Pit victims remembered 20 years on

And this month, the tragic anniversary will be a time of reflection and memories in the pit village.

Former NUM branch president Eric Foster and Rita Williams are finalising details of the parade and service on Sunday, March 21, at St Thomas' parish church where a special stained glass window honours the miners.

It was March 18, 1979, when tragedy struck in Golborne and shattered the pit village.

Eric Foster remembers the day vividly.

A diesel fitter, he was underground when an explosion killed miners working in the Plodder Seam.

"I knew most of the lads involved and find it hard taking about what happened," said Eric.

Along with others Eric helped with the rescue.

Three men died outright that Sunday morning: John McKenna, Colin Dallimore and John Berry. The others who died later in hospital were brothers Patrick and Peter Grainey, Raymond Hill, Brian Sherman, Bernard Trumble, Desmond Edwards and Walter McPherson.

An inquiry report said a spark ignited a build-up of gasses as maintenance work was carried out.

In 1980 - a year after the Sunday morning tragedy - the stained glass window was dedicated at St Thomas'.

The interdenominational service was conducted by the Bishop of Liverpool, Rt Rev. David Sheppard, and the preacher was Rt Rev Joseph Gray, auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool.

The window cost £4,000 and was commissioned by the NW area of the NUM and depicts twin towers, a pit headgear and a church tower.

In his sermon Bishop Gray said the window was in memory of "the ten men whose lives were devoted to the provision of light and energy for the benefit of the community."

He added: "What a debt of gratitude we all owe to those gallant men."

And on each anniversary the miners have been remembered.

On March 21, the parade will leave the Queen Anne at 1.45pm, headed up by the Golborne Band. The service starts at 2.30pm and will be attended by the Bishop of Warrington, local clergy and Parkside Male Voice Choir.

Eric and Rita would like as many former pitmen, family and friends to attend the service which, unlike previous years, is non-ticket. Contact Eric on 729587 for more information. Rita Williams knows the heartache of the pit disaster.

She comes from a pit family, along with her husband, who took part in the rescue and helped take the victims to hospital.

"That terrible day is talked about yet. The men remember their friends and chat about the past.

"We are still close like we were when it was a mining village.

"But now the pit's gone Golborne has died.

"It's not just the jobs. The closure affected the shops, the barbers, the pie shop...all the amenities."

But Rita promised: "We will never forget those lads who died - no matter what happens in Golborne."

And Eric Foster hopes the Golborne NUM banner will be flying again at the parade.

He'd lost track of the banner but now knows it is on display at the Leigh Miners Institute.

"The lads there have told me they will be proud for us to use it at the parade and service."

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