Anyone work for the old coal merchants

[Neil B 10]

My father, Steve Bell, worked for the old Burnett & Hallamshire yard as a delivery driver up until the late sixties, he remembers Bill Wildsmith, who was one of the managers at the site.

 

He also remembers the very variable bonuses and how dirty his clothes got after a shift!

[susie1 10]

When I was very little, I remember going in town with my mum to a coal merchant's office on Change Alley to settle our bill and order more coal. One of the walls inside had a mural of Old King Cole, which fascinated me - I think the office belonged to Burnett and Hallamshire - can anyone else remember this place and confirm, or correct, my recollection.

When we moved into our present house 25 years ago, we opened up the fireplace and started to have a coal fire again. My first coal man (and a lovely man) was Mr Plumtree from, I think, Heeley. (I've still got a coal fire and I love it!). Mr Plumtree told me that his hearing loss was caused by years of irritation from the coal dust. None the less, he was a great conversationalist, and I really enjoyed chatting to him and listening to his stories.

I grew up at Hillsborough and remember (1950's) Bernard (?) Scragg's coalyard on Hillsborough Road; Bernard Scragg's sister's children, Ricky and Angela Crookes were around my age.

[PeterR 10]

My uncle drove coal wagons for John Truswell for a number of years. I remember him calling to see us at Adsetts street in the 1940s/50's in his Bedford wagon. In his later years he used to carry steel for Truswells at Firth Browns, presumably on contract and presumably when bags of coal became too heavy for him!

My dad worked for a short time for Thomas Black. I remember having a ride out in the countryside in a big Bedford when I was about 7 in about 1950 to collect a load of coal from a massive industrial complex. In later years I realise it was probably Silverwood pit.

Edited December 6, 2012 by PeterR

[gadget_man 10]

My father, Steve Bell, worked for the old Burnett & Hallamshire yard as a delivery driver up until the late sixties, he remembers Bill Wildsmith, who was one of the managers at the site.

 

He also remembers the very variable bonuses and how dirty his clothes got after a shift!

 

Hi,Neil B,

I used to work with steve at B&H and he came to my wedding in 1970 at the arbouthorne hotel,he will remember me, Pat H-my regular mate was pete colliver and your dads mate was Les Allen,steve was living on Harborough ave at the time,we had some good laughs,does he remember when Bill Podosky fell asleep in the yard cabin and nearly suffocated with the thick smoke from the pot bellied stove and had to be rushed to hospital,he never seamed his old self after that. After the coal bagging dropped of i went on to driving the bulk coal tippers for B&H for a number of years running to all the pits in yorkshire & notts etc, give steve my best regards.

[Marx 10]

Anyone remember Fred Poole?

[gregnig 10]

My father worked for the Hallamshire Coal Supplies. Can remember going to the offices in Wharf Street, near the canal basin with him.

The sacks were 1cwt. each in those days. No wonder he was forever troubled with back problems.

One of his workmates (a man called Musson?) left to takeover a hotel on Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth. We stayed there on holiday in 1947. Travelled in a car loaned to him by Mr.White of G.H.White & Co.Ltd. the heat treatment specialists who still have premises on Earl Street. On the way we had several punctures. With tyres being scarce after the war, Mr.White managed to get some which he sent on by rail to Gt.Yarmouth station for my dad to collect and have fitted.

[Kidorry 189]

I never worked on the coal,except when I was in the army,but I remember Billy wainwright who worked for a Mr,Ash(I think) on Sorby St. pitsmoor.He was a right character.

[redken 10]

my granddad was the forman at King coal he retired in 1954. He was employed by Charlie Stamp senior and later the business was taken over by his son Charlie junior.

[raymondo1952 11]

Worked subin for trusswells used to go and bag the coal on Stevenson road out of railway wagons our driver was called Les £1 50p a day also have been to coke house on upwell st with barrow

[nightpilot 10]

My dad John Roome worked for John Truswell & Sons driving lorries in the 70s 80s Remember as a kid having to crouch down so he could drop the coal off at British Steel. I used to love going out in the cab with him to all the coal mines, filling up with coal and delivering it to power stations etc..........

[madsteve7 11]

My Dad, Jack Morrell, was the Yard Foreman, at the Burnett & Hallamshire (later British Fuel Company (Sheffield) Ltd), Coal Depot, on the Nunnery Sidings just off Bernard Road.

 

I went to work with him in 1987, starting off driving a Wheeled Loading Shovel, before going on to be the Weighman, and the Transport Supervisor.

 

In 1989, the company split and the Bulk Haulage, E.A. Stevensons, became part of K&M Haulage Nottingham.

 

The coal side, and 2 blower lorries merged with Cawoods (part of Redlands PLC) to form British Fuels Ltd.

 

The site was compulsory Purchased so that the SuperTram depot could be built, we were moved off the site on 30 of June 1991.

 

I went to the office on Smithywood Crescent, just off Archer Road. He went out on loan first to the pre packing plant at Boughton, then in Maw's Yard, and then out to Goole to work on an import project.

 

The Sheffield office was closed in December of 1991, all the work was transferred to Nottingham and I went to a Portacabin in W.Maw's yard Rotherham.

 

At the end it was just Dad, Me and two lorry drivers, we were all made redundant on the 31st of July 1992.

Edited January 10, 2014 by madsteve7
Spelling mistake

[cuttsie 1,091]

An old school pal of mine Billy Reaney from the Manor was in business as a coal man with his dad in the sixties and seventies.

Billy was also a soldier and a gentleman.