A LOCAL councillor has been working hard to ensure a mining memorial wheel looks its best ahead of the 50th anniversary of an explosion.
Houghton Main Memorial Wheel was erected in the 1990s to commemorate those who lost their lives during a colliery explosion on June 12, 1975.
At the time of the explosion, 1,361 men worked at the colliery - 1,191 underground and 170 on the surface.
Five men died during the explosion - Leonard Baker, Richard Bannister, Raymond Copperwheat, Irvin Lakin and Frederick Arnold Williamson - while Kenneth Upperdine was seriously injured.
Coun Kevin Osborne, who represents the Darfield ward, has been helping clean the memorial wheel ahead of its anniversary later this year.
Coun Osborne told the Chronicle: “In advance of the 50th anniversary of the tragic Houghton Main explosion, I approached Little Houghton Parish Council who erected the wheel in the early 90s and asked if I could clean it.
“A well-meaning resident had placed some poetry on the brickwork but had used bathroom sealant which wouldn’t come off.
“I approached Barnsley Council’s graffiti team who helped to remove it.
“Work is ongoing to prepare the wheel to ensure it looks its best on the anniversary on June 12.”
