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I read with great interest your notes on South Wales coal mining.  I'm a journalist, writing a children's book based in a mine in South Wales.  My mother's family comes from Cwmaman, near Aberdare where my grandfather was a doctor.  I totally understand what you mean by an "English disposition" and chuckled at the humour of the words.  My book is about a boy who goes down the pit in 1911 to work with his father.  His experiences make him turn against the wealthy pit owner and the life he has been born into.  His father is a blacksmith in the mine, who dies of pneumoconiosis. 
I'd relish any more info from you or direction towards other research in this field. 
My account may not be exactly true to the reality of the times.  Were your ancestors mine workers?