The photograph of the Creswell memorial was taken by Ian Gilbert who was an undermanager at Creswell Colliery for several years in the 1980's. Ian is now retired.

The memorial was renovated for the year 2000.

The garden was laid out and the memorial erected by the Elmton with Creswell Parish Council and the National Union of Minewokers, Nottinghamshire Area, in memory of the men who lost their lives in the disaster.

While the pit-head wheel turned high above the Colliery yard late on Tuesday evening, a crowd of nearly 2,000 miners and relatives of the dead joined in a service of hymns and prayer led by the Vicar of Creswell (the Rev. C. S. Branson)."

On this tragic occasion we can do no more than to offer our thoughts to God. Let us in the silence of our hearts remember those who have so swiftly passed into eternal life today," the Vicar said when during the service he called for a brief minute of silent memory.

Children stood among this congregation of women, miners, officials, local councillors and rescue workers, many of them still in their pit clothes. Together they joined in the hymns, "0 God Our Help in Ages Past" and "Abide with Me." The lesson was taken from the 21st Chapter of the Book of Revelations.

Canon G. A. Lewis Lloyd (Rural Dean and Vicar of Bolsover), told the mourning people: "Those who have lost their lives in the service of the community in peace-time have laid down their lives for their country just as, much as those who fell in the War."

He went on to read a telegram received shortly before the service from the Bishop of Derby (Dr. A. E. J. Rawlinson). It stated: "Deeply distressed by news of disaster. My deepest sympathy and my prayers for the bereaved, The Bishop, said Canon Lloyd, hoped to join Creswell parishioners at their services on Sunday.

Of the visit to the pit-head that afternoon of the Provost of Derby (Bishop) R.S.M. O'Ferrall), Canon Lloyd said: "He was to have taken part in the evensong broadcast from Derby Cathedral this afternoon. When he heard the news from Creswell he knew that his place was amongst you here." Other clergy present included the Rev. John W. Jackson, Creswell Methodist Minister, who also spoke: the Rev. C. H. Page, Supt. Minister, Worksop; the Rev. W. S. C. Leach. Methodist Minister, Worksop; the Rev. R. B. Wright, Methodist Minister, Clowne; the Rev. W. E. C. Sternberg, Rector of Whitwell, and from the Salvation Army were: Capt. W. H. Smith. Clowne Div. Commander Senior Major G. Lancashire, Major Edith Banks (representing Div Commander Col. Selby).

Chief mining industry representatives were: Sir Hubert Houldsworth, who was accompanied by Lady Houldsworth, Mr. G. A. Inverarity (Creswell Colliery Manager). Mr. Arthur Horner (General Secretary N.U.M.), Ald. W. Bayliss (President Nottinghamshire branch N.U.M.), Mr. R. Ringham (Deputy Chairman East Midlands Division N.C.B.), Mr Norman Fricker (Marketing Director), and many other leading officials of the Board and the Division.

LIST OF VICTIMS

BODIES RECOVERED ON 26th SEPTEMBER, 1950

Sam Cocking - Cutterman
(Click Photo To Enlarge)

Remembered by Darren Allsebrook, Sam's Great Nephew And Sarah Fores, Sam's Grand Daughter

Names	Age	Occupation
1. Leonard Bower	38	Shot Firer
2. Harry Godfrey	51	Overman
3. Horace Attenborough	45	Packer
4. William Henry Bird	39	Ripper
5. John Henry Bowden	29	Meco Moore Operator
6. Ernest Briggs - Gerald, nephew of Ernest	33	Packer
7. John Williarn Brocklehurst	44	Packer
8. Robert Brough	36	Cutterman
9. Alfred Edgar Bryan	56	Packer
10. Herbert Stanley Buckle	48	Gummer
11. Sam Cocking - Darren Allsebrook, Sam's great nephew and Sarah Fores, Sam's Grandaughter	42	Cutterman
12. Ernest Deakin	60	Gummer
13. Ernest Dodd	37	Ripper
14. John Dodd	45	Packer
15. Fred Doncaster	27	Conveyor Erector
16. John William Doxey	45	Packer
17. George Ellis	51	Packer
18. Charles Foulkes	49	Cutterman
19. George William Gillert	38	Ripper
20. Kenneth Amos Goucher	42	Conveyor Erector
21. Peter W. Green	53	Packer
22. C. Hemingray	25	Conveyor Erector
23. Cecil Hendley	34	Cutterman
24. Reginald C. Holmes	44	Cutterman
25. Arnold Hutton	48	Packer
26. J. T. Jackson	58	Gummer
27. Robert James	52	Packer
28. Ernest Johnson	36	Packer
29. E. Johnson	46	Packer
30. Reginald Kirk	39	Ripper
31. William Mellish - Vicky, Great Grand Daughter	55	Steel supervisor
32. Edward Millward	44	Packer
33. Ernest Leslie Needham	44	Stone Contractor
34. William Henry Orvice	49	Conveyor Erector
35. Kenneth F. Robinson	25	Packer
36. G. Sydney Rogers	44	Ripper
37. Victor Rose	52	Cutterman
38. Leslie Rutherford	25	Cutterman
39. Thomas J. Senior	42	Packer
40. J. Shaw	56	Ripper
41. Herbert Shipley	38	Cutterman
42. Thomas Smith		Packer
43. Thomas Traylor	43	Cutterman
44. Robert WilliamThomas Walker	38	Packer
45. Colin Clifford Ward - Audrey, daughter	30	Packer
46. Frederick Whitlam	52	Packer
47. George Yearham	57	Face Timberman

BODIES RECOVERED ON 25th March, 1951

3. BODIES RECOVERED ON THE 11th AUGUST, 1951

75. Thomas William Hunt	51	Deputy
76. Harry Clarke	46	Ripper
77. George Charles Cope	59	Datal
78. McDara Connolly	28	Ripper
79. John Edwin Oliver - Garry Fell, John's great nephew	53	Ripper
80. Carey Gersham Thorpe	46	Gummer

In each case the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning.

More About Some Of The Victims