75 years ago - England international rushes to Easington Pit gates to await news of an underground explosion

 75 years ago today a top flight footballer who went on to represent England and win the FA Cup was amongst those who rushed to the gates of Easington Colliery in the wake of the disaster that was to take the lives of 83 miners.

Tommy Garrett, born in South Shields in February 1926, had recently suffered the disappointment of losing in the FA Cup Final to Newcastle United, for whom Jackie Milburn scored both goals in a 2-0 success. Left full-back Tommy had earlier lost in the 1948 FA Cup Final when Manchester United beat Blackpool 4-2.

Tommy had joined the Seasiders after playing for Horden Colliery Welfare during WWII when he worked as a Bevin Boy at Easington Colliery. As the youngest of seven sons from amongst 12 children he had briefly joined his father Joseph Frederick Garrett there. According to his sister, Barbara Harle, “Tommy hated it” and whereas their dad worked all his life down the mines the youngster, whose older brothers were miners for most of their lives, soon moved when the war ended to play football full time.

He was though back home in Easington Colliery on the fateful day of 29 May 1951 when an explosion ripped through the mine, killing 81 miners and, later, two rescuers who risked all to try and save those trapped underground. Amongst the dead were Joseph Charlton, aged 42, and Robert Noble, aged 45, relatives of the author of this piece.

“Tommy went down to join the crowds outside the pit. People were desperate for news of their relatives. It was a horrible time,” explains Barbara who was working at the Co-op.

“People were coming in to buy black for funerals. It was horrible. Every day it would be said ‘there’s another one gone’ when their bodies were found and they’d be funerals non-stop. One day I just broke down and cried. “

One of her friends was initially rescued. “Matthew Williams was the only one to be brought out alive but his injuries were so severe that he died.” Barbara attended his funeral and was heartbroken. Williams was just 18.

The bodies of many of those who were killed were badly disfigured. Wilf Charlton, who worked in the pit baths and was charged with cleaning down the dead bodies before their funerals, later told his grandson, Mark Metcalf, that it was “almost impossible to recognise persons who I knew.”

Later on, 83 trees were planted close to the Welfare Ground to remember all those who lost their lives.

Tommy was to go on to great glory. He scored a vital goal for Blackpool when they beat Huddersfield Town 1-0 in the 4th round of the FA Cup in 1953 and was later part of the Blackpool side that beat Bolton Wanderers 4-3 at Wembley in ‘the Matthews Final’ at the end of the season. Barbara attended the final. “At 3-1 down we thought Blackpool had lost. But they didn’t give up.”

 Mortensen, another South Shields native like herself, scored three yet was overshadowed by Matthews, who was adored by the nation.

 

 

Tommy Garrett had made his England debut in a 2-1 victory against Scotland in April 1952 before a 134,000 crowd at Hampden Park. He later represented his country in May 1952 in a 1-1 draw in Florence and in a 4-1 win in Cardiff in October 1953.

Later in his career he played for Millwall.

The player died in 2006 suffering from dementia after he moved with his wife to Australia. Back home, would it not good if he was to be honoured by a plaque at the Welfare Ground in Easington Colliery?

For more on the disaster go to:- Durham Mining Museum https://w.dmm.org.uk/reports/8646-05.htm