Fig 1: Cover of 1974 National Coal Queen programme & Nottingham Area NUM Coal Queen Finalists in 1974.

Nottinghamshire Coal Queens

Coal Queen Competition’s followed a long British tradition of crowning queens which celebrated cultural, rural and religious festivities. In the coal mining industry they became popular in the post 1947 nationalised coal era, peaking in the 1970’s, with the last ever national competition being held in 1983. As Paul Ward commented, it was designed to bring colour, sparkle and glamour to an industry that had been beset by low wages and danger.

Fig 2: Local press advert for a Coal Queen Dance at Annesley Miners Welfare in the 1960’s.

Contestants had to have a link with the coal industry, usually being the daughter, wife or sister of a mineworker. Local coal queen competitions were held at Miners Welfare Institutes and were usually organised by the local NUM branch. (Fig 2).  Sandra Wright (20) was crowned Annesley Colliery Coal Queen in 1964, she was the wife of coalface worker, David Wright. Twelve contestants took part and the judges were Len Clarke, Nottingham Area NUM Official and Mrs Clarke, plus Colliery Manager Mr L. Cumberland and Mrs Cumberland. Three hundred attended the event held at the local Miners Welfare (MW). Annesley MW closed in 2009 and was demolished in 2020. A new housing estate occupies the welfare site and playing fields. 

Fig 3: Comedian and ex coalminer, Charlie William’s, was guest celebrity and Coal Queen competition judge at the 1980 Nottinghamshire Miners Gala. The previous year’s winner, Wendy Machin (New Hucknall NUM) is on the back row right. Photo Credit – Chad Newspaper

NUM Branch winners went on to the regional competition which in Nottinghamshire took place at the annual Nottinghamshire Miners Gala at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield. VIP’s were invited to these events usually being trade union leaders, labour politicians or TV celebrities and they acted as judges for the coal queen competition. Blog about the Nottinghamshire Miners Gala at https://miningheritage.co.uk/nottinghamshire-miners-galas/

Fig 4: Janet Toon Poynton (2nd left) Kirkby (Summit) Coal Queen in 1966 and 1967. Photo Credit – Kirkby Heritage Centre

Janet Toon Poynton was crowned Kirkby (Summit) NUM Coal Queen two years running in 1966 and 1967. She would be the last ever Kirkby NUM Coal Queen as the colliery controversially closed in 1968. In 1974 she was runner up in the Miss Ashfield beauty competition. Her collection of Coal Queen memorabilia and press cuttings was donated to Kirkby Heritage Centre.

Fig 5: Finalists for the 1974 National Coal Queen competition. Source – Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum

In 1969 the Coal Queen competition became a nationwide event, with NUM Area finalists throughout Britain competing for the National Coal Queen of Great Britain. Yvette Shilton (19) representing Newstead Colliery, was crowned National Coal Queen in 1976. A short clip of her prior to being taken on an underground visit at the colliery is on the Media Archive for Central England (MACE) website @ https://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-29101976-miss-coal-queen-yvette-shilton

The national event was initially held at Skegness and in 1977 became part of the Coal Industry Social Welfare (CISWO) annual Miners Festival at Blackpool. The winning national Coal Queen became an ambassador for the coal mining industry participating in events such as NCB safety campaigns and promoting solid fuel advisory centres.

Fig 6: 1974 Nottingham Area NUM Coal Queen, Jackie Shepherd, on an underground visit at Bilsthorpe Colliery. Photo Credit – Bilsthorpe Heritage Centre

The 1974 Nottinghamshire Coal Queen was eighteen year old Jackie Sheppard representing Bilsthorpe NUM branch. She recalled being apprehensive in the build up at the National Finals but a telegram and bouquet from the Nottingham Area NUM helped calm her nerves;

“With the build-up it was a bit nerve racking at the start of the contest…before I went on stage I got a telegram from the NUM and a big bouquet of flowers from the Nottinghamshire miners which I thought was smashing”.

Fig 7: A selection of Jackie Sheppard’s Coal Queen memorabilia at the Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum. Photo Credit – David Amos

In later years, Jackie donated her collection of Coal Queen memorabilia to the Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum. The museum is located on Cross Street at Bilsthorpe.

Fig 8: Lynn Tomlinson, 1983 Nottingham Area NUM Coal Queen with guest celebrity actress Kathy Staff (Nora Batty). Photo Credit – Chad Newspaper

Lynn Tomlinson was the last ever Nottinghamshire Coal Queen. She was the Moorgreen NUM Coal Queen in 1982 becoming Nottinghamshire NUM and National Coal Queen in 1983. As an ambassador for the coal mining industry she promoted Solid Fuel Advisory Services, who had fireside shops all over Britain.

Fig 9: Minutes from Nottingham Area NUM Area Executive meeting on 1st May 1984 regarding cancellation of the 1984 Area Coal Queen competition. Source -Nottingham Area NUM Minutes 1984, p.162

The coal queen competition became a casualty of the 1984-85 miners strike after the 1984 Nottinghamshire Miners Gala and CISWO Blackpool Festival were both cancelled. The Coal Queen competition never took place again, however, times and attitudes were changing and some people disliked the idea of beauty competitions.

Fig 10: Ghost of the Nottinghamshire Coal Queen competition! Archive image Coal Authority, animation by Neil Pledger for the Miner to Major project.

A Memories of Coal Queens exhibition took place at the National Mining Museum for England (NCMME) in the summer of 2010. It featured coal queen memorabilia, documentation and audio recordings of former Coal Queens. An exhibition booklet was produced to accompany the exhibition. Details about the exhibition on the NCMME website @ https://www.ncm.org.uk/whats-on/coal-queens/

Blog by David Amos

Mine2Minds Education

Posted 9th January 2026

References

Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum, Jackie Shepherd collection of Coal Queen Memorabilia.

Coal News, NCB North Nottinghamshire, March 1975. 

Kirkby Heritage Centre, Janet Toon Poynton collection of Coal Queen Memorabilia.

Memories of the Coal Queens, compiled by Anne Bradley & Rebecca Hudson, National Coal Mining Museum for England, 2010.

Nottingham Area NUM Minutes 1984

Notts Free Press, Annesley Coal Queen, Notts Free Press, 24th April 1964, p.21.