Daughter of “luckiest man to be alive” joins choir to mark 90th anniversary of Gresford pit disaster

A pensioner whose dad narrowly escaped being caught up in the Gresford colliery disaster is to sing in a new opera commemorating the 90th anniversary of the tragedy.

Teenager Ivor Owen Bellis injured his hand while down the pit the night before an explosion and fire killed 266 men and boys in of one of Britain’s worst coal mining disasters, on September 22, 1934.

It was just a small cut and at the time he thought nothing of it but the following day it had turned into a massive and painful blister.

The 18 year old was getting ready for the fateful shift when his mother saw his swollen, throbbing hand and refused to let him go to work.

Ninety years on his daughter, Gillian Davies, 70, who hails from Wrexham and now lives in Llandudno, was determined to be part of the new community opera, Gresford – Up From Underground.

Gresford miner Ivor Owen Bellis

She will be a member of the NEW Voices choir that will be performing the opera with the NEW Sinfonia orchestra at Remembering Gresford, a series of events in Wrexham to mark the milestone anniversary of the disaster.

Wrexham brothers Jonathan and Robert Guy, the founders of the NEW Sinfonia orchestra, have worked with the Wrexham Miners’ Project to organise the local commemorations, with support from the Arts Council of Wales.

The music for the opera has been written by musician and composer Jonathan and orchestra will be conducted by Robert, while the words are by poet Grahame Davies, from Coedpoeth.

The commemorations will culminate with three performances of the new opera, concluding at the North Wales International Music Festival at St Asaph Cathedral on Thursday, September 12.

According to Gillian Davies, she might never have been born had it not been for that “strange twist of fate”.

“If it wasn’t for my grandmother insisting he stay at home, dad might have been among those killed,” she said.

“Our father often told us the story of the disaster as my sister Lynne and I grew up. He told us he was the luckiest man to be alive.”

Rob Guy, Gillian Davies and Jon Guy in the chapel (Pictures by Rick Matthews)

Gillian, a keen amateur soprano who belongs to four choirs, felt compelled to join the NEW Voices choir which includes 120 singers from across North Wales.

She was pleased to attend a rehearsal session at All Saints Church, Gresford, where a memorial is situated in St Catherine’s Chapel. It includes a mural painted in 1994 by artist Denise Bates, a book of remembrance detailing the names of all those who died, and a miner’s lantern

“I love singing and I have joined in previous NEW Voices concerts but when I heard about the subject of this latest work I knew I had to be a part of it,” said Gillian.

“The story of the disaster has played such a major part in mine and my sister’s life that I signed up immediately. After all if it had not been for that miracle of fate our father might have been among the tragic victims and neither of us would be here today.

Robert Guy said he first heard about Ivor’s narrow escape when Gillian told the story about her father during an early rehearsal session for Gresford – Up From Underground.

He said: “It actually made the hairs on my arms stand up to think how close he came to being one of those killed. It is such an incredible story of how a person’s life can revolve around a single action or instant decision.

“So many of us taking part in this opera have strong connections to the mining community that played a major part in the history and culture of Wrexham, the legacy of which continues today.”

The miners lamp of remembrance

Robert and Jon’s grandfather, Jack Monslow, was a fitter at the Llay Main and Bersham collieries.

“We have grown up hearing stories about the pits all our lives, so many of us have family members who were miners or worked for mining companies. It is part of our heritage,” said Jon.

“While the disaster forms a major part of the story, the second half is a tale of resurgence, of a community which fought back and regained its strength, of how Wrexham has become a city on the rise today.

“I would also like to thank the Arts Council of Wales whose invaluable support has made the Remembering Gresford project happen.

NEW Sinfonia partnered with the Wrexham Miners Project and local community groups to organise a busy itinerary of arts, music and community engagement activities throughout September.

The schedule includes a month-long art exhibition, a historical display (Sept 16-22), an artistic installation of hanging paper doves at St Giles Church, Wrexham, a fundraising community concert (Sept 20), educational workshops, and a musical evening at Ty Pawb (Sept 21). There will also be a candle lighting vigil and services of remembrance in Gresford over the anniversary weekend (Sept 20-22).

The performance of the opera at the North Wales International Music Festival will be recorded by Radio Cymru.

For information about the full Remembering Gresford events programme and details of how to buy tickets for the opera Gresford – Up From Underground visit https://www.newsinfonia.org.uk/gresford