Westhoughton Remembers!

Today was a special day in Westhoughton as the community remembered the Pretoria Pit disaster of 21st December 1910. During a short service in Ditchfield Gardens at 7.45am, maroons were fired at 7.50am, the time of the explosion at the pit. Later at 10am, the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Mrs Diane Hawkins, Chris Green MP, the Mayor, Councillor Deirdre McGeown and Mayor’s Consort, Mr Ollie Younge attended a service at St Bartholomew’s Church and laid wreaths at the memorial in the churchyard. Despite the inclement weather, there was a good attendance at both services.