Derek Burt visited the Museum on 20th September 2009 and stated he was the last miner to go underground at Norden. He also said that we could quote him "Working for ECC at Norden was the best job I have ever had!"  He went on to tell an interesting story

John Stockley (the last winchman) did find time during his busy day to make friends with some ducks from Norden Farm. John managed to entice the ducks inside the building to the tipping area. Two days later water broke in to Number 6 mine and flooded into number 7 mine. The workers managed to clear the water and to repair the damage, but within a few weeks the decision to stop mining for good was made. The ducks had been a bad omen!

Derek at work underground at Norden number 7 mine

We have had a word with John Stockley and that year the duck nested in the building and had a couple of broods of ducklings. A few days before the flood, John had been called in to move the ducks as the were in the way of work in the tipping area. So the ducks had been in the building for several months before the flooding.