From a mining family, his grandfather, father, and three older brothers also worked as miners, one of his first jobs at the pit was working with the pit ponies.[3]
He worked at Bentinck Colliery, on the B6018 in the south-west of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, from 1965 to 1985.
The UDM was formed in 1985 after the miners' strike led to a split from the National Union of Mineworkers.
With Mick Stevens (UDM general secretary), Greatrex appeared in court on 20 May 2011, accused of stealing almost £150,000 from a fund intended to help sick miners.[4] Their trial began in March 2012. Greatrex abused his position as a trustee of the fund by paying for work on his own home.[5]
On 3 April 2012 the jury found Greatrex guilty of all 14 charges, they found Stevens not guilty.[6][7][8][9] Greatrex was advised by the judge to expect a custodial sentence.[7]
He was jailed for four years.[10]
In December 2012, Birmingham Crown Court ordered Greatrex to repay over £200,000.[11]
