IT'S a dirty job but someone's got to do it, and Ingleton coalman Hugh Redhead does it better than anyone.

That was made official on Friday when Hugh, who manages the family firm Thomas Redhead Coal Merchants, beat off all competition to win the National Coalman of the Year Award.

The annual competition is run by the Solid Fuel Association, which incorporates the approved coal merchants scheme and the coal merchants federation covering the whole of the solid fuel industry in Britain.

Although Hugh had been nominated for the competition before, he had never been successful until this year when he was selected out of a thousand nominees as one of the 10 regional winners.

After being chosen as the best coalman in the North West, he was put forward for the national final in Warwick where he was awarded the first prize trophy and £1,000.

Hugh, who has been in the coal industry for 28 years, said he was proud to have won the award, particularly as the firm's customers were the ones to nominate him

He said a lot of letters had flooded in, and that one by Neil Warwick, of The Station Inn at Ribblehead had been picked out by the judges and made the official sponsor.

Watchful not to take all the glory though, Hugh said credit for the award must also go to his two dedicated workers Jim Kellett and Peter Kitchen.

He said: "Most of the judging was done on customer relations and service and I think it is here we did so well, as between us we've more than 100 years of experience.

Hugh added: "We are also part of the community now and I believe you can't buy respect and loyalty but have to earn it.

"We make a point of going every fortnight without fail to every surrounding village, and a lot of our customers say they could set their watches by our deliveries. If we go along and an old lady needs something doing like changing a light bulb, we'll do it as it's all part of the service."

Thomas Redhead Coal Merchants is a long-established firm in the Dales, with its roots dating back to 1822 as a fellmongers and skinners.

The firm started dealing in coal when Hugh's father Desmond took over the business about 50 years ago. Hugh added that it was still run as a family affair with his mother Irene and father still helping out with answering the phones.

Hugh added: "I've looked at the coal business as a challenge and you've got to be competitive in this industry to survive, which we are doing. I like to do everything to my best ability but at the same time I like to do my best for other people aswell."

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