Hi, my Grandad was Alec Stirling who worked in the Michael Pitt, he was on shift the night of the disaster. My Grandad never spoke about the disaster but I can remember vividly when I was wee my Grandma showing my mum bruises on her arms and saying “it was your dad,  he was dreaming about the fire again and he was trying to pull me out !”. Shortly after that I can remember going to see my Grandad in what I thought was a hospital but my Grandma told me it was a convalescent home.

When it was the disasters 40th anniversary I asked my mum if we should take my Grandad along to the Wemyss but she told me not to mention it to him, the memories of that night must have affected him very much.

My Grandad sadly died last year and I’m just wondering if Bill Higgins remembers him.

Thanks
Tricia Lindsay

Dear Sir,

I have just finished reading your account of the disaster at the Michael Colliery on 9 September '67 and with respect would draw your attention to a couple of things.   You list only eight names of deceased miners. the name of Henry Morrison is not included and you have spelled my father`s name incorrectly: it should read
Philip Thomson. I hope you will be able to make the relevant alterations to your narrative.

I found it interesting reading because at the time there was no way to know all the heroic details of that night and the results of the ensuing enquiry.

I was 26 years old at the time and my main concern had to be my mother who had been married to my dad for 40 years and never recovered from the shock. I still feel that the fire robbed me of both parents.      

Yours faithfully
Kathy King [nee Thomson]