Ramsay Nimmo – underground electrician, Argyll Colliery.

Twins, Ramsay and Neil Nimmo. Photo courtesy of Jan Nimmo ©

Ramsay Brown Nimmo was the son of Robert Nimmo and Isabella “Bella” (nee Brown). He and his twin brother, Neil, were born in 1929, in Drumlemble, a mining village between Campbeltown and Machrihanish. The were the oldest sons of the family of nine.

Ramsay left school at the age of 12 to work on a local farm, West Drumlemble, and when he was old enough, he got a job at Argyll Colliery, Argyll Colliery, Machrihanish. In 1950 was sent to do a course at NCB Mechanisation Training Centre in Sheffield were he was trained as a mine electrician. He lodged with Mr & Mrs Salt in the Greystone area Sheffield and they treated him like a son. He kept in touch with them until they passed away.

Ramsay Nimmo, far right, during his training at the NCB Mechanisation Training Centre in Sheffield. Photo courtesy of the Nimmo Family ©

Ramsay Nimmo, front row, kneeling, far right, during his training at the NCB Mechanisation Training Centre in Sheffield. Photo courtesy of the Nimmo Family ©

Ramsay met his future wife, Kathleen, on a tram in Sheffield, while Kathleen was on her way to work in the wholesale section of W H Smiths. When Ramsay returned to Scotland to his work at Argyll Colliery, their romance continued and they corresponded – in those days people wrote letters rather than Skyping or emailing and Kathleen kept these letters till her dying day.

Ramsey Nimmo in Sheffield. Photo courtesy of the Nimmo Family ©

Before their marriage Ramsay moved to Chesterfield and started work at Markham Colliery, Duckmanton. He lived with Jim & Lil McPhail. Jim was a cousin of Ramsay’s mother who had met a local Derbyshire girl and settled there.

Bob Nimmo, Bella Nimmo, Ramsay Nimmo, Kathleen Nimmo, and Kathleen’s parents, Ivy and Charlie George. Photo courtesy of the Nimmo Family ©

Robert Ramsey and Kathleen Nimmo were married on April the 4th 1954. After their marriage Ramsay continued to work as an electrician at Markham Colliery in Derbyshire until his retirement. He died in 2006 and Kathleen followed him in 2014. They are survived by their three sons, Robert, Andrew and Malcolm.

L-R, Mrs E. Batty, a neighbour, Kathleen Nimmo, Ramsay Nimmo, Malcolm Nimmo (baby), and in the foreground, L-R Robert Nimmo and Andrew Nimmo. Photo courtesy of the Nimmo Family ©

Robert Nimmo ©

Advertisement