Memorial bench unveiled to honour miners in Cannock

A memorial bench has been unveiled at Cannock Chase Enterprise Centre to honour the miners who used to work at the site, when it was formerly the West Cannock No.5 Colliery. 

The unveiling took place on Thursday 1 October, which marks 40 years since Staffordshire County Council and British Coal converted the site to an enterprise centre to give hope to the miners who lost their jobs when it closed in 1982. 

The steel memorial bench was built by Lee James, who runs his own bespoke metalwork business from Cannock Chase Enterprise Centre.  

His late grandfather worked as a miner at one of the pits in Hednesford and Lee says he is proud to build something that is so important to the local community. 

Lee said: “My grandad used to be a miner around here and it was a fitting memorial for him really, just to make a lovely bench for an area that has helped my business grow. I wish he could have seen it." 

Lee's business, James Metal Design and Fabrication, has seen a lot of success since he joined the enterprise centre community five years ago. He has since expanded his workspace four times, which he could do easily due to the centre's flexible letting arrangements.  

Martin Murray, Staffordshire County Council's Leader, said: “This site has played an important part in the story of Cannock Chase for more than a century. It was once a place where generations of local people came to work in the coal industry, and today it is home to businesses creating new opportunities for the community. 

“Forty years of supporting businesses is a fantastic achievement, and the fact that the centre is still full after five consecutive years shows just how important it continues to be. 

“Staffordshire is the beating heart of the country for new business, and this enterprise centre is a great example of that in action. It is particularly fitting that this memorial has been created by one of our current tenants, whose own family has a connection to the colliery." 

The West Cannock No. 5 Colliery was a major coal mine located in Brindley Heath, Hednesford in the northern part of the Cannock Chase coalfield. It was widely known by miners as "Fives" or the "Tackeroo" plant. 

Cannock Chase Enterprise Centre's first ever tenant is still there today. Paul Brown's business, 'Fives Garage' is a nod to the enterprise centre's history and operates from one of the site's industrial units. 

Alan Dean, from the Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, worked at the No.5 pit for 20 years.

He has written a book on the history of the site called 'The Annals of the West Cannock Colliery Company Limited. He unveiled the memorial bench with Cllr Martin Murray. 

Alan said: "It was a very friendly pit. It was like being back at school because we were all mates. Even management, we used to have tug of wars on the lawn at Christmas.

“The deer would come up on the green on quiet afternoons. It was really nice and the 20 years I was here, I wouldn't have missed it. I would go back tomorrow if my arthritis and knees would let me!  

"I think the bench is brilliant. It's a lovely thing." 

Pictured from left to right: Martin Murray and Alan Dean