Trust hopes to raise money for village mining statue
Villagers can take a step back in time to experience life in a pit community.
Members of Culture for Hetton will be staging a performance of Life in a Pit Village as part of their fundraising for a new statue.
The charitable trust is hoping to raise £43,000 to buy a specially commissioned Hetton Mining Heritage Statue, sculpted by Ray Lonsdale, creator of Seaham’s Tommy.
Life in a Pit Village will include a variety of songs, stories, laughter and tears from the coalface.
The performers include John Wrightson, a prolific songwriter from Murton, Bert Draycott a comedian and storyteller and Bob Lowery, who wrote the script for She’s Fired, which was the story of the 1880 Seaham Colliery disaster.
Moves to buy a statue for Hetton, following the success of Tommy, were launched last year and since then the Culture for Hetton group has worked hard to raise funds.
Alan Jackson, one of the members, said: “There’s no reminder really in Hetton of what was here. It will be a very fitting focal pointn.”
Hesaidsofartheyhavemanaged to raise almost £15,000, but still have a way to go.
The structure, which will stand at about 9ft tall, depicts a father and son as the boy, aged about eight, is sent to the colliery for his first shift. Thefinallocationforthesculpture is still to be confirmed.
Life in a Pit Village is being held on Friday, June 9 at 7.30pm in the Easington Lane Welfare Hall.
Tickets cost £10 or £8 for concession and area available by contaction Lee Branney on 07970 294246 or Alan Jackson on 0191 5262804 or email alan.t.jackson@hotmail.com.
The group is also selling tiles for£25eachtocommemoratea familymemberwhowasaminer, these will be placed on the base of the sculpture.