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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Ex-miners commemorate fatal blast | Ex-miners commemorate fatal blast |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| The 50th anniversary of a colliery explosion that killed 10 men has been commemorated by relatives and former workmates of the victims. | |
| The blast at the Trefor Pit in the Lewis Merthyr Colliery in the Rhondda on 22 November 1956 happened when a gas pocket was ignited by a rock fall. | The blast at the Trefor Pit in the Lewis Merthyr Colliery in the Rhondda on 22 November 1956 happened when a gas pocket was ignited by a rock fall. |
| Around 70 former miners and relatives of the dead men held a memorial service at what is now Rhondda Heritage Park. | Around 70 former miners and relatives of the dead men held a memorial service at what is now Rhondda Heritage Park. |
| Organiser Ransford Rogers said: "It was quite an emotional get-together". | |
| Mr Rogers was a 19-year-old doing his national service in the mine, which employed 1,160 men and had an output of 1,250 tons a day. | Mr Rogers was a 19-year-old doing his national service in the mine, which employed 1,160 men and had an output of 1,250 tons a day. |
| It brought back some old and painful memories for some but all had a chance to remember the friends they'd lost Rhondda Heritage Park director John Harrison | It brought back some old and painful memories for some but all had a chance to remember the friends they'd lost Rhondda Heritage Park director John Harrison |
| He was underground nearby helping to clear a rock fall when the explosion happened. | He was underground nearby helping to clear a rock fall when the explosion happened. |
| "There had been massive fall the week before," he said. | "There had been massive fall the week before," he said. |
| "They had been working on it for about a week trying to get it all cleared so the miners could get back for the first time. | "They had been working on it for about a week trying to get it all cleared so the miners could get back for the first time. |
| 'Recognition' | 'Recognition' |
| "The two air doors alongside suddenly opened. There was a big 'whoosh' and clouds of dust and smoke. A fella came running up, his clothes were smouldering." | "The two air doors alongside suddenly opened. There was a big 'whoosh' and clouds of dust and smoke. A fella came running up, his clothes were smouldering." |
| Mr Rogers went back down the pit to help the injured to hospital | Mr Rogers went back down the pit to help the injured to hospital |
| Mr Rogers, who helped take the injured to hospital, said he knew six of the dead men, one of whom was his mentor, Goldas Jones. | Mr Rogers, who helped take the injured to hospital, said he knew six of the dead men, one of whom was his mentor, Goldas Jones. |
| He said: "There was no trauma therapy in those days. You just had a day or two off and went back to work again. | He said: "There was no trauma therapy in those days. You just had a day or two off and went back to work again. |
| "About three months later I left the pit altogether and joined the navy." | "About three months later I left the pit altogether and joined the navy." |
| Sunday's ceremony was suggested by Mr Rogers. He said: "It was nice for the families to see that there was some recognition. | Sunday's ceremony was suggested by Mr Rogers. He said: "It was nice for the families to see that there was some recognition. |
| "I feel a bit relieved today that everyone had come together, some I have not seen since then." | "I feel a bit relieved today that everyone had come together, some I have not seen since then." |
| Rhondda Heritage Park director John Harrison said: "What was very moving was to see a number of old comrades who had not seen each other for quite some time and who were reminiscing about what life was like. | Rhondda Heritage Park director John Harrison said: "What was very moving was to see a number of old comrades who had not seen each other for quite some time and who were reminiscing about what life was like. |
| "They have very vivid memories. It brought back some old and painful memories for some but all had a chance to remember the friends they'd lost." | "They have very vivid memories. It brought back some old and painful memories for some but all had a chance to remember the friends they'd lost." |