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Shafts of Sunlight

First transmitted in 1975, Omnibus takes a look at a weekend in the coal-mining village of South Elmsall, near Doncaster.

First transmitted in 1975, Omnibus explores a weekend in the life of a Yorkshire mining community set to the music of the Frickley Colliery brass band and illustrated with paintings and prose from former miners. There's a Friday rehearsal in the bandroom, a singalong in the social and an interesting digression on the wearing and usage of the traditional cloth cap.

50 minutes

Last on

Sun 9 Nov 1975 22:50
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One

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Did You Know?

Frickley Colliery closed in 1993, but its brass band played on. Founded in the 1880s, the band toured Germany and Holland during its heyday in the 1950s and also recorded a session for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2 programme Listen to the Band in 2007. Artist Tom McGuinness, whose work is featured in the programme, became a Bevin Boy in 1944 and remained a miner until he was made redundant in 1982.

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He took up painting after attending an evening class at Darlington Art College and his work was included in two major exhibitions in London. Other paintings featured in this programme are by Norman Cornish, whose work celebrates working-class life in Spennymoor, County Durham. He was awarded the MBE in 2008.

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Coal Mining in Britain Collection

This programme is available online as part of the Coal Mining in Britain Collection