By Penny Thompson, Community Organiser
I have recently been supporting Silverwood Colliery Heritage Group with setting up a formalised group, I have given them advice, support and guidance on how to become a constituted group and setting up a bank account as well as securing public liability insurance for any activities or events that they may deliver.
The group have recently secured £250 from Wickersley ward funding which they hope to use to purchase resources such as display boards and pull up banners. The group are also looking to raise funds by selling t-shirts, keyrings, photo frames and Silverwood Colliery commemorative cups with pit workers numbers on them for ex-miners, family members and anyone else interested in supporting the group.
I also supported the group with structuring their meetings, 3-month action plans, a 1-year strategy plan and building collaborative partnerships with Clifton Museum and other local organisations. The group has been approached by a local historian film maker who is interested in documenting the stories of the miners and their families.
The group have recently held a memorial service for the 10 miners who died in 1966 in the Silverwood ‘paddy mail’ disaster on 3rd February 2020. There were over 60 residents who attended the event where the Dinnington colliery brass band played. Calendar news came and covered the event, which increased membership by 25% overnight. The group now has 220 members on their Facebook site. The group continue to meet once a month and hope to build the colliery collection (items and stories) for an exhibition to be held at Clifton museum in the near future.
Ultimately the group would like to see a zero-carbon footprint colliery heritage centre in the Rotherham area. The group have contacted owners of land which may be suitable across from the old Silverwood colliery site, where there are no building restrictions.
If anyone is interested in being involved with Silverwood Heritage group, please contact Penny at penny.thompson@rotherfed.org and 07813 543332 or please visit Silverwood Colliery Heritage Groups Facebook page.
