Black British Coal Miner Oral History – Roy Wilks | Windrush Generation | KS3 & KS4 History Resource

Explore an inspiring first-hand oral history from Roy Wilks, a former Black British coal miner who worked in the Nottinghamshire coalfields during the 1960s. This engaging Black History resource helps students discover the experiences of the Windrush generation, migration, identity, and life in Britain’s mining communities.

Ideal for KS3 History, KS4 History, Black History Month, Citizenship, PSHE, Diversity, and British Social History lessons, this resource brings history to life through authentic testimony.

Resource Details
Resource Type: Oral History / Primary Source / Social History
Age Range: 11–16 (KS3–KS4)
Subjects: History, Black History, Citizenship, PSHE, Diversity, Identity, Community Studies
Format: 4-page resource in both Microsoft Word and PDF
What’s Included?

Roy Wilks shares his remarkable journey from Jamaica to Nottingham, explaining why he chose to work in Britain’s coal mining industry despite promising his mother he would never go down the mines.

Students explore:

The Windrush generation and Caribbean migration to Britain
Life as a Black coal miner in 1960s Nottinghamshire
Recruitment and employment in Britain’s mining industry
Experiences of racism, language barriers and integration
Working conditions in the coal mines
Gedling Colliery training and life underground
Wages, shifts, mining clothing and equipment
Workplace relationships and conflict
The importance of oral history as historical evidence
Learning Opportunities

This versatile resource supports students in:

Analysing a first-hand historical source
Understanding Britain’s industrial and social history
Exploring migration and multicultural Britain
Investigating the experiences of the Windrush generation
Developing empathy through personal testimony
Writing essays and historical reports
Creating drama performances, presentations and short films
Comparing individual experiences with wider historical events
Perfect for Teaching

This resource is ideal for:

Black History Month
Windrush Day
GCSE History enrichment
KS3 History
British Social History
Industrial Britain
Coal Mining History
Local History studies
Diversity and Inclusion
Citizenship and PSHE lessons
Additional Resource

Extend learning with the accompanying Moving Out video on TES, featuring Roy Wilks recounting his experiences of working underground in Britain’s coal mines.

Moving Out Video: /teaching-resource/moving-out-video-12293010

This oral history is adapted from Moving Out by Lorna Holder and provides an authentic insight into the contribution of Black miners and the Windrush generation to Britain’s industrial heritage.