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Gala celebrates Leicestershires mining heyday
Posted on 14/09/11
Adults & Communities
Gala celebrates Leicestershires mining heyday
***Photo Opportunity: Miners Gala at Snibston Discovery Museum at 10.30am on Saturday 17th September***Leicestershire is the place to be this weekend as the countys mining heritage is celebrated at this years annual Miners Gala at Snibston Discovery Museum in Coalville.
The museum itself was a former colliery that served as one of the most important coal mines in the country up until the 1980s.
Snibston Discovery will open its doors to visitors free of charge on Saturday September 17th.
The Miners Gala is a traditional community event organised by Leicestershire County Council, and sponsored by Leicestershire Area NUM and Leicestershire Miners Trust Fund. This will be the fourth year it has been re-created since the original celebrations ceased in the 1980s.
The Gala is an opportunity to remember and celebrate all things mining and provides a great platform to educate the younger generation on what life was like for the mining communities. It provides a great fun filled day for the whole family to enjoy.
Snibston Discovery Museum which includes the former Snibston Colliery, created by George Stephenson, was scheduled by the government as one of five nationally important sites in Britain in 1999. The museum owned by Leicestershire County Council, attracts over 100,000 visitors a year and hosts some of Leicestershires biggest events including those at the heart of the community such as its Miners Gala.
One person who knows all to well about Leicestershires mining history is former miner, John Unwin. John is now a Colliery Guide at the museum. He was the third generation of his family to work in Leicestershires coal mines. John said:
For decades children growing up in the mining communities used to look forward to the Miners Gala and it is fantastic that our children today can experience some of that now. It was the biggest social event for the mining community of the time.
I thoroughly enjoyed working in Leicestershires mines even though the working conditions were dangerous, there was a great sense of community feeling and we all worked like we were part of one family.
Snibston captures everything to do with mining history and brings it back to life so that it can be preserved for future generations to see and enjoy.
The fantastic line-up at this years Gala includes:
- Blade dancing displays from the six Jolly Miners
- Folk singers Box Fox and Benny Graham will be performing "How are you for Coals?"
- Colliery tours
- Mining memorabilia and local heritage group stands
- Expressions Dance Group
- Horticultural Show
- Dog Show (no dogs will be allowed into the museum buildings)
- Performances from Leicestershire Co-op Snibston Band
- Have-a-go workshops with Leicestershire Co-op Band
- Ferret Racing
- Leicester City Male Voice Choir
- Have-a-go archaeological dig
- Children's interactive bee workshops
- Children's balloon race
A variety of food and refreshments will be available and the Century Theatre bar will also be open for service. Local radio station Hermitage FM will compere the event.
Avid gardeners can test their green fingered skills at the Old Leicestershire Miners Horticultural Show. Judging will start at 11am, with a range of prizes to reward the entrants' finest home-grown fruit, vegetables and flowers. Categories for cakes and jams and flower arrangements are also available at the Horticultural Show, including a section for children. Interested parties can obtain a list of categories from Snibston, either in person or by calling 01530 278444. Entries must be registered by 10am on the day. You can also download information for the different categories for the Horticultural show and the dog show on the website: www.snibston.com/minersgala
For further information, please contact Permjit Mann on 0116 305 6242. A detailed background to Snibston and its mining heritage is available on-line at www.snibston.com
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