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Matty Tate (The Pitman Poet) |
Daily Herald c.1912 |
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Matt Tate, hale and cheery at 75, claims to be the oldest hewer in Northumberland.
He has a prouder claim, however. He is a poet, and found his chief inspiration in the mine, and life and things pertaining to the mine.
He works in the Delaval Relief Pit, has worked there for some 35 years.
He walks three miles every day from his home at Blyth to the pit shaft, and a mile and a half under ground.
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He celebrated his 75th birthday recently by working as usual. An admirer, writing in a local paper, has pictured the scene at the close:
The poet stepped out of the cage at the Delaval Relief Shaft in his pit duds - the sheen of coal dust in the silver shower of locks which fell softly round his distinguished features. The pitman-poet is old Matt Tate. He was 75 yesterday, and is still working. “Seventy-five to-day - an’ worked a full shift at the face,” announced the poet, cheerily. “A poor way to celebrate?” “There wouldn’t be any celebrating at all if there wasn’t the work,” said the poet. “I have to hew for all the birthdays I get.” |
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Read Matty Tate’s Jubilee poem
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Listen to Gordon Smith's views |
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