A MINERS' memorial day should be held annually - before new generations forget the sacrifice of the men who worked and died down the pits, an MP said yesterday.
Gerry Steinberg, Labour MP for Durham City, tabled a Parliamentary motion to put pressure on the Government for a special day.
Mr Steinberg said: "The mining industry has virtually come to an end in the North-East, but it has played such an important role over the last two centuries.
"If it hadn't been for the coal industry, there would have been no North-East economy.
"But in 20 years' time, when it is consigned to history, children won't understand what mining was.
"I suspect more miners were killed than people working in any other industry, so an annual memorial day would be very appropriate."
Mr Steinberg suggested that a suitable date might be May 29, the date of the Easington Colliery disaster, in County Durham, or October 21, the date of the Aberfan tragedy in Wales, when pit heap slurry engulfed a school.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article