South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 10 January 1942

Statue of Winston Churchill

Wombwell must be one of the first places in the country to have a statue of Mr. Winston Churchill. It is really a statuette and is unique in that it is carved in coal.

The model is the work of a mine-worker. Mr. J. Fielding of Knoll-beck Lane, Brampton, a deputy at Cortonwood. It is about six inches high and of solid coal from the Parkgate seam.

Mr. Fielding has achieved amazing fidelity as regards features and expression, and those who have seen the bust in miniature have greatly admired it. The traditional cigar is missing, but the figure has the typical ‘bull-dog” expression. If Mr. Fielding thought it would be acceptable he would probably make a gift of it to the national leader.

Mr. Fielding is no novice in sculpture. He has worked in the mines over forty years, and has always made a hobby of carving coal, selecting his own material from the coal face. This particular model came from the Parkgate seam, which—contrary to the impression which most miners will have—provides very suitable pieces for the work. If there is any doubt as to the durability of coal as a carving medium it might be mentioned that Mr. Fielding has shoes, ships and other objects in coal which he carved forty years ago. He has also carved many Royal heads using no other tool than a Pocket knife. He admits that the Parkgate seam varies in different pits, and that he has to select his pieces with some discretion.