During 2009 there have been several events to mark the centenary of the worst coal disaster in our county. Bob Drake and I have involved ourselves in as much as we were able but mostly in connection with the town service held on 14th Feb at St Andrews Church, Stanley. This involved many local people all giving their time free of charge. We are proud this service cost not one penny. The only cost involved was for the caterinf for afterward to which we were aided by a few local councilors and monies raised by Bob nad myself.
AS 2009 draws to an end, the centenary year of the Burns Pit Disaster when 168 men and boys lost their lives, Co organiser Bob Drake and myself who arranged the centenary service at St Andrews Church, Stanley, would like to thank all those who helped make this service such a success.
Too many to mention but especially to -,
The ministers and clergy of St Josephs, The Methodist Church, the United Reform Church, Rev Austin Johnson, Rt Rev Mark Bryant (Bishop of Jarrow and others. The Annfield Plain Male Voice Choir, Craghead Colliery Band, David Hopper of the DMA, the Banner Groups of Craghead, Handondon Hold, Tanfield Lea, the GMB for the replica West Stanley Banner, and The Beamish Museum Resource Centre for the original West Stanley Banner, the DMA for their banner plus of course the DMM for bringing in and setting up of some of the banners. We would also like to thank Joe Wilson and the Stanley Co-operative Funeral Undertakers for their financial support toward the service memorial booklet, the United Reform Church for the use of their hall for the display and refreshments and the ladis of the St Andrews Church for their time baking and servingh, and the bell ringers for tolling the bells 168 times on the 16th Feb at he same time as Derwentsides service on the Kings Head Field.Bob and I have worked on this project for some considerable time before the centenary, and are both still receiving emails etc concerning the event. We hope schools and churches will continue to mark the event annually as the price paid by those who died and were seriously injured both then and since can never be forgotten Long Live The Durham Miner Jack Hair and Bob Drake.