A documentary that commemorates the West Stanley colliery explosion of 1909 in County Durham. The use of still photo's, newspaper archives plus soundtrack which includes the voice of Jack McGregor the last remaining rescue party member, give poignancy to the story of the tragedy. Title: Last Shift For Me Father …. The film opens with a very gloomy view of a coal mine, only the lights on the miners' helmets penetrate the darkness. The miners work in cramped conditions, some...

A documentary that commemorates the West Stanley colliery explosion of 1909 in County Durham. The use of still photo's, newspaper archives plus soundtrack which includes the voice of Jack McGregor the last remaining rescue party member, give poignancy to the story of the tragedy. Title: Last Shift For Me Father …. The film opens with a very gloomy view of a coal mine, only the lights on the miners' helmets penetrate the darkness. The miners work in cramped conditions, some additional light coming from paraffin lamps on the wall. A coal tub is pushed along a track towards the mine entrance. [Music] ‘Rap Her To Bank’ – song General views show winding gear at a pithead and of miners leaving the pit carrying lamps and knee protectors strapped to their legs. Another view of the pithead follows with sunlight penetrating the smoke and steam surrounding it. A close view of a composite picture of men and boys with their names written underneath each portrait. These are the victims of the West Stanley colliery disaster, which killed 168 men and boys. The film cuts to a solitary man wearing a flat cap walking past a gasholder.  Nearby building work is underway. In a pub the landlord pulls a pint of beer, two men sit quietly at separate tables. [Music] The film cuts to the mine seen earlier [very gloomy]. The commentary describes the time leading up to the disaster. A photograph showing miners with safety lamps. Another photograph shows one of the victims of the disaster; face down with his safety lamp still in his hand. Another photograph shows newsprint that lists those killed in the disaster. In voiceover, a former rescuer describes the scene at the pit on the day of the accident, the newsprint lists the names of the victims. A landscape view follows of the town Stanley as it is now. A number of quick cuts in the film show a succession newsprint photographs and film of the pithead as the commentary describes the explosion. A former rescuer Jack McGregor sits on a chair smoking a pipe just outside the door to his house as the commentary continues. The film cuts to a view of the pithead and a view of a row of miners lamps. Old photographs show crowds gathering at the pithead. Over the pictures, Jack McGregor describes the scene. [Music] The film moves back underground with the present day miners shovelling coal and moving coal tubs. This is followed by photo’s of miners at the time of the disaster. The film cuts to a view of a church clock tower then to an old photograph of women and boys at the pithead. [Music – Lead Kindly Light] A photograph follows of survivors of the colliery explosion. Underground views of a mine and photgraphs of crowds are followed  by Jack McGregor sitiing in hos chair. His voice is heard as he describes the rescue at the point where a trapped miner manages to contact the surface by telephone. Views follow again of the present day miners working underground. Photographs follow of some of the rescued men. The commentary states that some of those rescued died from inhaling poison gas. More photographs follow of the rescue mission. A photograph shows a group of rescuers; Jack McGregor describes the rescue scene. [Music] The film cuts to a man with a dog, his commentary describes his part in the disaster. A high angle view of the town follows. The film changers to views of news reports and photographs of the disaster, including the report that special commemorative items were sold to sightseers to aid a disaster fund. Photographs also illustrate the day of the funeral which place took for all of the victims on February the 21st. The film cuts to show miners walking towards the pit followed by a contemporary picture of the victims’ mass grave. A landscape view shows the town today as Jack McGregor describes the aftermath of the disaster. The film ends with views of gravestones in the local church followed by a panoramic view of the town. Credits: Camera – Martin Castellar, Sound - Martin Tucker, Directed by – Duncan Davis Acknowledgements: - Jack McGregor, Mr Douglas, Revie Lumley, Eric Forster, Bill Sables Derby Cathedral Choir, Mick Johnson – Radio Durham, Richard Faulkner – Radio Derby, National Coal Board, Tyne Tees Television, George Forster, Albert and the Lads Graphics: Jan Lisewski Additional Aid: Newcastle Polytechnic, Lanchester Polytechnic, Trent Polytechnic, Derby College of Art.