Dave, who ran the mining union's Stainforth miners advice centre until Hatfield Colliery closed in 2004, had been quietly writing his story for around 40 years.

And after finally hanging up his union placards and banners he is going into print by publishing a three volume epic which will mix racy tales of life in the mining communities where he lived and worked with the serious politics of the miners' strikes.

'It was a bit like being the Salvation Army at a Hell's Angels rally'

But Dave, brought up in the North East before to moving to Doncaster in the 1960s to work at Hatfield Colliery, has not just published a story - he has also created his own Yorkshire and Geordie phrase book to interpret some of the language used.

Most of the conversations in the book are written as said - and a lot of the time that needs translation!

For those reading his book in the home counties, the meaning of the words Oss, On't, deent, sprag and wasens may not spring quickly to mind.

But a glance at the 13 page glossary at the end will reveal the translations as horse, on top of, don't, tell tales on someone, and ourselves.

Dave said: "The language was a bit of a problem really - I have written a glossary for all three editions, but it had to be included in the first one so it would make sense."

He calls the series of books Stardust and Coaldust and the first volume has just been printed under the title Geordies - Wa Mental. A look in the glossary translates that as: "Geordies - We are Mental."

It deals with childhood in Newcastle and finishes shortly after Dave moved to Dunscroft.

Dave admits the swap was a culture clash, having moved from a city where the 1960s were in full swing, to a small village were he felt you were more likely to see a 50s teddy boy than a long haired 60s style icon. His book tells how children shouted "gypsy" at him because of his clothes.

The next volumes, dealing mostly with life after he moved to Doncaster, will be The Wheel's Still in Spin, and Pitrocide, dealing with the 80s, the miners' strike, and the subsequent closures of collieries.

"The first two talk about people's sensitivities about things like sex in the 60s and 70s, while the third one is about the struggles of the union," said Dave.

"I think people will be surprised that they are not all about politics, and I would admit it's quite racy in parts.

"Most of the next two books are all written - I have written them over the years.

I'm still adding bits."

Dave's recollections have been in demand before - when the 20th anniversary of the miners strike was marked by the media he was a regular face on TV sharing memories of the strike.

His book looks back further into Doncaster's recent history, recalling some of the more colourful visitors to Stainforth.

Dave recalls visits from the American black rights organisation the Black Panthers to the village's miners welfare, talking about their struggle while Hatfield Colliery band played in the room below.

Dave left Doncaster three years ago and worked as an organiser for the Transport and General Workers Union in the North East before retiring.

He still remains a vocal campaigner for coal and the miners and is not afraid of taking the argument to the toughest of venues. He recently visited a climate camp on the South Coast, where protesters were opposing new coal power stations.

Dave, who made the visit with former NUM leader Arthur Scargill, said: "We tried to argue the case for coal - it was a bit like being the Salvation Army at a Hell's Angels rally!"

- Geordies - Wa Mental by David John Douglass, is published by Christie Books and can be ordered through any major bookshop or direct from christie@btclick.com.

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