Leading figures in the brass band world are hoping to put together plans to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Senghenydd Colliery Disaster, which on the 14th October 1913 saw the greatest loss of life in British coal mining history.

Explosion

439 men and boys – including eight 14 year olds, were killed by an explosion at the Universal Colliery in South Wales, caused by the lethal build up of firedamp gas which ignited in conditions that did not meet the rudimentary requirements of the 1911 Coal Mines Act.

Both the Mine Manager and owners of the Universal Colliery Company were subsequently prosecuted, although the paltry £24 fine that was eventually imposed produced the newspaper headline, 'Miners' Lives at 1 shilling 1½ pence'.

The acquittal of the owners was challenged through the courts, where they were eventually fined £10 with £5 & 5 shillings costs.

More fuss

One surviving miner later commented: "My father always said there was more fuss if a horse was killed underground than if a man was killed. Men came cheap — they had to buy horses."

Links

Adjudicator and former miner David Read MBE, hopes that with the strong historic link between the banding movement and mining communities throughout the UK, bands will take the opportunity to play the miner’s hymn, ‘Gresford’ near to, or at, former coal mine locations on Sunday 13th October, as an act of solidarity and commemoration.

"Brass bands emerged from coal mining communities throughout Britain," he told 4BR.

"And there cannot be many bands or banding families that haven’t been touched by the loss of life or terrible injury in the production of coal in the past 100 years or more. This would be a wonderful way to show that the connection between brass bands and those communities still remains."

David was born in Senghenydd and later found out that family members had been killed in the disaster. "At least two extended family members were killed, so it remains a very emotional centenary in many other ways too."

My father always said there was more fuss if a horse was killed underground than if a man was killed. Men came cheap — they had to buy horses1913 Senghenydd survivor

Albert Hall

4BR understands that it is hoped that is may also be possible for a small ensemble to play the hymn tune on the stage of the Royal Albert Hall before the announcement of the results of the National Championships too – less than 48 hours before the exact 100th anniversary of the fateful time of 8.00am on Monday morning.

David added: "That would be a wonderful gesture at the most high profile competition in the banding world – a true response from the whole brass band movement to the mining communities of Britain."

Pit heads and memorials

It is hoped that in the next few weeks, further details will be announced to encourage bands to seek out former coal mine sites and memorials and to send images of them playing to banding media such as 4Barsrest to publish.

Evocative

Another active supporter Ian Brownbill added: "Just to play the hymn tune at such evocative locations will not only be such an emotional way to commemorate a terrible event, but to also show the banding movement’s continued support and involvement in mining communities throughout the country."