A moving and uplifting service at St Teresa’s Church last night. Over 200 Heaton residents came to remember the 34 boys and 41 men who died in the Heaton Main Colliery Disaster of 3rd May 1815. The Backworth Colliery Band played beautifully; seven church leaders from Heaton and St Peter’s Wallsend (where 55 of the men are buried) received snow drops from Tessa Green, to remember the dead; Tony Neilson read ‘The Last Shift’; Les Turnbull explained the history; Johnny Handle sang his new song ‘Under the Fields of Heaton; Father Michael preached on the subject of suffering, 75 of the congregation processed candles to ‘Gresford’ the ‘Miners’ Hymn’; St Teresa’s Primary’s children danced with commitment and pride; and Heaton Voices led the whole congregation with their song ‘Let there be diamonds in the dark’. Many thanks to St Teresa’s for their generous hosting and hospitality.
A Community Participation Project 