I was 14, approaching the time when I would leave school and move out into the great big world. Our teachers were spending time preparing us for that day with lectures, visits from employers and the Youth Employment Service.
I lived in a tiny village in Berkshire, and locally jobs were non-existant. Girls were expected to take a job in shop etc as they passed the time till they married, we boys faced a booming employment market, but not locally, and National Service, so most lads expected to leave home as soon as they left school, as I did.
Part of the schools preparations for us included a visit from an exec from the recently nationalised coal industry.
He proudly explained that Britain was the power house of the world, that we exported X millions of tons of coal and extolled the great future that awaited us lads in the industry.
When he had finished he asked, 'Any questions?'
There were few so he adopted the usual stance of pointing at one and asking, 'what about you?'
And I was one of his chosen few.
My reply left him dumbstruck and my teacher grinning.
I answered. 'The day the last man man comes up for the final time will be a great day! No man should earn his living burrowing in the bowels of the Earth!'
Nigh 60 yrs on my opinion hasn't changed.
Roy.