The National Coal Board Film Unit created films documenting the working and social life of miners, from 1947 when the NCB took over many of the UKs pits. They made educational films highlighting and explaining new equipment and methods, as well as pieces which documented the social life of miners and their families. For many years, The Miners' Review was shown in cinemas all over the UK before the main feature film.
In 1947 with great enthusiasm of the employees, each pit had a notice erected:
In 1947 with great enthusiasm of the employees, each pit had a notice erected:
This pit is managed by NCB for the people of Britain
How were they to know the NCB would also prove to be the demise of their coal industry.
The work of the film unit came, sadly to an end in 1984, shortly before the demise of the coal industry in Britain. These films are a rich archive of material providing a glimpse into the lives of thousands of miners and their families. An industry which is now lost.
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