Sir Michael Parkinson helping plan to honour miners in Staffordshire

Chaps, Chase Arts in Public Spaces, is just £8,000 away from raising the £100,000 it needs to have the monument put up at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.

Fundraising has been going on in earnest since June 2019 and the group hopes to finally have the monument, in place later this year. A date for work to begin on site at the beginning of April is on schedule.

Sculpted by Andy de Comyn from Derbyshire stone, it will stand at two metres high, be five metres long and a metre wide and will stand as a proud legacy to pit workers who fought for their country in conflict as well as remembering the country’s mining heritage.

Now, one of this country’s best known and respected personalities, Sir Michael Parkinson, has given his backing to the project.

The 85-year-old broadcaster, son a Barnsley miner, has made a financial contribution to the scheme, and said he was delighted to show his support.

Sir Michael said: “I am delighted to support this long overdue and worthy tribute to miners who played such a significant part in an industry that transformed the world we live in.

'Delighted'

"We should all be grateful that miners like my father did that dirty and dangerous job so that the rest of us could go about our everyday lives in a manner to which we were accustomed.”

Chaps president Mike Mellor said he and the group were overjoyed that a celebrity of Sir Michael’s standing was prepared to help raise the profile of the Miners’ Memorial nationally.

He added: “A lot of hard work has been done by the group and we are delighted it is paying off. During our research and from queries received from around the country it appears many mining areas are without some form of recognition of their mining heritage.

"We aim to put that right with this memorial.”

Chaps is already behind lasting tributes to the mining community of Cannock, Hednesford and Rugeley. The latest memorial at the arboretum would provide a national focus for families of those who were from the mining community.

To donate, or to buy a commemorative pin, contact info@chaseartsforpublicspaces.co.uk, or phone 07583 655199.

Donations can also be made at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chapsnationalminersmemorial.

Or people can give by sending a text.Text Chaps to 70970 to pledge £5, or to donate £10, text Chaps to 70191