Just heard from pwhole that Jim Rieuwerts died this morning; mining history has lost another of its great figures. 😢

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One of the greats.

I'm gutted - he'd practically become my uncle over the last ten years or so as we'd talked so much about mines and caves, and it was a real privilege to actually work with him and produce two books together. His wife Ann also deserves credit for putting up with our endless conversations and us covering the dining table with maps when she was trying to get the tea ready. Only a month ago, ever helpful, he dug me out some scraps of plans of Hazard Mine.

Four years ago I took him into Peak Cavern to see Elias Pedley's signature on the wall at the Devil's Staircase which neither of us knew existed until the week before, and he profusely apologised for his actual lumbago slowing us down through the low 'Lumbago Walk', and he had to hold my arm in both directions as his back was so stiff - but he was determined to do it and thoroughly enjoyed the trip, and even gave a short lecture on mining history to a bunch of bemused schoolchildren who happened to be there.

A first-class guy with an encyclopedic knowledge, very intelligent, honest and fundamentally decent, and I'm going to miss him hugely.

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Sorry to hear this. I have many of his books. They are both scholarly and readable, a rare combination.

I met and worked with Jim when we were living on the edge of the Peak District.
I more friendly to and helpful person you could not meet, once I moved away to Scotland our paths no longer crossed, but he took the time out to get his PhD and continued his research’s into Derbyshire mining. He will be missed by all who knew him!

I first met him up at Rotherhope Fell, probably late 1980s, he put up with my endless chatter quite well.

Very sad loss.

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I am really shocked. He phoned me a month ago and seemed perfectly OK. I was looking forward to telling him of some recent developments in research.

Surely, nobody has ever had such a comprehensive knowledge of the ore field as Jim. A huge loss.

I didn’t no the gentleman but after reading the comments I would like to say he definitely will be missed by all who knew him or his work . shows us even with this virus around how precious time is to spend well what ever you choose to do

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historytrog - I spoke with him two weeks ago and he seemed fine then, but last week was not so good, and Ann said he couldn't come to the phone as he was too ill, which has never happened. She sounded concerned for him in a way I hadn't heard before, and it was obvious something was very wrong.

I suspect that it was just old age, but I'm guessing, obviously, at the moment. It's very, very sad, but then I'm very, very glad that I knew him for the time I did. We'll do something special for him, for sure.

A real loss, his knowledge of Peak District mining was second to none.

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Oh no. that is a real shame, what a loss.

I've just been sent this marvellous photo of the Dynamic Duo by Trevor Ford's daughter, Jan. Epic :)

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Oh so sad he was real gentleman and enthusiast , I used love our chats . I was also pleased to source a very rare book he wanted for his collection

Mike

That is very sad news. I'm sure his legacy will live on through the society and through his fascinating books, which got myself and I'm sure many others interested in lead mining in Derbyshire.

The stalwarts of Peak mining are regrettably thinning quickly, Nellie Kirkam – some time back, it is true – Trevor Ford, Paul Deakin whose photographs are magnificent and now dear old Jim. I recall visiting Jim on many occasions when he was working as a soils engineer (?) at a now vanished company at Birdholme, Chesterfield (the name of which escapes me) and having long chats with him during his lunch hour, which tended to be most of the afternoon! . Way back in the days of yore. I haven’t seen him for a long time (at his home was the last time when I gave him a couple of my photos for one of his books) but the picture of him on here clearly shows the ravages of time to which we are all regrettably a party.
Mining history has lost another fine and knowledgeable character who was both kind and self effacing.

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