David Read MBE will be joining 4BR Editor Iwan Fox on BBC Radio Wales this morning to discuss plans for brass bands to commemorate the forthcoming centenary of the fateful Senghenydd Colliery Disaster and lives lost in the mining industry in the UK over the past 100 years.
Roy Noble Show
They will be interviewed on the Roy Noble Show between 11.00am and 11.30am to discuss the strong historic link between the banding movement and mining communities, and the initiative proposed by David and Ian Brownbill for small groups, ensembles and bands 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.
Disaster
The Senghenydd Colliery Disaster, on the 14th October 1913 saw the greatest loss of life in British coal mining history, when 439 men and boys—including eight 14 year olds, were killed by an explosion at the Universal Colliery in South Wales.
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.
David Read MBE has a strong family connection with the small valley’s town and later found out that family members had been killed in the disaster.
The acquittal of the owners was challenged through the courts, where they were eventually fined £10 with £5 & 5 shillings costs4BR
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.
On line
The radio show can be listened on line at:
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