Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 06 September 1941

Hot Meals at Pits

Wombwell District Schemes

The time is not far distant when there will be a twenty-four hours service of hot meals at local collieries. This is the impression gained as a result of a conversation a “Times” reporter had with a person prominently connected with Y.M.A. and the Miners’ Welfare movement in the Wombwell district.

At Wombwell Main Colliery the provision of meals on a comprehensive scale will mean, the erection of a new building, but with the the Miners’ Welfare assistance that difficulty should be overcome, and It is not outside the bounds of possibility that a dining hall will be in full swing there in from eight to ten weeks.

Our informant told us that a meeting had already been held at Wombwell Main Colliery to discuss the proposal, and a scheme was to be submitted to the Miners’ Welfare authorities.

Our informant hinted at the possibility of Wombwell Main falling in with a scheme which other collieries were putting into operation. In this connection he mentioned Houghton Main. Woolley. Newton Chambers and the Doncaster Amalgamated Collieries. He said that at all these collieries the idea of letting the whole contract to a well-known firm of caterers was being considered.

The meals would be eaten on the spot and not taken away. At Wombwell Main they had about 1,300 employees and a dining hall to seat some 300 was visualised.

It is not unlikely that the Wombwell Main scheme will mature in the next few days.