Centenary of tragic Birmingham miners is honoured
A CITY Church will tonight commemorate the 100th anniversary of a tragic mine disaster which claimed 26 lives.
The service at St Paul's Church, Walsall Road, Great Barr, is the centrepiece of a week-long festival to remember the Hamstead colliery fire.
Youngsters from Holy Name RC School are among local primary school children being given a guide to the disaster and the area's mining heritage.
They were shown a range of displays, including a recreation of a mine, and talked with a former miner about life in the pit.
Tonight's commemoration, starting at 7.30pm, includes a short service, at which a miner's lamp will be lit and placed on the altar, followed by a talk from local historian Peter Allen for the Barr and Aston Local History Society.
The church will also open its doors to the public on Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
