BBC ON THIS DAY | 30 | 1986: Coal mine canaries made redundant
Miners are said to be saddened by the latest set of redundancies in their industry but do not intend to dispute the decision. The removal of the canaries will end a mining tradition in Britain dating back to 1911, since when two canaries have been employed by each pit. They are so ingrained in the culture miners report whistling to the birds ...