Robert W VernonRobert (Rob) Vernon grew up in Liverpool. He studied geology at London University and for most of his career was an Area Geologist for the National Coal Board (Deep Mines) based in Yorkshire. With the demise of the coal industry Rob went and studied t Bradford University and gained a Doctorate. Rob has previously co-authored a series of books about the lead mining industry of northwest Wales (Gwydyr and the Lleyn Peninsula), and edited three editions of the National Association of Mining History Organisation's handbook. Later his interest turned to British mining companies that worked in Spain, particularly in the Linares area, where he is an honorary member of the local mining heritage group. He has written three books about the area. One, 'Don Regino' about the English mechanical engineer Reginald Bonham-Carter, was co-authored with his wife Margaret. His interest in Hathorn Davey started in 1975, when he purchased an old Pumping Engine Catalogue at the Queens Hall Flea Market, Leeds. This linked in with Rob's interest in mining history. Since then he has visited the sites of Hathorn, Davey engines in Australia (Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria), Japan (Kyushu), and Spain. He has also visited many sites in the United Kingdom. Much of the research material used for the book has come from a collection of Hathorn, Davey Order Books held in the Leeds Archives, as well as contemporary engineering publications. Read More Read Less