Westhoughton remembers Pretoria Pit disaster victims

Deputy town mayor Ollie Younge and town mayor Deirdre McGeown at the Pretoria Pit memorial in Ditchfield Gardens

Westhoughton has once again paid its respects to the 344 men and boys who died in the Pretoria Pit disaster, which happened 112 years ago.

Town mayor Deirdre McGeown and deputy town mayor Ollie Younge led the tributes.

Councillor McGeown said: “It was a privilege to lay the wreaths on behalf of the Town Council and the people of Westhoughton at two of Pretoria Pit memorial services in Westhoughton.

“Westhoughton is a completely different type of town from 112 years ago when the mine exploded and 344 men and boys died that day but even now people take the time to remember at the various services. Thank you for remembering.”

Westhoughton Town Council recently funded the restoration of the Pretoria Pit memorial in Ditchfield Gardens.