Mexborough and Swinton Times February 8, 1929

Colliery Appointment.

New Manager at Wombwell Main.

Mr. David Cookson, one of the under-managers at Wombwell Main Colliery, has been appointed manager, in succession to the late Mr. William Thompson.

Mr. Cookson has been acting manager since December. Mr. Cookson is a native of Wombwell and has served the whole of his working life with the Wombwell Main Colliery, from pit boy upwards.

He commenced to study coal mining and kindred sciences under the late Mr. C. H. Elliott, for many years general manager and afterwards a director of Wombwell Main. After two years study he sat for and obtained a County Council exhibition.

He attended University extension lectures, and in 1901-3 took the complete coal mining certificate course at Sheffield University and passed first class in each of the seven examinations. On the register were 70 students, and he was placed first in order of merit in three examinations, second in order twice, and won first place in order of merit for the two years’ course. Out of eight prizes awarded he claimed four. Mr. Cookson obtained his under-manager’s certificate in 1903. He continued his studies at Sheffield and took a two years electrical course, winning more honours. His manager’s certificate was obtained in 1909.

Finding there was still much to learn, Mr. Cookson took a special course for mining teachers at Sheffield University. He passed first-class in each of the classes and was placed first in order of merit in each of two years.

Mr. Cookson commenced the teaching of mining in 1910. He has taken classes at Wombwell, Elsecar and Brampton. Many hundreds of pupils have passed through his hands. His ability was recognised when he was appointed a member of the committee which sat at Wakefield to revise the courses of instruction in mining under the West Riding County Council.

Mr. Cookson was appointed a day deputy at Wombwell Main in 1905, and assistant under-manager in 1916. He was promoted to the position of under-manager when Mr. Thompson was made manager in 1918.

Mining work and its exploration as a science has left Mr. Cookson little time for other interests. One “weakness” he has, however, and that is for the cultivation of flowers. For some years he has specialised in the cultivation of chrysanthemums and his successes in that direction have become traditional at local shows. In three years he has taken 21 out of 23 first prizes at Wath and has also won notable successes at Barnsley and Doncaster. Angling is another hobby that attracts him when time permits. So far has taken no part in public life, but it is interesting to learn that he is to stand as a candidate for the South-west ward at the municipal election.