Poignant church services remembers children who died in Eckington Colliery accident

Percey Riley, 9, Esther Ann Riley, 11, and Rebecca Godson, 9, all died on March 16, 1895, when they fell into a pond at Plumbley Colliery, in Eckington Woods.

The children were playing on the frozen lake that was part of the colliery, when the ice broke and they plunged into the frosty depths of the water below.

24-year-old engineman Alfred Williamson heard the children’s screams, and heroically jumped into the pond to rescue them.

However, Alfred couldn’t swim, and the three children and Alfred sadly died at the scene.

The children did not have headstones to mark their final resting place, until Paul Burdett and Claire McClean, who run the Natural Eckington website, fundraised for permanent gravestones.

Although they were given a funeral, the children’s families could not afford a headstone, so Paul and Claire, supported by Eckington Town Team, marked their graves with white crosses.

However, as the crosses began to age and deteriorate, Paul, Claire and the rest of the community thought that the tragic youngsters deserved to be remembered in a more permanent way.

Gary, Daynes who runs Daynes Monumental Ltd in Killamarsh with his son Jamie, offered to donate their time and expertise to make the headstones.

The service, held at St Peter and St Paul's Church in Eckington, was held to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the incident, and bless the headstones.

Rev. Andy Walker led the memorial service, on Sunday, March 15, and blessed the graves of the children, along with his wife Bertie.

Paul Burdett said: “It’s important to remember the children and Alfred. It is just as sad as any other disaster, and it is still sad after so many years.

“The service drew a good crowd – the Scouts and Cubs groups that Claire McClean volunteers with came, and the Ireland Colliery Chesterfield Brass Band provided music.

“It’s been a real team effort to finally give these children their headstones. Margaret Fry of Eckington Town Team really supported the campaign, as did Councillor Martin Thacker, leader of North East Derbyshire District Council.

“Eckington Parish Council has also lent us their full support.”

Paul added: “Thank you to everyone who has donated towards the fund, it is really heartfelt and much appreciated.

“People have been fantastic about this really sad story.”

Councillor Martin Thacker said: “The ceremony that blessed the gravestones of the children is the culmination of the community’s desire to ensure the Plumbley Colliery disaster is remembered.

“The tragedy meant that four lives were cut short and bright futures never realised.

“”However, Paul Burnett and his wonderful team have worked hard to place gravestones on the resting place of the children.

“In doing so the memories of the lives lost in 1895 will be forever intertwined.”