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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 266 miners remembered 75 years on | 266 miners remembered 75 years on |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A series of events is being staged in Wrexham to commemorate the 75th anniversary of a mining disaster which killed 266 men. | A series of events is being staged in Wrexham to commemorate the 75th anniversary of a mining disaster which killed 266 men. |
| On 22 September, 1934, an explosion - possibly caused by a spark off a tool - ripped through Gresford colliery. | On 22 September, 1934, an explosion - possibly caused by a spark off a tool - ripped through Gresford colliery. |
| An air raid siren will sound in the town at 1100 BST, while Wrexham FC will play on Tuesday in commemorative shirts and will release 266 black balloons. | An air raid siren will sound in the town at 1100 BST, while Wrexham FC will play on Tuesday in commemorative shirts and will release 266 black balloons. |
| Albert Rowlands, 89, is thought to be the last survivor of the gas blast. | Albert Rowlands, 89, is thought to be the last survivor of the gas blast. |
| Mr Rowlands' father, John, was killed in the explosion, along with many who were "doubling up" that Friday to get time off to watch Wrexham play Tranmere Rovers the following day. | Mr Rowlands' father, John, was killed in the explosion, along with many who were "doubling up" that Friday to get time off to watch Wrexham play Tranmere Rovers the following day. |
| I was always hoping to see my dad...but he never came back Albert Rowlands, survivor | I was always hoping to see my dad...but he never came back Albert Rowlands, survivor |
| He said: "Us boys in the lamp room had to be there as soon as the men started arriving for work. | He said: "Us boys in the lamp room had to be there as soon as the men started arriving for work. |
| "We were cycling to work with my dad and he told us to get on or we'd be late so we went on ahead. | "We were cycling to work with my dad and he told us to get on or we'd be late so we went on ahead. |
| "He picked up his lamp at the other window so I never saw him again. | "He picked up his lamp at the other window so I never saw him again. |
| "Two others of his friends were with us and they were lost as well. They're all still down there." | "Two others of his friends were with us and they were lost as well. They're all still down there." |
| Recalling the rescue attempt that followed, Mr Rowlands said: "I was always hoping to see my dad. | Recalling the rescue attempt that followed, Mr Rowlands said: "I was always hoping to see my dad. |
| Albert Rowlands has not been down a mine since the disaster | Albert Rowlands has not been down a mine since the disaster |
| "You could always tell him even when they all looked alike, covered in coal dust, because he always had a big grin and lovely white teeth. | "You could always tell him even when they all looked alike, covered in coal dust, because he always had a big grin and lovely white teeth. |
| "But he never came back and his tally was left there hanging on its hook." | "But he never came back and his tally was left there hanging on its hook." |
| The likely cause was an explosion caused by a build-up of gas, chiefly methane. It was ignited at about 0200 BST, possibly by a spark from a metal tool in the 2,263 ft (690m) deep Dennis shaft. | |
| Every man on the shift was killed apart from six miners who managed to escape. By the next evening, three rescue workers had also been killed. | |
| The blast left 166 widows, and 229 children without fathers. | The blast left 166 widows, and 229 children without fathers. |
| In April 1937, at Wrexham Petty Sessions, 42 charges were laid against the colliery company, the manager and officials. | In April 1937, at Wrexham Petty Sessions, 42 charges were laid against the colliery company, the manager and officials. |
| Crowds gathered to hear news of loved ones after the blast | Crowds gathered to hear news of loved ones after the blast |
| Most were withdrawn or dismissed and the mine's management were guilty of inadequate record-keeping. | Most were withdrawn or dismissed and the mine's management were guilty of inadequate record-keeping. |
| On Tuesday, an air raid siren at Wrexham County Borough Museum will sound for two minutes at 1100 BST, to coincide with a memorial service at the Gresford Memorial. | On Tuesday, an air raid siren at Wrexham County Borough Museum will sound for two minutes at 1100 BST, to coincide with a memorial service at the Gresford Memorial. |
| Councillor Bob Dutton, the council's deputy leader, said: "The Gresford disaster is something that communities in Wrexham will never forget and we believe this is a fitting tribute to those men who so tragically lost their lives on that fateful morning. | Councillor Bob Dutton, the council's deputy leader, said: "The Gresford disaster is something that communities in Wrexham will never forget and we believe this is a fitting tribute to those men who so tragically lost their lives on that fateful morning. |
| "I hope many will choose this time to reflect on not only those who lost their lives but the resulting hardship and difficulties faced by those dependents left behind." | "I hope many will choose this time to reflect on not only those who lost their lives but the resulting hardship and difficulties faced by those dependents left behind." |
| Wrexham FC players will wear memorial shirts, and a minute's silence will be held before their match with Luton Town. | Wrexham FC players will wear memorial shirts, and a minute's silence will be held before their match with Luton Town. |
| The club will release a black balloon for each of the men who died and manager Dean Saunders will lay a wreath on the centre circle at The Racecourse. | |
| A programme about the disaster, Gresford - The Terrible Price is on BBC 2 Wales on Wednesday, 30 September, at 1900 BST. |