Bishop digs deep for mining visit

The Bishop of Sherwood will be putting on a hard hat when he meets up with mining staff tomorrow (Thursday, June 12th at 3.30pm) for his first tour round one of Notts remaining pits.

Photo opportunity:

The Rt Revd Tony Porter, who will be spending the day in the Mansfield area, will be given an above ground tour of Welbeck Colliery, Elkesley Road, Meden Vale NG20 9PU, tomorrow, Thursday 12th June at 3.30pm – photographers are welcome

Welbeck Colliery has escaped closure many times, but is now due to close next year, when the limited remaining resources have been worked out. Colliery owners, UK Coal, will be looking to relocate miners to Harworth Colliery, following the closure.

The Bishop will have an above ground tour and an opportunity to discuss the future of mining in this county, within the context of the use of fossil fuels in the national energy plan.

Before arriving at the mine, the Bishop will also visit Sherwood House at Rainworth, when he will meet staff and patients at the Independent Psychiatric Rehabilitation Hospital for men.

Local clergyman, the Revd George Butler, Priest-in-Charge of St Mark’s, Mansfield and Area Dean of Mansfield, said: “It is great that Bishop Tony is visiting these two sites, both very different but each of them working within high profile areas of our national and local life. It will inform the Bishop as he speaks within the diocese, and also support the work being done by the local parishes who work hard in areas that are sometimes not seen nor heard about.”

Ends