CHAPS held their first Remembrance Day Service on 14th November 2021 to honour the men women and children who gave their lives in the UK minefields. The service also remembers those UK coal miners who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars.
The service was taken by Lay Minister Wendy Pitt who spoke of the importance of remembering individuals who had worked in the UK coal mines and/or served in conflict for their country. It was attended by former miners; by some who had donated plaques on the memorial; by others who had helped along the journey and by Chase Arts for Public Spaces committee members. Members of Lea Hall and Brereton Collieries Memorial Society attended in their numbers, bringing with them two banners – one which is now 50 years old and their newest, very striking banner
Such was the feeling after the service that a decision was made that this should be an annual event held at the NMA and that it should always be held at 2.30pm, as this year’s was – 2.30pm is significant because that was the time of the changeover of day shift to afternoon shift at the coal mines throughout the UK.