Francis Hillier has decided to retire from the Chairman’s position of the Somerset District Miners’ Welfare Trust after 25 years, due to ill health. It was a moving moment for him when he announced he was stepping down at the latest meeting.

Francis has done an incredible job over the years. His biggest achievement was with the other Trustees’ involvement in securing in excess of £3 million for local miners; the claim was for men with breathing conditions after inhaling dust underground.

The national claim was the largest industrial injury claim in the world at the time – Francis was awarded the MBE, one of his greatest moments being meeting the Queen.

His sporting connection with football has also brought recognition – he has held the Somerset FA President position for over twenty years, having been in football for 71 years, starting out as Assistant Secretary for Peasedown Miners’ Welfare Football Club at the age of just eighteen.

The Trust is there to support retired miners and their families and social needs of the area; they have donated many thousands of pounds to local good causes.

This year was the 30th Anniversary of the Miners’ Reunion, which has been organised by the Somerset District Miners’ Welfare Trust over this period. It is now held at Radstock Museum, and the Ladies there do a great job managing the food and drink, for which we also thank the Radstock Co-operative Society.

As the last colliery closed in 1973, mining, for some, will only be a memory, but for many residents, they may not be aware that the village in which they live was originally a mining community, and that many of the recreational facilities they enjoy owe their existence to the mining industry.

Many of the recreational facilities originally provided for mineworkers still remain as recreational charities with the trusteeship held by a number of Parish Councils.

Bill Morris, who has been Secretary for nineteen years, has also retired for health reasons. He has been another wonderful member of the Trust over the years, and a great thank you must go to him for his dedication and for the methodical way he has looked after the Trust’s business.

Francis wished the Trust all the best for the future after the new Chairman, Secretary and Trustee have been elected, over the next few weeks, and was delighted that Treasurer, Clive Norman, was to continue in his role, as were trustees, John Denning and Robert Bailey.

One of Francis’ last jobs for the Trust will be to lay the Miners’ wreath at the 100th anniversary of WWI on Remembrance Sunday at Midsomer Norton.

Bryn Hawkins