MINE is a true story which I have waited to tell for over half a century. I won't need to remind the older male generation of St Helens that to be employed underground, as a coal miner, in those now far-off days one had to be prepared to do a hard day's work each and every day.

I was lucky to work on a coalface alongside a very astute and intelligent miner, who could make the days pass quickly, by his great knowledge.

His 'pet' subject seemed to be about the working class only getting a fair crack of the whip through the education of their children, getting an equal chance, with the 'elite'.

He has long left this life now, but if he is in any position to know what goes on down here today, he will be pleased, I know to see the present discussion going on about children of ordinary folk getting the chance to study at places like Oxford University.

To those of us who worked alongside him he was only known as Joe, but the rest of the mining fraternity came to know him as Lord Gormley of Ashton. He was a true gentleman.

John Scully (an ex coal miner), Hampson Close, Ashton-in-Makerfield