Silverwood like all mines had its share of disasters in its brief history, with tragic loss of life. It also left a lot of miners suffering the inevitable lung diseases, and other side effects associated with working in dust.    Even in the early part of the 20th century boys age 14 like the youngster pictured above would start work at the collieries completely unaware of the unseen damage that was to be inflicted upon them by inhaling dust, coal dust!
Injuries were many and a part of life, a typical year in the colliery from the 1950's saw 4,816 reports treated, 24,954 re-dressings, 117 new cases requiring radiant heat, and 1,265 existing cases receiving radiant heat treatment.
How did my Father and many more miners spend their last days? Fearing to sleep on their backs with the thought,  that what ever they coughed up in the night would lodge in their throat, choking them in their sleep. Waking in a morning trying to cough up that choking residue in what was left of  their lungs. Fighting for breath, sometimes walking down the Street and stopping every few yards exhausted, gasping, leaning on the nearest wall for support, trying to inhale enough air to take them the next few yards. Always knowing that when they were finally admitted to the intensive care unit in the local hospital, returning home was the least likely option.
In 2005 I received the following email which depicts an event at the mine, and the anguish inflicted upon the relatives of those involved.
"Hi my name is Rosalie Walkington and as I am getting on in years I am trying to find out information on my grandad who worked at the Silverwood pit (I think) my mother referred to it as the "Widows Pit". She was very close chested about how he died and when but I believe that it was down the pit and that he was 37 at the time. My gran said that she got £500 compensation because it was too dangerous to bring the bodies up so they just closed off the seam. His name was Alfred Blyton and I think that he was a foreman. I want my children and grandchildren to see what prices were paid by their ancestors to feed their families and to keep others who were better heeled warm! I want them to be proud of their line. I hope you can help. "

The above  was a typical tragic event that occurred in many mines which not only inflicted painful suffering for the miners families, it also deprived the families of giving their husbands and sons a decent burial.
For many Miners retirement was a short lived experience, or years  of medication, restricted greatly in what they could physically do. Some Miners were lucky and spent their retirement seemingly unaffected by years of working at a mine.
From its early days Silverwood was known as the Widow Maker, but the majority of mines in the World could well and truly be given that title. Death being a constant visitor to mining communities. Fear being an ever present companion to the wives and parents of these men who plunged into the depths each working day.
Peter Lawery brought the following to my attention.
"Lately in 2004 a new addition was added to the list of deadly diseases to afflict Miners, and that is Asbestosis. In a recent article in the Barnsley Chronicle 18th of June 2004, there was a story of one of the first victims to be discovered with the disease. It was reported that experts believe there will be many more cases uncovered in the Barnsley area. The cause occurred thirty years ago when asbestos conveyor belts were used underground, ironical that using asbestos was a safety measure against the danger of fire. "

It is also tragic that thirty years ago the danger of asbestos was uncovered, many buildings at the time including Schools had asbestos materials removed and one would have to ask the question on why a health check was not carried out on all who had been in contact with asbestos. Blue asbestos used extensively in pipe lagging was reported to be the most dangerous, but the use of other asbestos types was also a fear.
According to the article, experts are predicting an epidemic of asbestosis in the area, as the disease incubates for around a thirty year period. The effects of asbestosis and asbestos cancer are a frightening prospect, the linings of the lungs are attacked, which incurs difficulty in breathing, which becomes worse until a final collapse of the lungs. Sadly there is little known about the disease and by the time it is diagnosed it is to late.
The Miners themselves carry many memories of the price of coal, and sometimes turned their hand to poetry to relate their thoughts in verse, stark graphic memories that make you ponder, and also touch the depths of your heart. Fred Spencer is an ex Silverwood miner who left to join the Police force, however it is the memories of Silverwood that linger uppermost in his mind, memories of great comradeship, those memories inspired him to write poems like the ones below..