The West Stanley pit disaster is remembered 116 years on, honoring 168 lost miners with a moving community event.
The West Stanley pit disaster occurred in 1909. One hundred sixty-eight men and boys perished. Some were only thirteen and others sixty-six. The community still remembers them and they held a moving event for their lives.
The Beamish Choir and Craghead Band played music. Local leaders like Stanley’s mayor and Councilor Carole Hampson attended and paid their respects.
Councillor Hampson spoke at the memorial, saying they remember the 168 victims. An explosion killed them in the pit, which was one of the worst mining disasters. They hold this event every year.
The disaster happened around 3:45 p.m. The service began at 3:30 p.m. at the West Stanley Colliery Disaster Memorial. They observed a minute of silence at 3:45 p.m. St Andrew’s Church bells tolled 168 times and the Craghead Colliery band played hymns. People laid wreaths after the service.
Kevin Keegan also has a connection; he unveiled the memorial in 1995. His grandfather, Frank Keegan, acted bravely during the rescue. Frank saved twenty-six lives, and he went back underground after his own rescue.