Glebe Colliery Explosion 1963

Researched by John Lumsdon

Fenton (Glebe) collieries Ltd. (1865-1964). This colliery derives its name from its Association with the glebe lands of the Parish church of St. Peter ad Vinculum, Stoke. The road alongside the location of this Colliery is now called Glebedale Road

The local newspaper Evening Sentinel reported on Friday 14th June 1963 that three men died and several others had miraculous escapes, two were treated at hospital for burns and shock in an underground explosion at Glebe Colliery, Fenton last night. Eighty men were in the pit at the time. All were speedily withdrawn, and five rescue teams were brought in. Today repair work was being carried out following a 4.30 a.m. decision to reopen the pit. The tragedy occurred in a development heading about a mile from the pit bottom. The men who lost their lives were; Mr Cecil James Ballantyne age 42, a shot-firer of 150 Aylesbury Rd. Bentilee; Mr. John McGleish, age 34, Rochester Rd. Longton; and his next door neighbour Mr. Bozo Vodogaz, age 36 of 62 Rochester Rd. Longton. Treated at the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary were Mr. Roy Campbell age 32, of 500 Dividy Rd. Bucknall and Mr. John Sweeny, age 47 of 60 Galloway Rd. Bentilee. The bodies of the three miners, all of whom were recovered by rescue workers within two hours of the hot blast searing through the heading.

Narrow Escape

Two men who had narrow escapes were Mr. Cyril Colclough, of 107 Beaconsfield Drive, Blurton and Mr. Richard Ellis, of 27 Alebury Place, Blurton. The explosion occurred in the Coxhead Seam, about 100 yards from the nearest working face, No. 2 on which 31 men were working.

The first rescue team on the scene comprised of men at the pit, who were members of the North Staffordshire Area Rescue Station, Berryhill. All together, three rescue teams worked in relays, with two teams standing by. One of the injured miners today told the Sentinel that there was a terrific blast followed by a huge cloud of dust. He was Mr. John Sweeny who said he was about 130 yards away from the explosion. He was knocked down but managed to scramble up, his shirt and trousers were burned. 2

Brothers’ Meeting

“I was working,” he went on, “at the side of Roy Campbell who had less cloths on than I had. He was burnt and taken to hospital. “I was making my way out when I met the recue party, which included my brother John.” Mr. Jim Sweeny, one of the rescuers, was at his brother’s house early today to see how he was progressing. He found him still suffering from shock but relaxing in front of a fire. At mid-day to-day two hours after descending, mines inspectors and others were still underground carrying out further investigations.

Coroner Inquires into Pit Deaths

The City coroner, Mr. F.G. Hails, opened the inquest at Stoke Town Hall today June 15th on the three miners who died in the Fenton pit explosion on Thursday, then adjourned it to a later date, he said: Extensive inquiries will have to be made before I can proceed. I wish to express sympathy with relatives in this terrible disaster. It is tragic when one thinks of the close relationship which exists in the mining industry.

Explosion Blast

Mr. Bernard Lindop, representing the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers (NACODS) , associated himself with the remarks expressed by the Coroner and said he did so on behalf of all the colliery officials.

After Dr. E.C. Myatt a pathologist, had stated that the cause of death in the case of Mr. Ballantyne was explosion blast with carbon monoxide poisoning, the Coroner said: “I have an analysis of blood taken for carbon monoxide poisoning and in each case there was 75% saturation.”

Evidence of identification was given by Mrs Kathleen Vodogaz, widow, Mr. G.T. Downs, brother-in-law of Mr. McGleish and Mr. M. Boyd, brother-in-law of Mr. Ballantyne. Mr. J. Lalley, President of the Midland area of the National Union of Mineworkers attended the inquest.

(From Hansard) Mr. Ellis Smith M.P. House of Commons 17th June 1963.

May I place on record the very generous service which we received from Mr. Brennan, of the Home Office, on Saturday afternoon? Will the Minister undertake to do all he can to expedite the arrangements that are being made for the relatives of the men to come over from Yugoslavia so that they can attend the funeral in the morning? Will he also give an undertaking that his welfare officers will give the best possible attention to the needs of the relatives? 3

Shot-firing Caused Pit Explosion

Shot-firing in a development heading about a mile from the pit bottom caused an underground explosion of methane gas which killed three men at Glebe colliery, Fenton, on June 13th. An inquest jury at Stoke Town Hall decided this today when the City Coroner, Mr. F.G. Hails, recorded verdicts of “Accidental death” on the three miners.

Dr. E.C. Myott, consultant pathologist, stated that the three men died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The inquests were held jointly and 19 witnesses were called, including two men who were injured by the blast. Two theories were put forward on the cause of the explosion; an electrical fault on the conveyor, and shot-firing. But after evidence that one of the dead men, Mr. Ballantyne had entered the heading to carry out shot-firing on two sides and that after the explosion his lamp, used for testing for methane gas, had been left some distance from where he was found, the Coroner contended that Mr. Ballantyne had not tested for methane gas between shot-firing on the two sides.

Not conclusive

Mr. Hails said that this theory was not conclusive and that it might be that a theory of the colliery manager, Mr. J.R. Bull was correct, but he added that if Mr. Ballantyne had tested for gas he would not have carried out a second shot- firing. Mr. Bull said that when Mr. Ballantyne shot-fired on one side of the heading, he might have liberated a pocket of gas and that he might have blown down the ventilation tubes leading to the pit face. This interruption in the ventilation might have caused a pocket of gas to accumulate and when he fired his second series of shots something had taken place “to cause an igniting source.”

The Coroner commended the use at the colliery of stone dust barriers, a fairly new development in mines, which in this case , he said, had help to save other lives. He expressed sympathy with the relatives of the dead men.