December 21st 2023!

Like every year, the Town Council invite you to attend a service of Remembrance to commemorate the men and boys who lost their lives in the Pretoria Pit Explosion on 21st December 1910!

There will be a short service at 7.45am at Ditchfield Gardens and 2 maroons will be fired to mark the time of the explosion.

There will be another service at 10am in St Bartholomew’s Church, attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Chris Green MP, the Mayor, Councillor Deirdre McGeown and Mayor’s Consort, Mr Ollie Younge. At both of these services, the Mayor will be laying a wreath at the memorials in respect for those who lost their lives and were injured.

Many families still living locally have ancestors who were part of this event in some way: those who died, those who were injured, those who were part of the rescuing team or just residents in the local area with memories.

Do please come and support this local civic event at 10am on Thursday 21st December at St Bartholomew’s Church!