1973- FRED REDDISH, Development Worker, 53

Fred Reddish of 7, Chesterfield Road, Staveley, had been a miner since he left school at fourteen years old.  He was a keen gardener and had an allotment in Staveley.  Fred was only working because he had changed shifts with a workmate.  He was normally on the afternoon shift, but had been working days for three weeks, so that he could help out in the evenings at Staveley Miners Welfare where he was a well liked and respected member of the committee.  With Ireland Colliery being on holiday there were not enough members to help with the evening social activities.  Fred left his son and three daughters.  He was cremated at Brimington.

Fred was commemorated in July 2020. The location of the artwork can be found in zone 10 on the trail map which can be downloaded here.

You can watch a short commemorative film here.

Researched by Local historian Sandra Struggles:

Fred Reddish was only on that ill-fated cage because he had changed shifts with a workmate. He was normally on the afternoon shift, but had been working days for three weeks, so that he could help out in the evenings at Staveley Miners Welfare where he was a well liked and respected member of the committee. With Ireland Colliery being on holiday there were not enough members to help with the evening social activities. Fred had been a miner since he left school at 14 years old. He was a keen gardener and had an allotment in Staveley. Fred was married with a son and three daughters. He lived at 7, Chesterfield Road, Staveley, and was 53 years old when he died.

Further Information

Markham Colliery 1973 disaster

List of miners killed in the 1973 disaster.

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