Keeping it in the family at surface-mine site

Work at a Northumberland surface mine has become a family affair, with no fewer than six sets of fathers and sons now working together on site.
The dads (top row) and lads at Banks Mining's Shotton site, including Andy and Scott Moore, far right, from Widdrington Village. Picture by Keith TaylorThe dads (top row) and lads at Banks Mining's Shotton site, including Andy and Scott Moore, far right, from Widdrington Village. Picture by Keith Taylor
The dads (top row) and lads at Banks Mining's Shotton site, including Andy and Scott Moore, far right, from Widdrington Village. Picture by Keith Taylor

Banks Mining has around 150 people working at its Shotton surface mine near Cramlington and is one of Northumberland’s largest private-sector employers.

The firm has employed many members of several different local families since it first started working in the area more than 30 years ago, but it’s thought that this is the first time that so many fathers and sons have worked together at a Banks site.

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Among the co-working dads and lads are Andy and Scott Moore, from Widdrington. Having previously worked at Banks Mining’s Delhi site on the Blagdon Estate, Andy came back to Banks five years ago to work as a plant operative at Shotton.

Scott, 23, followed his father to Shotton in 2013, working as a dump truck driver.

Andy said: “I’ve worked in surface mining for the last 30 years and when Scott was looking for a new job, I actively encouraged him to apply to work here and we enjoy having each other around. We do a skilled job that’s well paid and Banks has always been a good firm to work for. My younger son will be leaving school in the near future and I’m hoping that he’ll be able to join Scott and me into the industry.”

Other dads and lads working at the site are Rob and Martin Draycott; Terry and Steven Whittle; Andy and Andy Wilson; Chris and Liam Quinn; and Paul and Liam Showler.