WHYA Collier's Tale
A personal account of working men, courage, loss and the mining history William believes must never be forgotten.



Stories can preserve the people, places and working lives that history too easily leaves behind.William
One author. A lifetime of history, memory and discovery.
Each major section now has its own dedicated page, with more space for William’s story, the mining memory behind Why, his background and the full collection of books.
Why it was written
The people, the pit and the purpose behind the original account.
Into the memory
A visual descent through the event, rescue, consequences and remembrance.
Experience first
Mining, engineering, genealogy and writing shaped by lived experience.
Why: A Collier’s Tale
The dedicated book page with interactive 3D presentation and Amazon access.
All books
Mining history, ghost fiction, genealogy, golf and poetry in one catalogue.
The Ordinary Miner
Poetry, dialogue and remembrance dedicated to the collier.
From the pit to the family archive.
William’s books move between social history, personal memory, genealogy and fiction while returning repeatedly to the people and places that shaped his life.
History is strongest when ordinary people are allowed to speak.
Mining, family history, local memory and fiction come together in writing that is personal, direct and determined not to forget.
Meet William →
Coal to SteelIndustrial history
An Angel’s PleaGhost fiction
Are We Scottish, Are We Irish, Are We Scots/IrishGenealogy