The 50th Anniversary of the Auchengeich Colliery Disaster

No day in the last century of Scottish mining was more tear-stained than September 18, 1959. In the space of just a few minutes, 47 miners died, 41 women were widowed and 76 children lost their fathers. Just one miner survived. The death toll from the underground fire in Auchengeich Colliery, in Lanarkshire, was the worst in the history of mining in this country. The tragedy decimated families.

50 years on with many descendants and comrades of the killed miners still living in the area it was decided to renew the existing memorial, creating a landscaped garden, with trees, benches and a centrepiece statue.

Willie Doolan, Ian Lowe and Danny Taylor of the Auchengeich Memorial committee selected John McKenna as their preferred sculptor for the commission. Working in association with North Lanarkshire council and funded by a private patron, John began the commission

I set the pose of this miner to project a solemn reflection of the human tragedy, with his head bowed, wide balanced stance and introspective countenance. He pauses at his work, amongst gleaming coal, resting on his trusted pickaxe, standing respectfully and contemplating the fate of his fellow comrades.
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It is a lasting monument to the dead men involved in the disaster and a tribute to an industrial history and social heritage of a bygone era. My hope is that this statue acts as a reminder for many years to come of the disaster at Auchengeich Colliery and help folk reflect on what was once a way of working life for many people in Scotland

John McKenna ARBS, Unveiled 20th September 2009 by Alex Salmond, the First Minister of Scotland at the time.

The statue was cast using the ceramic shell lost wax technique into bronze at the John McKenna’s A4A art Studio bronze foundry.