Modern Quarrying July-August 2015

AT THE COAL FACE WITH BILL STARKEY

Mining legend passes away

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 Gresley Colliery in South Derbyshire, England, at the age of 14 – a tale he documented in his 1996 short story – Clinker and Me. 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

Memories of a coal pit pony driver

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.

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MODERN QUARRYING July - August 2015