A PARADE to mark the 35th anniversary of the Golborne Pit Disaster will go ahead thanks to the generosity of strangers.

As reported previously in the Journal, new rules and budget cuts meant Golborne Ex-miners Association needed to raise £948 to pay for policing and traffic management to hold this year’s procession.

But after support from the community and a £500 donation from Leigh-based company Local Mobility, the event will take place on Sunday, March 16.

Survivor and organiser Eric Foster said: “On behalf of the Golborne Ex-miners I just want to thank everyone for their contributions to the parade. “We have reached our target and anything left over will be put towards the 40th anniversary.

“We have had a terrific response and it makes me so proud to have been a miner. It means we can uphold the tradition of marching to remember the 10 lads who lost their lives.

“I have tried to write letters back to everyone who sent money but some of them didn’t include their address so I hope they see this and know how grateful we are.”

The parade will also be filmed for BBC’s Songs of Praise as part of an episode celebrating the borough’s mining history on April 6.

Eric added: “It is all coming together and we have the BBC coming down to film bits of it. Harold Cunliffe, who was the rector at the time of the disaster, is also coming along and will be reading out the names of those who died during the church service.

“He was instrumental at the time, he offered a lot of counselling to families and played a huge part in us getting the stain glass window as a memorial at the church.”

Those taking part in the parade should meet at 1.30pm at the Queen Anne pub on Bridge Street, Golborne, with the procession to St Thomas’ Church starting at 2pm.