South Yorkshire Times, March 19th, 1960
Barnburgh Pit Fatality
Bolton Married Man is Victim
A night shift worker was killed by a fall of rock at Barnburgh Main Colliery early on Wednesday morning, and a colleague, working only a few yards away, escaped practically unhurt.
The dead man was George Roberts (47) of 41, Broadwater, Bolton. His lucky workmate is Jeremiah McGreavey (48) of Main Street, Goldthorpe. They were working in the Parkgate seam when the fall occurred.
Roberts died before reaching the pit head, but McGreavey was allowed to go home after treated for minor injuries at the pit medical centre.
Mr. Roberts was born in Mexborough, and worked in the colliery since he left school – over 30 years ago. He had lived on the coal board housing estate at Bolton for seven years.
His 40 years old wife, Frances, said on Wednesday: “It is the first accident he has had in all his years at the colliery.”
Their only daughter, Jennifer, a cadet nurse at Sheffield Royal Infirmary had her eighteenth birthday just a few weeks ago. She was called home from Sheffield on Wednesday after her father’s death.