Star date: 28th May 2016

HUNDREDS GREET THE UNVEILING OF MINERS BENCH AND MEMORIAL

"Have a seat, but as you do have a thought or two for the mine workers of the Irwell Valley..." Brian Stott 

Hundreds of people turned out this afternoon for the unveiling of another fitting memorial to the men, women and boys who worked at Salford's Irwell Valley pits. The memorial – a bench featuring a beautifully carved figure of a miner and a lamp – was unveiled by ex-Agecroft Colliery workers and the Ceremonial Mayor of Salford.

Full details here...

A brass band played as the community, including ex-Agecroft Colliery workers and their families, turned out in force this afternoon at Swinton Civic Centre to see the unveiling of a memorial to miners who worked in the pits of the Irwell Valley.

"Over the years many thousands of men, women, boys and girls worked in those coal mines, very many suffered serious injury and far too many paid the ultimate price, especially the 178 men and boys who perished in the awful explosion at the Clifton Hall Colliery back in June 1885" ex-Agecroft miner Alex Channon told the crowd "Today we unveil this fitting tribute to all those who toiled in these coal mines and also that we can remember the rich heritage and history of coal mining in and around Swinton."

The memorial, with funds raised by the Friends of Agecroft Colliery, consists of a bench with a beautifully carved miner and lamp, together with a stone plaque commemorating those who worked at pits including Wheatsheaf, Pendleton, Newtown, Clifton Hall, Sandhole, Agecroft and Wet Earth, which dates back to the 1700s. They were unveiled by former Agecroft Colliery workers and the Ceremonial Mayor, Councillor Karen Garrido.

Before the unveiling and dedication of the memorial, a speech was read out by former Salford NUM secretary, Jim Lord, on behalf of Brian Stott, who was there but couldn't speak publicly through ill health. Brian's son, Adam, tragically died at Agecroft in 1981, and his colliery number is engraved on the side of the bench's lamp. Brian's words were evocative and poignant...

"People of Swinton and Pendlebury, please tell your children about us; tell them about those who have gone before, of the blood sweat and tears they shed in order to make this a better place" he wrote "Take them on the heritage trail...and to St Augustine's Church to look at the memorial to 178 men and boys who perished at Clifton Hall.

"The mining families of the past fought, suffered and died for the rights we now enjoy" he added "Please don't let them down."

* The memorial at Salford Civic Centre now joins the memorials at the site of the former Agecroft Colliery (see here) and Clifton Hall Colliery (see here).