Collieries War Memorial Re-dedication Service

10358884_779969788734004_1141974206652148913_nOn a day blessed with fine and sunny weather the re-dedication of the Kiveton Park Collieries War Memorial took place on Sunday 5th October.

The Service was led by the Rev Gary Schofield, assisted by Bob Lund.   Chair of the Development Trust Steph Hryschko introduced the proceedings which was attended by many members of the community along with our local MP Sir Kevin Barron and the Lord and Lady Mayor of Rotherham.

The music for the service was kindly supplied by the Maltby Miners Welfare brass band along with a wonderful contribution from the Wales High School singers.  Children from local schools also contributed to the event by creating artwork which was all put on display on the day. Many of the Children also wrote letters to the fallen, some of which were read out by the children themselves during the service.

The Chair of the Parish council ( Cllr Michael Brabbs ) read out the names of the sixty one men on the memorial and this was followed by a scout leader playing the last post as a Union Jack was lowered and a lighted miners lamp was hung beneath the memorial.

The Memorial is one of only two left in the country still in situ on a former colliery building, the other being in Durham. Making it the only one left in Yorkshire.

The Development Trust along with the Kiveton and Wales History Society secured funding from the War Memorials Trust to employ a specialist to renovate the memorial and the re-dedication service was the culmination of that work.

Please see our photo Gallery for further images from the day.