AS the years roll by and the tales of the work which defined much of South Wales for generations begins to be lost, an exhibition aims to make sure youngsters are put in the picture — with the help of one man who experienced it first-hand.

Gorslas councillor Terry Davies worked at the Cwmgwili Colliery as an appliance electrician for 28 years.

Like many men his age, mining was a family thing. His grandfather came from Somerset to Cross Hands to work at the colliery there and was followed by his father and his uncle, who also worked at the Cross Hands pit, before moving to Cwmgwili.

"I started at the colliery in 1965, my mother was not very happy about it, she didn't want me to work down the mines. But I had my apprenticeship which meant I could go to college once a week.

"With the background I had I was quite used to all the terms underground and what it was like there. The first day it was just unbelievable, switching your light off you couldn't see your hand in front of your face."

Bond

Despite the difficult working conditions, it was clear to Terry there was a special bond among those who worked underground.

It was this friendship and the help of local communities which supported thousands of mine workers across the UK during the strike of 1984-85.

"The comradeship was there," Terry said. "Because of the dangers there was real friendship there.

"I was involved with the National Union of Miners and you had to help. When the colliery finally closed (in 1992), I found out that some of the men couldn't read or write.

"The miners' strike was ironic in a sense as it was not about changes, we didn't have much choice, it wasn't about wages or conditions, it was about survival of the industry.

Depressing

"There was such loyalty among members, no one ever thought of going back.

"The most depressing time I felt during the strike was in the run-up to Christmas. I was a single person but was very concerned about those with families.

"People were so generous at the time. We had food and collections from people not just from South Wales and the UK, but across the world."

In many ways the strike marked the death-knell of the industry.

Cynheidre closed in 1989, Betws in 2003 and Terry's own colliery in 1992.

But thanks to the work of Terry, an exhibition marking the history of mining in the county is now on show at the county museum in Abergwili.

The funding for the project was provided by the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) and Terry donated many of the items on display himself.

"There are lamps, tobacco boxes and also a DVD we have produced which tells the story of mining in Carmarthenshire.

"I feel something like this is for the whole of the county, not just Carmarthen, the industry was so important for the Gwendraeth and Amman Valleys."