SIR,

I WONDER if readers can help me with my hobby, which is collecting brass embossed colliery lamp checks --

brass disc tokens or tallies with colliery name and miner's number.

I am trying very hard to obtain some lamp checks from the many collieries that once operated in the Lancashire Coalfield including: Chanters, Howe Bridge, Gibfield, Maypole, Victoria, Sandhole, Welch Whittle, Ellerbeck, Pemberton, Giants Hall, Chisnall Hall, Alexandra, Mains, Albert, Wigan Junction, John, Moss and Standish Hall.

I would very much like to hear from anyone who once worked at and can remember these collieries working and any help they can give me in tying to obtain any lamp checks from them would be much appreciated.

Peter Wall,

5 Cherry Grove,

Norton,

Stourbridge,

DY8 3YL