Sydney Sokell began his mining career as a Pit lad at Elsecar Main in 1917 before joining the Mines Drainage in 1936 where he rose to become Chief Engineer.

Sokell had been involved innevery kind of underground work, working under several managers, Harold Saul, S.C. Brown and Bob Ditchfield.

On one occasion in 1948, Sokell and Brown made headlines as they were involved in investigating and recovering the body of a dead women from a disused mine shaft at Walton Colliery at Wakefield.

Sokell retired in 1966 when he was presented with a car radio and book ends made from coal presented by his colleagues at the Drainage Unit.

Manager Bob Ditchfield presented the items and said of Sokell:

“The high standard of craftsmanship and integrity that is with this department is mainly due to his influence”.

Sokell died 24th September 1968.