Restored pit disaster serviette donated to museum

Former miner John Greaves (centre) found the serviette inside a book with his late friend John Beard. He is pictured with Mr Beard's widow Marie and Jonathan Kindleysides from Beamish Museum

A poignant reminder of one of the worst mining disasters in County Durham has been donated to a museum ahead of the anniversary of the tragedy.

The explosion at West Stanley Colliery on 16 February 1909 claimed the lives of 168 men and boys.

A commemorative serviette made from crepe paper and bearing all their names was discovered folded up in a book a couple of years ago.

Following its restoration on the BBC series The Repair Shop, it will now go on display at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.

Commemorative items such as the serviette were often created following mining disasters to help raise funds for families.

This one was found by former miners John Greaves and his late friend John Beard, who gave talks on mining heritage.

'Sombre reminder of dangers'

Mr Greaves, who is from Seaham Harbour but now lives near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, said it was found inside a book that was among a number of books given to the men.

"I think it was probably two years before it was found," he said.

"It's made of crepe paper, luckily it survived.

"We took it to The Repair Shop, when we got it back it was amazing, it really was beautiful."

The original serviette, which was found folded up inside a book

John Beard and John Greaves hold the restored framed serviette, which featured on BBC series The Repair Shop. With them are the programme's Will Kirk and Angelina Bakalarou

He said it was always their intention for it to be returned to the area, and Beamish Museum is just over a mile (1.6km) from the former West Stanley Colliery.

It will be displayed in the lamp cabin in the museum's 1900s Pit Village, which tells the story of the region's mining communities.

Jonathan Kindleysides, Beamish's head of industry, said: "We are thrilled to receive such a poignant donation, with such a fascinating story.

"It is a sombre reminder of the dangers coal miners faced on a daily basis."

The disaster was caused by an underground explosion

Beamish Museum will hold an act of remembrance in its 1900s Pit Village chapel on Saturday to commemorate the disaster.

There will also be a service at the memorial site in Stanley, County Durham, on Sunday to mark the anniversary.