A DESCENDANT of one of the miners killed in the Stanley Pit Disaster a century ago has recalled how his father and grandfather had no choice but to return to work immediately after the tragedy.

Mark Cowen, aged 66, was caught in the explosion that claimed the lives of 168 men and boys on February 16, 1909. In the wake of the tragedy, his son and grandson, both miners at other pits, had no choice but to go straight back to work to provide for their families.

Mr Cowen’s great-grandson, Albert Cowen, said: “Some people were too traumatised by it and did not want to go back down the pit at all. But they did not have very much choice, because there was very little else around.

There is a great camaraderie among miners.”

Mr Cowen, 87, a former miner at pits in Derwentside and Yorkshire, now lives near Doncaster.

The horror of the disaster has been handed down through the generations. His great-grandfather, who lived in Benton Terrace, Stanley, had been working as an overman on the rolleyway – a road for horses underground – in the Townley seam.

Mr Cowen said: “My mother used to tell me he was blown out of his boots with such force the laces did not even break.” Albert Cowen is hoping to attend the service at St Andrew’s Church to commemorate the centenary of the tragedy, which starts at noon on Saturday.

He said: “The community was devastated by the disaster and 168 lives were lost.

“It must have been awful so it is important to remember what happened.”

■ Don’t miss next Monday’s Northern Echo for a four-page supplement as Stanley marks the 100th anniversary of the tragedy.