Unique papers show village's past

Unique papers reveal mining community's history

Valuable papers containing records of a Derbyshire mining community have been returned to the county by the husband of the former head of M15.

Dame Stella Rimington and her husband John handed the papers to councillors on a visit to Derbyshire.

The personal papers contain detailed descriptions of the Shipley area as it was in the 1920s and 1930s.

Archivists say the papers complement many others in the local Record Office, and provide a valuable research tool.

The papers detail the life of John Rimington's father, John W Rimington.

He, in common with all men from Shipley in the early part of the 20th century, faced years of hard work down the pit, but became an office boy instead.

He studied at night to become an accountant, and worked as a white collar worker for the coal industry.

He finally become finance director of NCB Collieries in the area following nationalisation.

Archivists say the papers provide fascinating detail of life in Shipley at the time.

Deputy Leader of Derbyshire County Council, Councillor Anne Western said: "They really are precious, both for their intrinsic interest, and in charting the story of one family, an industry and a community through the last century."