THE family of a former miner and tour guide have paid tribute to the man who ‘always had a smile on his face’, following his death.
Graham Stringfellow, 60, was found in the Manvers area last Saturday morning after being registered missing from his home.
He left his house at 2.45am last Thursday morning and was found after a wide-ranging search by family, friends and appeals on social media.
Graham’s daughter Donna, 32, said she wanted to thank the person who found Graham on Saturday, as well as South Yorkshire Police, who she says were ‘brilliant’.
She paid tribute to her father, who she says was always laughing and making jokes.
“He told the worst jokes ever,” Donna, of Challenger Crescent, Thurnscoe, said. “He was constantly joking and would pull this face so I knew when he was trying to be funny. His work mates loved his cheeky smile and jokes.
“He was a great granddad and a brilliant dad. He would help you wherever he could.
“Mining was his life and when he left the pit he loved the outdoors, and was always on the Trans Pennine Trail on his bike.”
Graham went to Dearne High School in Goldthorpe and started his first job at Highgate Colliery in 1974, working as an apprentice electrician alongside his dad and brother.
He spent the best part of his life working at various pits, including Manvers, Hickleton and Thurnscoe, before taking on a role at the National Coal Mining Museum in 2012 working as an electrical engineer and leading tours around the museum, based at Caphouse Colliery in Wakefield.
As a tour guide Graham was loved by guests for his sense of humour.
Having been given the nickname of ‘Kebab’ after an accident at work, he was always quick to tell people he also had a daughter named Donna.
He leaves Janet, his wife of 15 years, two brothers, David and Stephen, a sister, Barbara, a son, Craig, and two daughters, Donna and Hannah.
Graham also leaves two stepchildren, two grandsons and one granddaughter, and three step grandchildren.
A Sheffield Wednesday fan, the club will pay tribute to Graham at half-time during this Saturday’s match.
The death is not being treated as suspicious by police.
