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The Ifton Colliery site is still one of industrious endeavour 40 years
after its closure, much of the surface buildings remain and a thriving
trading estate has evolved. The Pit Mound, where as a child I roamed
precariously has responded to its grassland coverage, whilst on the
lower slopes trees are beginning to mature. Over the Border at Gresford
there is little or no sign that mining occurred, as new factories and
homes are built, but taking pride of place on the village outskirts is
the Gresford Memorial Wheel , sited adjacent to the Gresford
Miners Institute.
On that weekend in September 1934, thousands of people made the journey
to the disaster site, most were bussed in by enterprising coach
operators, just to stand watching, hoping and praying that survivors
would emerge from the depths. One of my Granddad's Ifton colleagues
Harry Richards was part of the Gresford Rescue team and was ordered
OUT of the area below ground when the decision was made to seal
off the tomb. Many years later in the 1950's, a rare fatality at Ifton
brought Mr Richards and his team into action, alas to no avail, but
humour came out of sadness in a perhaps understandable way, as the
deceased's teenage Son, himself a miner, was being comforted below
ground, he was told " Look, you get yourself up top, we'll arrange Dad's
funeral and take care of things" wiping the tears from his eye's the
youngster, an avid football fan said, " OK! but don't arrange it for
Saturday, Wolverhampton Wanderers are playing at Home".
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