, they met the National Coal Board Chairman, Sir Derek Ezra. The formalities over, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh headed towards the pit head.

Prince Phillip Talks to Crowd in  Sheffield 29 July 1975Prince Phillip Talks to Crowd in  Sheffield 29 July 1975
Prince Phillip Talks to Crowd in Sheffield 29 July 1975

Arriving there, they were issued with lamps and self rescue apparatus. Both the Queen and Prince Philip were given specially carved colliery deputy’s yard sticks. Colliery banks-man, Albert Jones also searched the couple before they were wound down the mine.