Born at Street, near Wentworth, in 1864 Frank Salkeld was the son of a blacksmith and as with his brother Fred, continued the trade throughout his life, first as a striker and then as a general smith. He spent most of his working life from 1895, employed as a blacksmith at Hemingfield Colliery, working for Earl Fitzwilliam’s Elsecar Collieries and living at Pit Row opposite the Hemingfield pit.

He continued his trade when the pit was closed being employed by the South Yorkshire Pumping Association and later the South Yorkshire Mines Drainage Committee before returing in 1936.

Active and a founding member of the Hemingfield Working Men’s Club, he was also a committee man for the Old Folks’ Treat Fund events, and as such was a well known member of the local community.

He was a witness to the events leading to the death of James Penty at Hemingfield in 1926.