Maltby Miners Welfare Band recently led a parade to commemorate the closure of Maltby Colliery, 99 years after coal was first produced at the South Yorkshire pit.

Emotional

Hundreds of people joined the band to march from the mine into the village of Maltby, where wreaths were laid and a lump of coal buried at the town’s cemetery accompanied by an emotional rendition of the miners’ hymn, ‘Gresford’.

The band then marched back through the town to the Miners Welfare Hall joined by many former players, all wanting to pay their part in saying farewell to deep mining in Maltby.

The band has been associated with Maltby Colliery since 1911, and it was an honour to be asked to lead the paradeMD, Terry Clifford

Honour

MD, Terry Clifford told 4BR: "The band has been associated with Maltby Colliery since 1911, and it was an honour to be asked to lead the parade. The band was there at the beginning and the end, and will continue to carry the famous name."

Maltby are now looking forward to a busy summer, culminating in a concert at Rotherham’s Civic Theatre as well as attending the Durham Miners’ Gala and performing at the annual NUM Miners’ Memorial Service in October.