Obituary - Albert William Tuke OBE CEng HonFIMMM
Albert Tuke was recognised for his contributions to the UK coalmining industry. He was a strong supporter of the Institution of Mining Engineers, joining as a student in 1955 and becoming its President in 1993.
Albert William Tuke OBE CEng HonFIMMM
28 October 1930 to 17 April 2024
Albert Tuke died on 17 April 2024. He was born on 28 October 1930 at Rawmarsh, Rotherham, into a family connected with mining since the early 19th century. He was educated at Mexborough Grammar School and entered the coalmining industry in 1947 in the former National Coal Board’s North East Division, No. 3 Area.
In the course of the following eight years, he underwent underground and coalface training, became a junior official, and member of a mines rescue team. He gained First and Second Class Certificates of Competency in 1953 via study at the Rotherham College of Technology. In 1955, he was admitted to the National Coal Board’s Directed Practical Trainee Scheme, at which point he also became a student member of the Institution of Mining Engineers. Later that year he passed the final examination of the Institution. Between the years 1956 and 1959 he was Undermanager at two neighbouring collieries – Denaby and Cadeby.
He was subsequently Deputy Manager at Barnburgh Colliery and was appointed Manager of Kilnhurst Colliery in 1961. He moved to Silverwood Colliery eighteen months later as Agent/Manager and was General Manager from 1965 at the same colliery. In 1967 he became a Chartered Engineer with the Institution. In May 1970 he became Production Manager in South Yorkshire Area, in charge of the Manvers complex of pits of Manvers Main, Wath, Barnburgh, Kilnhurst and the Manvers Central Washery and also undertook the Executive Development programme with the London Business School.
Albert was appointed Deputy Director (Mining), Barnsley Area, from February 1972 until September 1980, during which time (1977) he was awarded the GC Greenwill Medal of the North of England Institute. He was then Director for Doncaster Area from October 1980 until 1985 (winning the Noel Webster Medal of the Midland Institute in 1982) when he also took responsibility as Director of the Barnsley Area.
In October 1985 he became Director of the new enlarged North Yorkshire Area, comprising the merged Barnsley and North Yorkshire areas, the latter including the Selby Coalfield. He continued in this position until his retirement from British Coal in March 1990, having received the OBE in the 1986 New Year Honours and the Institution’s Douglas Hay Medal in 1989. In 1983-84 he was President of the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers of which he was a longtime member. He was also Chairman of the Yorkshire Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation for many years. He was elected Vice-President of the Institution of Mining Engineers for 1992-93 and became its President for the year 1993-94. He was a strong supporter of the Institution being a member of the Council for many years and was Chairman of its Legislation Committee.
Albert Tuke was married and had three children. His wife, Wendy, passed away suddenly in 2011 and in 2013 Albert suffered a stroke and chose to move to a nursing home. He had regular visits from old colleagues, family and friends. His son, Graham, sadly passed away last year. He is survived by his daughters Angela and Jackie. He leaves six grandchildren: David, Steven and Jane, Lucy, Alistair and Catherine and five great grandchildren: Brandon, Jack, Daniya, Reuben and Theo.
I knew Albert quite well as I had two spells working for him, once when he was Director of the Doncaster Area and the second as his deputy when he was Director of North Yorkshire Area. He was a hard man to work for, but very professional and fair. We had some interesting and difficult times together, but also a lot of enjoyable ones!
Robert Siddall FREng CEng FIMMM