Story
John Render was born in Cawood, Selby in 1860, and was the son of John Render (1820-1894), an agricultural labourer and Mary Nichols (1818-1892), who married in Leeds on 12th June 1840. John jnr. was already working as a farm labourer like his father by the time he was 10 years-old, and continued working on farms throughout his youth. John married Lavinia Holden (1863-1939) in Ryther on 12th June 1883, having had one child, William Henry Holden (1883-1953) born out of wedlock. In 1889, John and Lavinia had moved to Newthorpe, with John working as a Fireman, and soon after moved to 9 Sunnybank.
On the morning of the disaster, John would have descended in the lift operated by his father-in-law, Henry Holden, who was the surface engineman. John’s brother-in-law, William Holden was working in the West Level, whilst John was stationed near the East Level. When the explosion occurred, John found his way in the darkness back to the East Level and met up with Charles Ball’s group of about eleven survivors, and they formed a human chain and made their way back over the debris from the explosion, assisting any of their number who fell ill due to after-damp poisoning. He would also have helped the survivors from the Black Bed when they arrived at the bottom of the shaft, and were violently ill. Three badly burnt miners were also recovered by this group: George Hicks, George Turner, and John’s brother-in-law, William Holden. John allowed the sick and injured to be recovered from the pit before he emerged by noon.
John continued to work at the pit after the disaster, and had 12 children with Lavinia, 9 of whom survived into adulthood. Many of these children continued to live and contribute to Micklefield’s community. Maurice Render (1897-1992) served in the First World War, as did Cyril Render (1891-1977, pictured below). Lewis Render was 60 years-old when he was killed at Peckfield Colliery on 24th June 1964. John Render passed away in 1932, at the age of 77 years.
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 