Underground-Overground

Rosliston Forestry Centre

Mining Sculpture

Thanks to the Band Members

Griff Tilley, Sam Horan, Joanna Mailer, Louise
Docksey, Matt Bird, Philip Clamp, Martin Bullock & Lucy Barnett.

Thanks to John Quimby 3rd from right for officialy unveiling the sculpture.

Special Thanks to: writer Marian Adams who worked with me to gather stories for the scuilpture.

Volunteers who helped in the construction: Roger and Pauline Ward, Jim Harrison, Brian Anslow, Jim McKenna, Daniel Webster and Des Cox, plus South Derbyshire Preservation Group Members for their stories and support.

PIT MEMORIES SHAPE NEW SCULPTURE

John Quimby, the man who was Manager at Cadley Hill Colliery when it closed in 1988, has been invited to unveil a stunning new sculpture created to represent one of the diverse range of resident communities in The National Forest.

Made from concrete and reinforced steel, the 12 cubic foot piece is one of a range of new features at Rosliston Forestry centre. It has been called Underground Overground.

The unveiling ceremony will take place as part of a two-day event to celebrate and showcase more than £1m of new features at Rosliston.

Inspiration for the sculpture has come from those who were involved in coal mining in South Derbyshire.

Writer Marian Adams and visual artist Robert Webster collected stories from South Derbyshire Miner's Preservation Group members who were encouraged to talk about life in and outside of the pit. From this Robert produced some rough illustrations based on their stories.

He then ran a pottery workshop with the group to create a three dimensionsal model which was put to the preservation group for discussion and final approval.

Funding of £2,500 came from Sports England Fund as part of the Get Active in the Forest initiative and support was also given by the Forestry Commission. Bison Concrete has helped by donating material for the foundations as well as several tones of sand and gravel.

Robert Webster has donated his time over several months and volunteers from the miners group and others including Roger and Pauline Ward, Jim Harrison, Brian Anslow, Jim McKenna, Daniel Webster and Des Cox   - have voluntarily helped in the construction of the sculpture.

And now the finished piece is set for its official launch, which will take place at 11am as part of an action-packed community day at Rosliston Forestry Centre on Saturday, October 14.

During the time workers have been on site, many visitors have wanted to relate their mining history memories to them.

As a result, people are being encouraged to go along on launch day to tell their stories on video or tape or write down their memories. It is hoped a book and DVD can eventually be produced using these which will be available for purchase by the general public.