My name is Ena Patterson I was born in the mining village of Wheatley Hill in 1926. I lived at 14th Street these colliery houses were known as the Dardanelle's they had no bathrooms or hot running water the water had to be heated in a boiler attached to fireplace.

It was lucky for me that my boyfriend 's mother lived in a council house so I went there for a bath. After being married in 1950 I lived in other houses with no running hot water but we managed. I had three children girl boy girl; the last one married the year my husband died 1980. Bob had worked at the pit from starting work at 16 years of age until it closed in 1968. My family are still working at jobs they started when leaving school. I became a member of the Mothers Club in 1952 and have made many friends.