SIR — I was saddened to hear of the death of Eric Varley, whom I knew well as a colleague at the National Coalboard Area Workshops Duckmanton, where he was branch secretary of the NUM.
His work with Bert Wynn, area secretary of the NUM in establishing a day release course with Sheffield University should not be, enabling miners without any formal qualifications to attain entry to higher education and, in particular, Ruskin College, Oxford. This was a route which enabled me to obtain teaching qualifications but not to forget the opportunity provided by the Derbyshire niners.
Cliff Stanley,
Leicestershire county councillor,
12 Oakham Drive,
Coalville.
READ MOREMain news indexLettersLocal sportMusic and gig sceneThe full article contains 123 words and appears in Derbyshire Times newspaper.
