Miners mark 50th anniversary of annual event

Ninety four of the members attended the get together to celebrate the 50th anniversary

A group of dozens of ex-miners who have met up for 50 years in a row said it was "very special" to keep their memories alive.

Their latest event took place at the Victoria Working Men's Club in Hednesford, Staffordshire.

The annual gathering first started in 1974 at West Cannock No 5 Colliery, in the town, with about 60 electricians.

When the pit closed in 1982, the workforce transferred to Littleton Colliery in Cannock and Lea Hall Colliery in Rugeley and workers from both mines joined the event on Saturday.

Barry Lycett, one of the original organisers, said conditions were tough in the mines

To mark the anniversary, a number of commemorative mementos were commissioned and handed out to attendees, along with two 50th anniversary cakes.

"The first one, it was just the electricians," said Barry Lycett, one of the original organisers.

"A couple of years later the mechanics asked if they could join and it sort of expanded from there.

"Although the conditions could be really rough the camaraderie was absolutely brilliant."

Ex-miner Sam Grainger said it was special to keep the ex-miners' memories alive

"At one time there were 240,000 miners on the Chase," added ex-miner Sam Grainger, referring to the Cannock Chase area.

"It was the biggest coalfield in the country so it was huge.

"For us to get together and have those memories, they are very special."