Friday June 9th 2023
From left to right: Scott Montgomery, Penicuik Athletic Youth FC Committee Member; Tommy Cherrie, Roslin Building Services; Gregor Currie, William Purves Funeral Directors and Penicuik Athletic Youth FC 2011 Blue Team.
Eight young Penicuik footballers set about cleaning a stone erected in memory of a local mining disaster which claimed the lives of 63 men and boys, many of whom were the same age.
A social media post of the boys at work was spotted by a local funeral director who, in turn, offered to reward their efforts by properly restoring and cleaning the fading tribute. Gregor Currie of William Purves Funeral Directors approached Committee Member Scott Montgomery who, along with local Roslin Building Services, set about laying new groundwork and repairing the stone memorial, unveiled with the local football squad earlier this week.
Says Scott: “It’s a tribute to the players and to the two local businesses for stepping up to support this important restoration. Boys their age died in the disaster and cleaning the stone gave them an insight to their own Midlothian history. And to have the expert help from other local specialists working in this community has generated a wonderful restoration outcome, of which we are all very proud.”
The Mauricewood mining disaster of 1889 was recognised a Century later with the stone in 1989 to commemorate 63 local boys and men. A list of the names are HERE and more info on the disaster HERE.
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