The Hamstead Miners Memorial Trust
During the middle of 2002 Ken Styler, a local Hamstead resident and first Chair of the Trust, organised a public meeting to discuss his vision for a lasting memorial to the Hamstead Miners. This was a well attended meeting of the local community. This meeting elected a Steering Group to take the vision forward.
The group felt that the memory of Hamstead's mining village, together with the miners who died in the 1908 disaster, was not given the respect and recognition it deserved and that in particular the local young people were not aware of the tragic event that happened in their community.
Members of the trust at work
"We have been fortunate enough to secure grants from the West Bromwich Town Team, SCVO and Awards For All which enabled us to purchase office and computer equipment, cameras, etc. We also received a grant which enabled us to employ a facilitator who helped us in consultations with the public as to the type of memorial they would like to see in Hamstead. the results of the consultations were presented at an exhibition at the Tanhouse Community Centre who offered us a permanent exhibition area in which to display our memorabilia."
The Trusts constitution was adopted in April 2003 with the following charitable objectives:
- To promote and stimulate the study and general knowledge of the history and heritage of the area of Hamstead, and in particular but not exclusively the history of the mining industry in this area, and of local history in general with the object of improving and advancing the education of the public.
- To promote and stimulate the study and general knowledge of the humanities, arts and sciences with the object of the education of the public
- To establish , secure the establishment of, or make available a community centre (hereinafter called "the centre") in the interests of social welfare for the education, use and recreation of the public and to promote such other charitable objects as the charity shall from time to time determine.
The Trust board was last chaired by Anthony (Tony) Ward and other members included Val Ward, Reg Hackett, Tony Fowler and Maureen Dacey.
The main focus of the Trust was to commemerate the mining disaster of 1908 and to provide informion on the history of the colliery. The trust was a registered charity No. 1098711.
The sub menus on this page provide more information on the work of the Trust including the memorial events and the display at the Tanhouse Centre.
None of the trustees are now alive and the status of the trust is not clear.