West Penwith Commemorates 90th Anniversary of Levant Mining Disaster

FROM BBC CORNWALL WEBSITE

'It's 90 years since a tragic Mining accident took place in west Cornwall. The main rod of the Man Engine at Levant Mine in west Cornwall broke killing 31 miners and injuring many more. See archive film and rare photos from 1919.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall/content/articles/2009/10/16/history_levant90_feature.shtml

I have always felt a real connection to the areas around St Just and Pendeen. It is not somewhere I confess to have considerable heritage, however there is such a human element to the landscape and a friendly face to the community that I cannot help but feel at home. I was touched, therefore, to learn about the commemorations taking place for the 90th anniversary of the tragic mining disaster which affected so many people's lives. It is a story of a happy, content but hard working community torn to pieces by a tragic accident - and it is not a hyperbole to say that most of the people that were there at this event were directly related to many of the victims.

It is nice to see something which is not altogether affected by politics, torn apart by polemicism or affected by rampant sentimentality. It is clear that this was a painful event, but from the information I got it seemed to be a truly meaningful and poignant service...and something which the community was justifably proud.