Gleision mining memorial unveiled on second anniversary

A memorial to four men killed in a Swansea Valley mining tragedy two years ago has been unveiled.

David Powell, 50, Charles Breslin, 62, Philip Hill, 44, and Garry Jenkins, 39, died in Gleision drift mine when it flooded after a retaining wall failed.

The stone for the memorial plaque, organised by Ystalyfera's community council, was donated by a local quarry.

The second anniversary of the men's deaths is marked on Sunday.

The deaths at Gleision unfolded on a hillside above the village of Godregraig on Thursday 15 September 2011 and drew nationwide attention.

Three other miners managed to escape as the flood engulfed the drift mine.

It was hoped a rescue operation would find the four experienced miners alive but the men's bodies were discovered close together.

A rescue operation that hoped to find the miners alive discovered their bodies close together

Rosalyn Davies, a county councillor for the area, said the aim was to ensure people never forgot what happened.

Ms Davies said: "Three families are local. I know them. It will be quite personal really.

"It has moved on to a degree but we'll never forget."

A national mining memorial is due to be unveiled in Senghenydd in October and will include a line hoping the miners killed at Gleision will be the last.

The line was added after a backlash to the men not being included initially.