MORE than 360 men and boys killed in the worst disaster in English mining history deserve their own memorial, say campaigners working to honour the memory of the Oaks Colliery Disaster.
Barry Moore's great-great-grandfather George Moore was among those killed as a result of the 1866 explosion - 361 is the best estimate of the death toll as there were discrepancies in the records at the time.
He said: "It's the 150th anniversary next year, and I think it's about time there was a fitting memorial to all those killed at the Oaks disaster."
Barry is treasurer of the history group People and Mining which is launching an appeal next month to raise funds towards a memorial, and has already won the backing of sculptor Graham Ibbeson, who designed the Dickie Bird statue as well as the miners' memorial outside the NUM offices on Huddersfield Road.
• A gathering of all those interested and all those whose ancestors lost their lives is being held at the NUM offices on Huddersfield Road over three days, September 10, 11 and 12.
