THE sounding of an air raid siren at Wrexham Library for two minutes on the stroke of 11am yesterday marked the 75th anniversary of one of Britain’s worst mining disasters.
The poignant ceremony helped the town remember the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 266 men in an explosion which rocked the Dennis section of the Gresford pit on September 22, 1934.
The traditional annual service of remembrance also took place at the Gresford Memorial and a minute’s silence was observed at the Racecourse last night before Wrexham FC’s match against Luton.
Among those at the memorial ceremony was 78-year-old Ruby McBurney, whose father, William Henry Crump, was among those killed in the disaster at the age of just 36, leaving behind a young family.
Mrs McBurney was accompanied by her older brother, Cyril Crump, 79, and her younger brother, William Crump, 76.
She said: “The ceremony was absolutely lovely and there must have been a hundred people there.
“They came from places all over the country such as Wiltshire, London and Sheffield.
“Most of them were people who had worked as miners and they swapped stories about going down the pits.”
She added: “There was a couple there from Derbyshire who come for the anniversary every year.
“There were also a group of children from Roft Primary School in Marford and with the younger ones taking an interest the disaster will, hopefully, never be forgotten.”
Mrs Burney was a special guest at the commemorative event held at The Racecourse, during which Llay Welfare Band played the Gresford Hymn.
The Gresford Ballad was recited by the children of Gresford and the Rev John Barden Davies led a prayer of remembrance.
A wreath was laid on the centre circle by Wrexham manager Dean Saunders.
Players wore black armbands over the blue commemorative shirts designed specially for the 75th anniversary of the disaster.
The Welsh National Anthem was sung by Samantha Williams before the minute’s silence when 266 black balloons were released by the club to represent each of those who died.