Five more statues added to Walking Together – Autumn 2021

Images show Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, Councillor Tony King and Historian Sandra Struggles and Markham Vale team at the site of the new figures.

 

From Derbyshire County Council Press Release 16/09/21:

Five new statues have been added to the ‘Walking Together’ mining memorial at our Markham Vale Business Park, commemorating miners who tragically lost their lives in 3 major disasters at Markham Colliery.

The ‘Walking Together’ memorial trail by Artist Stephen Broadbent symbolises a miner’s journey to the pit and back and represents the men who lost their lives in the disasters  of 1937, 1938 and 1973.

The new statues take the total of life-sized steel figures at the site to 93, and we are continuing to work alongside partners to fundraise to see the target of all 106 figures installed.

The Markham Vale Business Park is being developed by us and HBD on the site of the former colliery. The memorial acts as a permanent reminder of the site’s significant mining heritage.

Our Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, Councillor Tony King, said:

“Installing 5 more statues to the Walking Together mining memorial brings us even closer to commemorating all 106 men tragically lost in the 3 accidents at Markham Colliery.

“We will never forget Markham’s mining heritage and the memorial is a place where generations to come can visit and learn about the site’s important history.

“As we work towards completing this important memorial project, I’d like to thank all of the sponsors for their generous contributions so far, including Tesco Bags of Help, The Duke of Devonshire’s Charitable Trust, Aviva Community Fund, public donations and Beam which have funded the most recent group of figures.”

 

The most recent additions are dedicated to:

  • Arthur Roper, 61, contractor
  • Albert Bell, 33, road Layer
  • George Cowley, 38, contractor
  • William Pickering, 24, haulage hand
  • Rowe Kirk, 60, contractor

We have been working with Markham Vale Heritage Group volunteers, Beam and local developers to recognise and honour the important historical significance of the area.

A commemorative handout celebrating this event has been created and can be downloaded here – Walking Together Event Handout September 2021

Due to the coronavirus pandemic it has not been possible to hold a physical event to unveil the latest figures. Instead, we have worked with partners to produce a short film as a virtual commemoration.

Film & Images by David John King