Sunday 10th, August - Big Pit Colliery, Bleanavon
Lyn Gladwin once again organised our annual trip to the "Valleys". Given that "Big Pit" proved such a wonderful venue for last year's meeting in Wales it was again chosen for this year's. Where else better to hold a meeting than at the centre of what is today the industrial archaeological landscape that makes-up the World Heritage Site at Bleanavon.
The National Mining Museum for Wales - Big Pit Colliery, Bleanavon.
Nearly 20 members pitched-up from all over the country to attend this year's Welsh meeting. Several from the North and North East of England even staying over in Abergavenny the previous night to sample a further helping of Welsh hospitality and ale.
Once again most members at the meeting chose to go on the excellent underground tour at Big Pit before retiring to the old pit canteen to get down to the more serious business of swapping and catching up with news from across the regions.
NMMA Members waiting to go underground at Pig Pit
Proceedings at Big Pit were wound up around mid afternoon. However, the meeting re-convened, with most members still in attendance, shortly later at a local pub located situated only a stones throw up the valley. This secondary venue proved very popular not only due to the food and liquid refreshments on tap but also due to the landlords amazing collection of mining memorabilia that was plastered all over the pub. Literally dozens of lamps were suspended from the pub's oak beams. These represented every sort of hand lamp from early electric and carbide types through to an ET&W Shaft Flame Safety Lamp. An equally impressive collection of Welsh pit checks was also on display on the pub's walls.
Another good badge hunting day for North East NMMA Member - John Soppitt.
With last minutes badge and check deals still going on in the pub's car park the meeting finally came to an end during the late afternoon. Yet another great day out in Wales thanks to Lyn!