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The hunt is on for Leicestershire coal queens
Posted on 05/08/2009
Community Services
Snibston Discovery Museum is searching for beauties who were the coal queens of their day to take part in its Miners’ Gala parade on Saturday, 12th September.
When coal was king, the annual coal queen contest brought a touch of glamour to the Leicestershire coalfield. Daughters and wives of miners took part in the competition which was held at the Miners’ Welfare club in Coalville, with the winner going on to represent their county in the Coal Queen of Britain finals in Blackpool.
Snibston is hoping former coal queens will get in touch and take part in this year’s gala. It is also reviving the tradition by inviting youngsters to take part in a Junior Coal Queen competition for the under-12s.
To take part, youngsters just need to dress up and join the parade which will set off from Memorial Square at 10.30am on Saturday 12th September. The parade has been organised in association with Coalville Town Centre Partnership,
Denise Kerr was an attendant to the Leicestershire Coal Queen in 1980 and was South Derbyshire Coal Queen in 1981.
Her identical twin sister, Deborah, was Leicestershire Coal Queen in 1980. Their dad Brian worked as a deputy at Whitwick Colliery and their mum, Patricia, in the miners’ canteen.
Denise, who lives in Whitwick, said: “It was very exciting – I went to Blackpool for a week and made friends with the other coal queens from around the country.
“The final was in front of an audience of 3,000 and I made my entrance out of a grand piano! We all took part in a big fashion show organised by the Co-Op and we even switched on the Blackpool illuminations.”
Denise will judge the Junior Coal Queen competition.
If you were a former coal queen and would like to get involved or would like to dress up for the Junior Coal Queen, please call Snibston on 01530 278444 and ask for Alison Clague, or email: Alison.Clague@leics.gov.uk.
The National Union of Mineworkers are pleased to be supporting the Snibston Miner's Gala in its second year and hope this community event continues for many years to come.
Snibston Miners Gala, Saturday 12th September 10am-5pm
Parade starts at Memorial Square at 10.30am
For more information about Snibston, visit: www.snibston.com.
***Photo opportunity****
Denise Kerr is willing to do interviews/photographs and she has lent Snibston her scrapbook of photos, cuttings, and even the tiara and 'Leicestershire Coal Queen' sash!
Notes to Editors:
Due to popular demand, Snibston hosts its second annual Miner’s Gala, to celebrate Coalville’s mining heritage.
In association with Coalville Town Centre Partnership, a gala parade starts at 10.30am in Coalville Town Centre at Memorial Square.
There will also be a shuttle train service running from Margaret Street to Snibston.
Entertainment includes brass bands, a fruit, flower and vegetable show, colliery and railway tours, displays by local history groups, mining memorabilia and ferret racing.
There will be free admission to the museum galleries as well as a range of events and activities across the site for everyone to enjoy.
Live performances include the Leicestershire Co-Op Snibston Charnwood Brass Band during the day and an evening concert by Desford Colliery Band (tickets required for this).