Time to leave historic mine

But it's not his family history, or even his experiences working through the mining industry's most turbulent period that have brought him to national attention.

It is an interview he was duped into with a certain yellow-shell-suited character called Ali G.

Now a cult phenomenon recognised the world over, Ali G, aka comic Sacha Baron Cohen, was just starting out on Channel 4's the 11 O'Clock Show when he visited Big Pit in 1998.

Graham Gratton, now 65 and retiring after 50 years of service, knows he will forever be remembered as "that miner who met Ali G".

"That man wound me up for four hours," said Graham.

"One day this film crew came from Channel Four news. I couldn't take them underground but I said I would give them a tour.

"All of a sudden from nowhere came this yellow suit. At the time he was a complete unknown.

"He was asking me all sorts of strange questions. I showed him a photo of miners and he said, 'why have you got my brothers working here? Why is it mostly the black man down the mine?'

"I said, 'he's not a black man, that's dirt and sweat'.

"He said: 'I like this bit. You could have a disco down here, connect a couple of sub woofers up.'

"I got a bit angry with him and said, 'you are rude'."

Despite facing a barrage of ridiculous questions and being made to look a little foolish, Graham said the interview was one of the highlights of his career.

He said: "When the programme aired we got a lot of visits from students. They weren't interested in going down the mine, they wanted to meet the man who had met Ali G.

"He was nice afterwards. He thanked me and even gave me his Tommy Gear hat. I was going to put it on display at the mine but it would probably get stolen.

"I couldn't watch it at first but I own it on DVD now. The grandchildren like watching it."

Graham was also brought to worldwide attention in 2000 when Blaenavon gained World Heritage status.

A photograph taken at Big Pit and showing Graham looking out over the World Heritage site was sent around the world, and became one of the iconic images of the former mining town.

And no-one deserves to be an icon for Big Pit more than Graham. His father, Francis William Gratton, started work in the mine in 1904 at the age of 14, and was later under- manager at Big Pit for 46 years.

Graham began his own career at Big Pit 50 years ago, and after five decades of hard work at various pits, it is the place he is ending his career.

"All you had when I was young was the steelworks and the mines. "My dad wanted me to follow in his footsteps by going under- ground. I wanted to join the mining industry as an apprentice electrician. An apprenticeship in those days was the best of the lot."

Graham attended Park Street Secondary Modern School, in Blaenavon, before starting an electrical apprenticeship at Big Pit in 1955. A year later his father retired from Big Pit.

"My dad was overwhelmed to think that I had done so well. To achieve that from a secondary modern was a big achievement.

"Over the years we shared many tales about what mining life was like. We talked about everything - what was going on underground and the new type of machinery coming in. He was very proud that I was continuing the tradition."

Graham became a certified electrical engineer and worked for British Coal for 32 years at various pits around Blaenavon and Pontypool. It was a job with a lot of responsibility.

"I was on call 24/7 and would often be called out in the night. I was totally responsible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"It put a lot of pressure on me and my family. I was constantly involved. I would have staff ringing and keeping me updated as to what was going on at all hours. It's a tremendous responsibility when you are looking after a pit as big as this.

"But the camaraderie was brilliant. If you were ever in trouble you could guarantee that help was available."

The miners' strike is a difficult subject to discuss even now, 20 years on, for those in the industry.

All Graham will say is how sad he felt when the pits closed. "After all the effort our forefathers had put into the coal industry, to see it go almost overnight like that was very difficult."

In 1987, as the last of the pits in Wales were being closed, Graham became electrical engineer at a Blaenavon factory, but three years later he was back at Big Pit.

The mine was now a museum, but it still needed an electrical engineer. Graham said: "I was very grateful to get the job at the museum. I get involved around the top of the mine, but I don't do tours. The best part of the job is meeting the public. I will be very sad to go.

"I'll miss the companionship of all my workmates here. I'll miss meeting people and talking to them about the mine."

Last year the museum underwent a huge redevelopment. One new exhibit is the pit baths, where a photograph of Graham's parents, Francis and Ada, hangs on the wall at the opening of the original baths in 1939. Graham's father is also remembered on a locker in the baths.

He said: "I'm very proud that my dad has been honoured with a locker. I would have loved for him to have seen it. It's a wonderful tribute."

Now Graham is to retire, and wants to spend more time with his wife of 44 years, Julia, their three daughters, Sharon, 43, Deborah, 40 and Heather, 35, and six grandchildren.

"I'm looking forward to taking more holidays. I have a caravan in Burnham-on-Sea and I want to spend more time there, relaxing.

"After 50 years of working I want to spend some time with my wife. I haven't seen the children grow up. My life has been work.

"I remember the day my dad went from here. He walked home and never looked back. He said: 'that's it, I've done my 50 years.' I think I want to do the same."