CHAPS had advised on many mining and miners’ memorials in the country and abroad – then realised that although many towns and villages have their own memorial there was no national memorial that honoured all those who had worked in the coal industry – an industry that was central to the lives of thousands of people all over the UK and to the infrastructure of the country.

The memorial stands in its own beautiful site at the National Memorial Arboretum [NMA]National Memorial Arboretum It is 5m long x 2m high x 1m wide, is built of Derbyshire stone and has around it, replicating a drift mine, a frieze made up of 25 bronze plaques depicting the men, women and children who worked in the UK coal industry over hundreds of years. It recognises the colliers’ contribution to the two World Wars as tunnellers and as Bevin Boys. Research has discovered that 45 miners were awarded the Victoria Cross following the Great War, whilst two were awarded the same gallantry medal in WW2  

Mike Mellor, President of CHAPS, created an initial design which he and artist Andy DeComyn https://www.publicart.co.uk/ developed during 2017 and 2018. Mike approached the NMA in September 2018 regarding the proposal and subsequently submitted an initial presentation for consideration which, after further consultation with the NMA was given final approved in May 2019.  The group then embarked on raising £100,000 to make this a reality.

In March 2020, with just £6,000 in the bank – the country went into lockdown due to the Coronovirus Pandemic.

Mike led a small group – his wife Trish, committee members Len Prince, a former miner, and his wife Jackie – who set about raising the funds. They met on zoom, wrote, emailed, phoned, came up with ideas – and by May 2021 had raised the funds! Many individuals, Sir Michael Parkinson being one; and organisations, the NUM and several mining groups around the country amongst them; donated funds to sponsor the bronze plaques.

CHAPS produced their own film to promote the project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkqCV_ffhsw;   BBC Midlands Today reported on the fundraising efforts in a  broadcast on BBC News and CHAPS commissioned a piece of music, Grounded in Gratitude, which was then used to produce a film using archive footage of mining https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhF0HIIzM_0 , all of these have been very well received.

Those who donated plaques each received a plaster of paris replica of their particular plaque, coloured to reflect the bronze patina. They were presented at the NMA in August 2021, giving every donor the opportunity to view the memorial at their leisure and prior to the official unveiling.

The memorial was unveiled on September 3rd 2021 by HRH The Duke of Gloucester, KG GCVO accompanied by HRH the Duchess of Gloucester GCVO at a Dedication Service led by the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipcress, OBE, Bishop of Lichfield. Specially invited guests and a large number of the public were in attendance. The service was enhanced by music from Lea Hall Brass Band and Wolverhampton and Walsall Orpheus Male Voice Choirs. The dedication was filmed by national television networks

The memorial provides a focus for everyone – including former miners and their families – to reflect, to remember and to learn more. Crosses bearing names of individuals or groups, or remembering particular incidents, are often left at the memorial.  It has become one of the most visited at the NMA and is included in the commentary heard when using the land train there.

A book “A Nation’s Tribute” was written to go alongside the memorial. A recording of The Story of the Plaques is available here https://chaps.andygoodwin.net/projects/the-story-of-the-plaques/ and via a QR code on the plinth at the entrance to the memorial site.

On Remembrance Sunday each year, at 2.30pm, a short, personal service is held at the memorial.

A film of the making and dedication is available to see here

A Voice Recording

This recording was created to tell the story told by the twenty five bronze plaques that are a part of the National Miners’ Memorial (NMM), located at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) in Alrewas, Staffordshire. The plaques tell the story of the men, women and children who worked in the UK coal mining industry over hundreds of years and the work many miners undertook as tunnellers during the First World War.

It will be available to visitors to the NMM via a QR code that is at the site.

The story was written by CHAPS committee member Len Prince and is told by former miners and CHAPS committee members Len Prince and Alex Smith; a member of the Royal Engineers; Brian Elliott, Historian; CHAPS President Mike Mellor and Ian Dudson CBE, K St J, the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire. The commentary is accompanied by images of the plaques

https://youtu.be/ZB_-j5pT3oQ

This recording will ensure that the message conveyed by the NMM will be preserved for future generations. It will also add to the education and understanding of visitors to the NMM.

The story is available to visitors to the NMM at the NMA http://www.thenma.org.uk in Alrewas , Staffordshire via a QR code. Click on the link at the top of the page to view the recording

13th November 2022 – National Miners’ Memorial site at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas

Due to the success of the Remembrance Day Service in 2021, it was decided that this would become an annual event to honour the men women and children who worked and those UK coal miners who lost their lives in the UK minefields. The service also remembers those who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars.   

The service was taken by Lay Minister Wendy Pitt who spoke of the importance of remembering individuals who had worked in the UK coal mines and/or served in conflict for their country.

Numbers attending had grown from 2021 and the service was well attended by former miners; by some who had donated plaques on the memorial; by visitors to   and staff of the NMA and by Chase Arts for Public Spaces committee members. Members of Lea Hall and Brereton Collieries Memorial Society attended in their numbers, bringing with them three banners whilst Friends of Littleton Colliery came along with their brand new, striking banner. In addition, three former members of the Corps of Royal Engineers [to commemorate the tunnelling units that operated in WW1] attended and brought with them their flag.

The event was enhanced by the pipes being played by Andy DeComyn – a lament introduced the time of silence and his playing accompanied the laying of wreaths.  Andy designed and sculpted the 25 bronze plaques on the memorial.

The service was again very well received and ensured the courage and suffering of those who had lost their lives in UK coal mines as well as those who had given their lives in conflict would not be forgotten.

A Remembrance Service is planned at 2.30pm on 12th November 2023 and on Remembrance day each year going forward.

Produced as a lasting testament to the men, women and children who worked in the UK coal mining industry, this book was also written to complement the National Miners’ Memorial (NMM) located at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) in Alrewas Staffordshire. 

In addition to a history of UK coal mining, it contains details of every UK miner that was awarded the Victoria Cross in World War 1 and World War 2. We are told this is the only place where all 47 are listed in the same place. The book also tells the story of the bronze plaques that are a part of the NMM together with the names of donors [and their messages] that supported the building of the memorial.

The book was written and researched by four CHAPS committee members with help from historians Brian Elliott and Paul Bedford and contains a foreword by CHAPS President Mike Mellor BEM.   

Proceeds from the book have helped to fund the construction of the NMM. Copies have been donated to libraries across the UK to preserve the legacy of the coal mining industry. A number of individuals and Parish Councils have purchased books to donate to their local schools, thus further enabling young people to learn of the legacy of UK coal mining history

Books can be bought for £10.00 from:

 

CHAPS held their first Remembrance Day Service on 14th November 2021 to honour the men women and children who gave their lives in the UK minefields. The service also remembers those UK coal miners who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars.  

The service was taken by Lay Minister Wendy Pitt who spoke of the importance of remembering individuals who had worked in the UK coal mines and/or served in conflict for their country. It was attended by former miners; by some who had donated plaques on the memorial; by others who had helped along the journey and by Chase Arts for Public Spaces committee members. Members of Lea Hall and Brereton Collieries Memorial Society attended in their numbers, bringing with them two banners – one which is now 50 years old and their newest, very striking banner

Such was the feeling after the service that a decision was made that this should be an annual event held at the NMA and that it should always be held at 2.30pm, as this year’s was – 2.30pm is significant because that was the time of the changeover of day shift to afternoon shift at the coal mines throughout the UK.