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Bilsthorpe memorial marks 30 years since mining disaster

BBC Bilsthorpe memorial serviceBBC
Organisers said it might be the last such service as many of the original miners had died.

A memorial service has been held to remember the victims of a mining tragedy in Nottinghamshire.

Bill McCulloch, 26, David Shelton, 31, and Peter Alcock, 50, died when the roof of a gallery at Bilsthorpe Colliery collapsed on 18 August 1993.

Three other men were rescued in a 12-hour operation. It was one of the last fatal colliery accidents in the UK.

A procession took place from Bilsthorpe Bowls Club to the site of the former colliery.

Rescue vehicle
Specialist rescue teams were brought in to help with the operation

The service was held at the top of Pit Lane at 11:00 BST, the time that the tragedy happened.

Organiser Stephen Crane, 69, worked down in the pits for 25 years and was part of the rescue operation on the day of the disaster.

"We had to build a 2ft tunnel and work our way forward to help the trapped men, then it turned to a retrieval of the dead," he told the BBC.

"It is a shocking memory to have but we have got to live with it."

The former miner said he continues to suffer and cannot "do any sort of confined spaces".

Bilsthorpe Colliery 1993
The pit was struggling to be profitable and shut four years after the accident

Mr Crane said the service had been funded by an anonymous donation from a former miner and people of Bilsthorpe had also donated food.

He added it could be the last memorial of this scale because many of the former miners have died.

"I'm keen that this continues, but we're all getting older and there are less and less of us," Mr Crane explained.

"The first time I did this, we had about 800 people attend, the previous was about 450.

"It could have happened to any of us down there... that is the reason we started this to keep the memory of Bilsthorpe Pit Colliery going."

Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum Memorial wheelBilsthorpe Heritage Museum
A museum helps preserve memories of the mine and the miners, including 77 who died working there

David Shelton died trying to rescue others and received the George Medal.

Davida Shelton, who was born after the death of her father, said she was touched by the effort people had gone to.

"This is just amazing, knowing that our dad is kind of living on because we share stories and I've got kids who learn about it.

"But it is so nice that the community comes together and remembers it too."

Ray Thompson also received the George Medal for the rescue attempts.

"It's not about bravery or anything like that, it is just something you have got to do.

"If someone is in trouble, you just have to do it and that's it."

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