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26

MODERN QUARRYING

July - August 2015

AT THE

COAL FACE

WITH

BILL STARKEY

A

position at the Londa Collieries

group as deputy chief engineer saw

Bill relocate from the UK to India. In

1969 he made the move to South

Africa, taking up the position as

sales and marketing engineer for Trolex Stockport,

UK. He fell in love with the country and decided to

stay. He started up Syscom, which was acquired by

Davis of Derby in 1978, and he stayed on as MD.

In 2001, Paul Wright approached Bill to join AST

(Alien Systems & Technologies (Pty) Ltd. He was

looking for a person experienced in both electrical

engineering and mining, which is a rare combina-

tion, then and now. Bill ticked all the boxes and

held his position as divisional project manager for

the Pyrogen brand until 2014, when he retired.

Bill was a certified mining electrical engi-

neer, held a UK National Certificate in Electrical

Engineering, as well as a UK National Certificate in

Electrical Engineering Higher.

According to AST, his unwavering love for his

late wife and constant support for his children, as

well as his knack for serenading the AST offices

with his Frank Sinatra impressions made Bill a loved

figure in the company and the industry at large. Bill

passed away peacefully in his sleep on 22 June.

Clinker and Me

The use of animal power in its various forms world-

wide is well documented and known, from dog

sleds, horses, donkeys, buffalo, elephants, dolphins

and even monkeys. However, one use of horses lit-

tle known is their role in underground coal mining.

This is Bill’s personal recollection of his experience

as a pit pony driver:

‘August 1942, during the Second World War,

the school-leaving ceremony consisted of a brief

school report and a bonus of finishing school at

lunch time. On arrival home, No 17 of the Church

Gresley row of terraced houses, the aspect of

William Starkey, fondly known as Bill

in SA mining circles, has passed away.

Having worked in the mining industry

for over 69 years, Bill was a legend in the

sector. The son of a miner, he started

out working with pit ponies in Church

Gresley Colliery in South Derbyshire,

England, at the age of 14 – a tale he

documented in his 1996 short story –

Clinker and Me.

Mining

legend

passes

away

Memories of a coal pit pony driver