The last free miner in the Forest Of Dean.by Andrew Fox

The last free miner in the Forest Of Dean.

Free miners are allowed to mine and sell any coal, iron, ochre, and stone under a royal charter dating back some 800 years. But it’s hard, dirty work. And lonely. Gerald spent six days a week on his own down there with no phone signal, no radio to listen to (radio signals don’t travel well underground), and in darkness.

His thick Gloucestershire accent was difficult to understand. As we chatted he lit up his pipe, pondered a question and there was the best shot from the assignment.