I joined hundreds of people to commemorate the ten miners who lost their lives in the Golborne mining disaster 40 years ago.

-John McKenna
-Colin Dallimore
-Joe Berry
-Desmond Edwards
-Patrick Grainey
-Peter Grainey
-Brian Sherman
-Bernard Trimble
-Raymond Hill
-Walter McPherson

Our mining communities across the Lancashire coalfield share a proud heritage and the same values, and those were very evident at this event. A procession led by the local brass band, clergy including the Bishop of Liverpool, families and the National Union of Mineworkers moved past the site of the pit, where family members laid flowers, before arriving at St Thomas’s Church for a moving service.

I want to thank all those who have supported the Golborne ex-miners and worked to commemorate and preserve the memory of those who died in the disaster, in particular Brian Eden, Eric Foster and my good friend Colin Rooney. And I especially want to pay tribute to Brian Rawsthorne.

It is important for us to remember that terrible day and to keep supporting workers today who still need to fight for safety and protection at work.