MSP HORRIFIED AS MINING TRAGEDY MEMORIAL STOLEN
SNP MSP John Wilson, a member of the Local Government and Communities Committee, was today appalled to learn that the recently unveiled Auchengeich memorial statue has been uprooted by thieves. The bronze statue of a miner was erected to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Auchengeich Colliery disaster in which 47 men lost their lives in 1959.
John Wilson MSP said “I would like to praise the work of the organising committee involved in remembering the workers who perished in this tragic event 50 years ago. It is a pity all their good work and the contributions by local people have been sullied by this shocking criminal act. I trust the police will be most vigilant in pursuing the callous individuals responsible for this cowardly act”
“The Auchengeich disaster showed all too clearly the real dangers and risks which miners all over Scotland took for granted as part of their job every time they worked in the pits”
The statue was unveiled by First Minister Alex Salmond on Sunday 20th September 2009 following a service to mark the anniversary of the tragedy. Noting the significant of this tragedy, the First Minister commented “the tragedy at Auchengeich Colliery left barely a town, village or mining family in North Lanarkshire unaffected”