I hope it's acceptable to mention an upcoming TV show on this forum; I've not done so in the past but as this is a serious BBC2 history production I hope it's considered appropriate ?.

I've been enjoying the new "Story of Wales" series this week, although I think next week's programmes will be far more interesting, not to mention relevant to Foresters, particularly if like me they have Welsh industrial connections.

On Tuesday 9th at 7pm the episode is called "Furnace of Change", including copper mining in North Wales.

On Wednesday 10th is "A New Beginning", about the massive effect of the growth of mining Welsh Steam Coal in the Southern Valleys.

This BBC website gives full details and preview clips etc etc.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00mlrq9

Finally, the ""Who Do You Think You Are ?" website contain some useful pages related to mining ancestors, plus some good links altho' they have probably already been mentioned elsewhere on this forum.
http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/take-it-further/jobs/coal-mining-ancestors?u...

I do hope this is of interest.

Jeff, a proud Dean ironworker, with collier ancestors, now exiled in smokeless Middlesex.

Actually I enjoyed last night's episode of The History of Wales as I found out a lot about my ancestors from it. Rhodri the Great http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodri_the_Great was my 34 x Great Grandfather!

(Thanks to lots of research carried out by Averil Kear and the Kear family over a number of years).