Annual memorial service for Gresford Mining Disaster to go ahead with restrictions in place

An annual service of remembrance to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Gresford Mining Disaster will take place this month.

The event will take place at the memorial on Bluebell Lane, Pandy at 11am on 22 September.

However this year only children and grandchildren of the Gresford Colliery Disaster victims are being invited to attend the 11am service.

Anyone else wishing to pay their respects is asked to do so after midday.

The Gresford Colliery disaster was one of Wrexham’s greatest tragedies – with almost every village in the county borough losing someone.

On September 22nd 1934 an explosion tore through the Dennis section of the colliery – leading to the death of 266 men.

Over 200 rescue workers were sent down in an effort to rescue the miners. All they recovered were 11 bodies – three of them belonging to the first rescue team. One of the rescuers described that mine as being ‘just like hell’.

The explosion left 200 widowed, 800 fatherless and 1,600 jobless.

This year marks the 86th anniversary of the tragic event.