Kevin Downes: George Downes - The Hetty's Last Winding Engine-man

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Kevin Downes: George Downes - The Hetty's Last Winding Engine-man

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Title
Kevin Downes: George Downes - The Hetty's Last Winding Engine-man
Place
Pontypridd

Transcript

00:00:01 Introduction

00:00:26 Keith is born in Glyncoch, Pontypridd before moving to Trallwn at the time of the construction of the A470 road

00:00:56 Kevin's family history concerning his father, George Downes, and mother, Phyllis

00:02:40 Kevin's early life in Trallwn, Pontypridd. George's working life eventually leads him to work at the Hetty Pit as a winding engine operator

00:06:12 Kevin's first visit to the Hetty Pit, aged 9; first impressions of the site

00:07:50 The lack of health and safety regulations in the mid-1970s give a young Kevin the freedom to explore the colliery on his regular visits

00:10:56 Memories of George's engine and passion for his work; memories of helping George maintain the engine

00:12:45 Kevin runs errands at the site; remembering the layout

00:14:28 George's commitment to keeping his administration in order means that Kevin has inherited many interesting documents relating to the Hetty Pit

00:15:25 George made a pet of an abandoned jackdaw; more of Kevin's memories of the winding room and riding on top of the cage as it descends

00:18:44 George's influence on Kevin's early working life which eventually leads him to a career in the haulage industry

00:21:43 The impact on George's health after his earlier life working underground

00:23:42 George and some work colleagues catch anthrax from transporting bone meal, with him being the sole survivor; the breathing in of coal dust in his early life and its contribution to George's passing

00:27:23 Outro

Interview details

Interviewee name
Kevin Downes
Interviewer
Keith Jones, Len Smith
Interview/filmed date
21/08/2025

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