Tribute to men in pit disaster
12:07pm Saturday 23rd December 2006 in News By Staff Reporter
TRIBUTEs have been paid to 344 men and boys who lost their lives in the worst pit disaster in Bolton's history.
More than 100 people gathered to mark the 96th anniversary of an explosion at the Pretoria Pit in Westhoughton.
Descendants of those killed were among a crowd of people who attended a memorial service St Bartholomew's Parish Church, yesterday.
Disaster struck in the mine at Hulton Colliery at 7.50am, on December 21, 1910, as the community prepared for Christmas.
An explosion ripped through an underground mine shaft, causing a massive collapse and trapping hundreds of men and boys inside.
The massive death toll has left its mark on Westhoughton ever since.
Yesterday, churchgoers sat in silence as they watched slides showing images of the disaster and its aftermath.
Andrea Finney, aged 40, read a poem that she had penned in memory of five family members who died in the tragedy. The congregation joined together for prayers and hymns.
The Mayor of Westhoughton, Cllr George Penny laid a wreath at the memorial to the disaster, in the church yard.
Descendants also laid wreaths in memory of their family members.
Cllr Penny said: "I'm very thankful to see how many people have turned out today. It is wonderful that so many still come to pay their respects. It was a lovely, fitting service and it is a great honour for me to lay a wreath here today."
A copy of Mrs Finney's poem is to be displayed in Westhoughton Library, on Library Street, in the new year.
