Markham Mining Memorial Working Group Meeting MINUTES Wednesday 15 November 2017: 14:00 – 15:30 Markham Vale Environment Centre In attendance: Sandra Struggles; Sarah Chadwick – Duckmanton Primary; Sandra Pembleton; Roy & Margaret Moreton; Keith Bowman; Karen Millhouse – Derbyshire Record Office; Vicky Jacques; Graeme Challands; Elaine Tidd; Shane Cooper; Stephen Broadbent & Mandy Taylor – Broadbent Studios; Fran Smith & Kate Watson – Beam; Peter Storey & Jaimie Bingham – Derbyshire County Council; Ken Wain; Apologies: Councillor Tony King; Anne & John Ross; Wendy Stevenson; Rachael Botham; Sarah Chubb; Kerry Cooper;
1. July 2017 Installation • •
21 July 2017 unveiling was well attended A number of relatives attended – noted below
The following men were commemorated 1937 1. Ralph Marsden - 41 - Stallman 2. Edward Baggaley - 34 - Stallman 3. Frederick Roddy - 25 - Cutterman 4. Joseph Furniss - 28 - Stallman 5. Edmund Smith - 29 - Stallman 1938 1. Thomas Jones - 49 - Contractor 2. Enoch Jones - 21 - Contractor 3. Joseph Geary - 55 - Dataller (Funded by Netherthorpe School) Feedback from relatives: • Thank you so much for yesterday you had obviously put in so much hard work to make the event such a success. The way that you spoke about each individual miner was very touching and to see the statue with my grandads name on brought a tear to my eye. My Aunty Joan really enjoyed her afternoon out and loved talking about her dad and then she was on television how amazing was that. What a wonderful project it is to remember all those who lost their lives in the mines. Thanks so much for a very memorable afternoon. Sue •
Mrs Ainsworth rang to say that nothing has ever been done for her father until now and she is so grateful.
Good press coverage • Calendar news • Central News (East Midland version of Calendar) • Radio Sheffield – Toby Foster show • Derbyshire Times
Interpretation outside centre • At the last meeting we discussed information boards / signage outside the centre. As the Heritage Lottery application was successful this has been put on hold to ensure that all interpretation is connected. 2. Next group of figures • • •
Following a successful application the Duke of Devonshire Charitable Trust has awarded the project £7,500 which will support 5 figures Unveiling will take place on Wednesday 17 January 2018 14:00 – 16:00 – Cllr Tony King to officiate & Duke of Devonshire to attend – details to follow. Location – to extend the existing group off Enterprise Way
The following men who died in the 1938 disaster will be commemorated 1. Herbert Hargreaves Snr 48 Contractor 2. Herbert Hargreaves Jnr 27 Contractor 3. Leslie Hargreaves 23 Contractor 4. Albert Ernest Rodgers - 19 Haulage Hand 5. Robert Henry Wood - 22 Haulage Hand In addition Henry Boot Developments have offered to support one further figure as part of this group – 6. Arthur Henson, 45, Ripper - will be the sixth man commemorated ACTION: Beam to provide name details to Broadbents and contact known relative
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We currently hold 5 figures in store awaiting sponsorship and there is the potential to order another 10 before financial yearend (Mar 2018). This would bring the number in store to 15 and we would then need to seek funding retrospectively to pay for these and their installation. There are economies of scale in taking this approach. It will also keep costs down if we can agree the names of the 15 men in advance so that the miners tags can be pre-fabricated. The working group discussed the best approach to naming these figures. It was agreed that the approach to naming would be first to collate a list of all those who have living relatives that we are in contact with. These take precedence. If we don’t have enough current contacts it was suggested that commemorating those who died in the 1973 disaster should take priority as these men are most likely to have living relatives in the local area. Below is a list of all the men that we currently have a known contact for. Thanks to Sandra Struggles for providing this information. We propose that these men will all be commemorated in the next group (subject to further fundraising).
1938 1. John Henry Bradford 2. John Brown
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
John Arnold Bray Arthur Henson Arthur May John McConnon James Stanley Rowland Robert Simms
1973 9. Clarence Briggs 10. Michael Kilroy ACTION: Beam to check all name details are correct against records. Contact relatives as appropriate and provide all name records to Broadbent Studios so they can progress with fabrication. 3. Fundraising & Engagement •
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New website is live and includes link to a ‘MyDonate’ online giving site so the public can make donations. We are in the process of registering for gift aid with HMRC to maximise contributions https://walkingtogether.org.uk/ Please note this is a holding webpage only and will be replaced in the future as the Story Mine project progresses It has been agreed that a link to the website donate page will be circulated within the Coal Board pension scheme newsletter. Facebook page now has over 80 members and is becoming more active https://www.facebook.com/groups/769870329844412/ Roy Moreton suggested the Aviva Fund could be a potential source of funding – ACTION: Beam to research https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/user/aboutthecompetition ACTION: Beam to connect Walking Together Facebook page with Duckmanton School Facebook page (Sarah Chadwick) https://www.facebook.com/DuckmantonPrimary/ ACTION: PS to make enquiries to see if any Section 106 underspend from local councils can be used. Also new houses being built at Duckmanton – S106? ACTION: Beam to revisit potential sponsor businesses in local area i.e. McDonalds ACTION: CISWO – Elaine Tidd – to provide a contact
4. The Story Mine - HLF • • •
Exciting news that Heritage Lottery fund have supported ‘The Story Mine’ with a £35k grant – a press release has now gone out to local media Thank you to the working group for your support with submission – particularly those who supplied letters of support for the bid ACTION: Ken Wain - looking into press coverage via Sheffield papers. Beam to follow up re Sheffield Star paper – Retro feature – contact is Julia Armstrong
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ACTION: Sandra Struggles to write to Derbyshire Times and add article to facebook page – another call out for families Artist Stephen Broadbent reiterated his vision for Story Mine resource. Many people injured / killed outside of the 3 disasters – The Story Mine should capture those plus the relatives’ stories. More celebratory about mining life – wider context. Need a story teller/editor/director that distils and focuses the mass of stories for a visitor to the website / place – film / music / poetry / book – captures the spirit – digestible. Different levels of access into archive – what people relate to
ABOUT THE PROJECT ‘The Story Mine’ is a 12-month project (Nov ’17 - Nov ’18) enabling the public of all ages and backgrounds to discover, experience and appreciate the mining heritage of the area of the former Markham Colliery in Derbyshire. This will be achieved through a programme of research and community engagement, the development of heritage resources - both physical and virtual and sharing events. AIMS • To research, reveal and promote Markham’s mining heritage for local residents of all ages and for visitors • To create a lasting legacy of remembrance of the three major disasters at the colliery in 1937, 1938 and 1973 and wider mining heritage of the area through online and print resources • To develop new relationships with, and spark interest in heritage amongst, individuals, schools, community groups, organisations and sites connected historically to Markham and its mining heritage TWO ROLES • Two freelance workers are currently being recruited to work on the project • Community Engagement Worker • Graphics and Web Lead • Currently being advertised deadline 11 Dec with interviews on 18 December • There is space for 2 working group members to be part of the recruitment panel alongside Peter Storey and Beam • Thanks to Sandra Pembleton and Elaine Tidd who both offered to be on the panel. • ACTION: Beam to provide further details to Sandra and Elaine The project has three phases RESEARCH & GATHER • Volunteers supported by a Community Engagement Worker and Derbyshire Record Office to consolidate information already held about the disasters • Raise project profile through physical and online means in order to source new contacts and further information from families and community members to identify the miners’ stories. Facebook group expanded • The Community Engagement worker central point of contact • Community working group and other interested parties will have the opportunity to research from archives and other sources DRO & EMOHA
DISCOVER & LEARN • Learning programme featuring open events held in local community settings, as well as with specific targeted community groups and schools. • Volunteers and young people from local schools will be trained to support with the recording and gathering of oral histories & photo portraits for web • Oral history gathering will be thoroughly planned to include devising of questions and interviewing techniques, digital recording considerations, copyright forms, cataloguing information, and summaries and transcripts SHARE & REMEMBER – • Final component of the project will see the production of the Storymine website and e-publication (incl. limited hard copy print run) • Digital archive, a website which will act as a space to document the stories of mining heritage, produced by a graphics and web design contractor • Celebration and sharing events will also be delivered. • Longer term ambition (beyond the life of this project) is that each of the stories can be linked via QR code technology to the memorial figures as the Walking Together project progresses. Volunteers Opportunities • Minimum of 6 volunteers required for research stage – also volunteering opportunities to get involved with supporting delivery of community events • Training and research sessions at Derbyshire Record Office • East Midlands Oral History Archive training session at Environment Centre • Different levels of time commitment possible for volunteering opportunities. • ACTION: Beam to collate list of those interested in volunteering opportunities • Working group to be offered the first chance to be involved – then promote more widely. Potential for students to get involved. AOB • • • •
ACTION: Other research projects? AHRC – maybe some connections - Beam to follow up Sandra Struggles attended unveiling of Poolsbrook new war memorial – 5 miners from 1938 Markham Pit disaster / 1 & 2nd world war / pigeon club – carrier pigeons ACTION: Beam to add any new contacts to working group spreadsheet of contacts. Update miners list with contacts of known relatives. ACTION: Beam to send round news article about Storymine press coverage