Gordon Brooks recounts his career as a coal miner and later Freeminer in the Forest of Dean, as well as brief spells in South Wales. He describes working conditions and techniques, in particular at Northern United colliery; training at Cannop drift; recalls his uncle and early president of The Freeminers Association
​Mr O B Jordan; and his time working at the Quidchurch pit.

Mervyn Fox started work in Robin Hood iron mine at 14yrs of age, mining iron-ore and ochre. He later worked at New Dunn iron mine. During World War Two, with both mines closed, he was drafted to work in Princess Royal colliery. Here he describes the difference between mining iron and coal, and recalls the dangers common to both.  Mervyn is interviewed by Jonathan Wright, a Freeminer, and owner of Clearwell Caves iron & ochre mine (part of the same cave system as New Dunn where Mervyn worked). 

Charlie Penn was born in 1930 and after leaving school worked on a farm and delivered coal. His first job in mining was at Waterloo Colliery (official name Arthur and Edward Colliery) and he was on shift there when, on the 30th June 1949 water broke in from adjacent old workings and flooded the pit.  

Here Charlie remembers how the disaster exposed the underground workings of the old East Slad pit and marvels at the workmanship of the 'old men'. 

The dangers of working with explosives underground led to strict procedures to minimise the risk, particularly around their 'firing' (setting off the explosion) by the fireman. The slightest slip in the application of these could lead to disastrous results for yourself or your fellow workers, as Cyril Miles found out at Northern United colliery. 

Bob Bassett was working at New Fancy colliery when it closed in 1944. Conscripted as a 'Bevin Boy' he was immediately transferred to Princess Royal colliery where he continued his underground job of boring (drilling holes in the coal ready for breaking it up with explosives or 'shot firing').