1973 – WILLIAM YATES Development Worker, 62

William Yates of Welbeck Road, Bolsover, was born in Brimington and at the age of twenty-one was working as a coal miner at New Brimington when he married Ethel May.  William went to evening school in Clowne to gain his Deputy Papers.  The family moved to a shop at the bottom of the Wimpey Estate, Bolsover which Ethel ran and, when William was not at work, he drove a green van around doing deliveries.  William kept working in the colliery alongside his brother Ron and later his son, Bill.  William played cricket, a love for the sport that he passed down to his son.  All the family had been together the day before the accident at a christening at Clowne Church.  William left his widow, Ethel, a son and a daughter.  He was buried at Bolsover. 

William was commemorated on 22nd September 2016. The location of the artwork can be found in zone 19 on the trail map which can be downloaded here.

The Birmingham Post, Thursday, August 16, 1973

18th Pit Victim

The 18th victim of last months colliery disaster at Markham near Chesterfield, died in Sheffield Regional Hospital yesterday. He was Mr. William Yates, aged 62, of Welbeck Road, Bolsover, Derbyshire.

To view a filmed interview with Sandra Pembleton about William Yates click here.

Family history provided by Sandra Pembleton:

William Yates’ father was born on 8/5/1885 with his twin Alice. They were baptised in the parish Church at Brimington on 12/6/1885. Alice was buried on 8/10/1885. The 1891 census has William Yates aged six  & born in Brimington Derbyshire along with six siblings. The 1901 census states he is still living at Brimington Common & working as a labourer aged 15. At the age of 21 William, a coal miner of New Brimington, married Ethel Adey aged 18 of 138 Arkwright Town at the register office in the district of Chesterfield on 4/6/1906. Their fathers are named as John William Yates a coal miner & Thomas Adey a coal miner. Witnesses were John Thomas Adey & Mary Ellen Hayes.

William & Ethel had a family: Elizabeth Annie born 1907 Brimington; Alice Mabel christened at Sutton-cum-Duckmanton on 18/10/1908; William Yates was born on 29/11/1910 at 27 The Common, Brimington to William Yates (coal miner)  & Ethel Yates (formerly Adey.) The birth was registered by his mother on 31/12/1910 & she was living at the same address. William was christened on 16/12/1910 at Brimington; Ronald born 25/12/1916 at 139 Arkwright Town and Donald born 1919.  William played cricket, a love for the sport that he passed down to his son, William.

The 1911 census states the family are living at 27 South Moor Road Brimington Common. William died 23/10/1921 aged 36. He was a coal miner/ripper underground. The death certificate states he died of 1 lymphadenoma  2    exhaustion.  Ethel Yates of Arkwright Town, widow of the deceased, was present at the death.  Ethel was now alone bringing up a family, so she married again.  The wedding took place at Bolsover Parish Church on 18/11/1922 between Ethel Yates aged 33, widow of Shuttlewood and George Brothwell aged 39, miner of Shuttlewood. Ethel and George had a family together.

William Yates.

At Bolsover Parish Church on 3/8/1931  William Yates aged 20 bachelor & a miner of Shuttlewood married Ethel May Button aged 20  (born 9/5/1911), spinster, of Bolsover. Witnesses were her brother, Philip Valentine Button & William’s brother John Joseph Yates.

The couple had a son, William Valentine Yates born 20/7/1932 & known as Bill Junior. The family lived close to Shuttlewood School where Bill went. William went to evening school to gain his Deputy Papers. To gain his Manager’s Papers, he had to travel to evening school held in Sheffield. As this was at the time that Sheffield was being bombed, his wife refused to allow him to travel & so he never did gain his Manager’s Papers. The family moved to a shop at the bottom of the Wimpey Estate, Bolsover. Ethel May ran the shop and, when William was not at work, he drove a green van around doing deliveries. William kept working in the colliery alongside his brother Ron & later his son, Bill. In the early 1950’s the family moved to Moor Lane Bolsover. Around 1956 the family moved for William’s last time to new bungalows on Welbeck Road Bolsover. William enjoyed watching cricket and tennis on TV; gardening; having new cars & going on holiday in his caravan with Ethel & their dog (usually a poodle).

All the family had been together the day before the accident because on that Sunday afternoon there was a christening at Clowne Church. Hours later, William was fighting for his life. He struggled for days being the last man to die.

The death certificate  states William died on 15/8/1973 at the Royal Hospital at Sheffield. The certificate received from Michael R E Swanwick, Coroner for Hundred of Scarsdale. Inquest held 24/4/1974.
Cause of death:

1    Acute tracheo bronchitis with early broncho pneumonia following multiple fractures of ribs & sternum

2    Hepato renal degeneration following multiple injuries sustained at Markham Colliery when a descending cage crashed to the pit bottom.

Further Information.

Markham Colliery 1973 disaster

List of miners killed in the 1973 disaster.

If you have any information to contribute to the research please contact us.