From black to colour... It also brought the first filmed news report in colour as pointed out by Brian Willis in his reply to a TV article in which he said: "...By the way, the first colour film ever to be processed in BBC Belfast and transmitted in full colour to Northern Ireland viewers was about the closure of the very last coalmine in the province. Ironic really, I can think of nothing more black and white than a coalmine." Reporter David Capper That historic piece of news film was brought to our screens by David Capper, a very well known BBC reporter for many years. We have managed to find the film and its associated soundreel from the archives and put them together once again for you to view here on Your Place & mine. Click on David Capper's picture to view it. (you will need realplayer to view the clip) Click hereto read a brief history of Coalisland Canal Click here to view other archive reports from Scene around Six Click here to go to other pages about TV in Northern Ireland

YOUR RESPONSE

Brian Hughes - June '08

I found this article most interesting as I was not aware that there was still a coal mine still working up to 1970.
In lived in Coalisland until 1957 when I emigrated to England. We lived in Annagher close to the "big pit" as it was called. My father had worked there on the surface between the two world wars.
As a boy I would play with a boy called Harold Stratton who's father was employed by the Ulster Transport Authority which had taken over the "big pit" to store parts for buses. The Strattons lived on site and Mrs Stratton ran the canteen to cater for the employees. I think it closed down in the early fifties.