Memorial service held to mark 83rd anniversary of the Gresford Mining Disaster

Crowds gathered this morning to mark the 83rd anniversary of the Gresford Mining Disaster and to pay their respects to those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

The annual ceremony was held at the Gresford Memorial in Pandy, with relatives of those who lost their lives, MP Ian Lucas, councillors and school children gathering shortly before 11am to commemorate those who died on September 22 1934.

Led by Revd Huw Butler the ceremony featured prayers and tributes to the men who lost their lives and the relatives who lost loved ones exactly 83 years ago.

The service also a performance of the famous miner’s hymn ‘Gresford’ written by Robert Saint, by Llay Miner’s Welfare Band – along with artefacts from the Gresford Colliery presented by local school children.

Speaking this morning, Revd Butler paid tribute to those who tragically lost their lives, stating that “their legacy is our heritage”.

Revd Butler also commented on the mines still operating across the world, drawing particular attention to the use of child exploitation some countries.

Exactly 83 years ago to the day, 266 men tragically lost their lives due a large underground explosion of the Dennis shaft – leaving hundreds across the area without their fathers, husbands, uncles, grandfathers and sons.

Only 11 bodies were ever recovered. To this day 255 men still lay beneath Wrexham.

Prior to to the disaster there was controversy surrounding the condition of the mine and the exploitation of miners. It was later revealed that wage packets of the dead miners were docked quarter of a shift’s pay for failure to complete the shift.

Gresford was thankfully the trigger for many mining reforms and improvements.

Many miners who were Wrexham FC fans swapped shifts that day to make sure they could make the game with tragic consequences. The club also used to alter kick off times to accommodate miners coming from work.