South Yorkshire Times August 15, 1959

Third Time Unlucky

Pit Accident Victim Had Been Injured Twice Before

Sixty-one-years-old former Tyneside shipyard worker, Mr. Alfred Gibson, of 75, Barnburgh Lane, Goldthorpe, died on Tuesday in Mexborough Montagu Hospital, three hours after he had been crushed beneath a cage at Barnburgh Colliery.

Gibson, a pumpman at Barnburgh for 25 years, had survived two previous accidents.

Shortly after commencing work at Barnburgh in 1934 he lost his left arm when it became trapped in a conveyor ‘belt. Two years ago he managed to struggle clear, but was badly shocked and bruised, after an explosion at the colliery.

Barnburgh N.U.M. branch secretary,      Mr. Herbert Swift, said on Tuesday, “It seems to be a mystery how the accident happened. All I know is that the deputy had just asked Gibson to carry out pump bagging in the Newhill seam and the next thing he knew the workman was under the ‘chair’.”

A native of Newcastle, Gibson came to South Yorkshire in 1927 and worked for a time at Hickleton Colliery as a fitter, transferring to Barnburgh in 1934. The family previously lived at Lidgett Lane and Windsor Street, Thurnscoe,

War Service

Gibson served in the Royal Navy in the first world war ad carried out duties in the A.R.P. during the 1939-45 war. He was a member of Goldthorpe Unity Lodge and the Friendship Lodge (Wombwell and District) of the R.A.O.B. and a Knight of the Grand Order. He was also a member of the British Legion Club, Goldthorpe, and Barnburgh W.M.C.

He leaves a widow and two sons, Alan (37) and Donald (30).

Mrs. Gibson told a “South Yorkshire Times” reporter that he husband was loathe to start work again after being injured in the explosion in 1957, “He was badly shaken up and I do not think he would ever have gone back to the colliery if he had not started again very quickly,” she said.

An inquest will be held at Mexborough today (Friday).