village will unite in grief today as they bid farewell to one of the community’s most respected men.

Tributes have been pouring in all week at the Easington Colliery home of Arthur Bartholomew, who has died at the age of 91.

Mr Batholomew, known to his friends as “smiler’’, was one of the first on the scene following the 1951 Easington Colliery explosion, which claimed the lives of 83 men.

The last surviving member of the pit’s own rescue team, Mr Bartholomew recorded his harrowing memories of the tragedy in a special feature in The Northern Echo on the 50th anniversary of the disaster.

A modest, dignified man, Mr Bartholomew was at his proudest when his efforts during the bleak days in the aftermath of the explosion were recognised when he was presented to the Queen during the monarch’s visit to open a commemorative site marking the location of the old colliery.

Mr Bartholomew continued to work at the coal face after the explosion until an industrial accident saw him transferred to a post as materials overman.

After his retirement, the stoic pitman suffered serious ill health, a legacy from his days underground, but bravely bore his chronic chest condition with inspiring spirit.

But last year, only weeks before he and wife Vera’s 65th wedding anniversary, he was diagnosed with cancer and finally lost his battle against the disease last Friday.

Along with his devoted wife, he leaves a daughter, Margaret, and sons Dennis, Stephen, Kevin and Barry, ten grandchildren, nine greatgrandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

A devoted family man, his daughter said: “My father will be deeply missed by not just his family but by the whole community. He was a devoted husband, fantastic dad, and adored grand, great-grand and great-great-grandfather.’’ She added: “We would also like to thank the team of nurses and carers who looked after my father in his final weeks.’’ His funeral service will be held at 10.30am today at the village’s Church of Ascension and, poignantly, he will be interred at the colliery cemetery near to where the victims of the explosion are buried.