Welsh mine deaths: Church services for Gleision miners

Church services across south Wales have paid tribute to the four miners killed in a Swansea Valley colliery.Phillip Hill, 45, Garry Jenkins, 39, David Powell, 50, and Charles Breslin, 62, all died in flooded Gleision Colliery near Pontardawe.Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan said the tragedy had moved an entire nation and the world.The Prince of Wales has agreed to be royal patron of an appeal for the Swansea Valley Miners Appeal Fund.Neath MP Peter Hain said Prince Charles' decision was a boost for the "numb and desolate" families."Only a day old, minersappealfund.org has already raised over £20,000 with hundreds of donations small and large," said Mr Hain, who has been tweeting updates on the amount of money raised.At Cilybebyll Parish Church, close to the Gleision mine, members of the community took part in prayers in memory of the miners during the Sunday service.At nearby Resolven, where one of the miners lived, the service at St David's Church reflected on the tragedy.On Saturday Mr Hill's daughter Kyla laid a bunch of flowers with a card, which read: "Hi dad, I love and miss you forever. Love you all the money in the world and America. From Kyla x".The archbishop said he knew first hand what a "tough and dangerous job it was, and still is" as his father was a miner."There were many accidents and fatalities in the old days, involving gas or sudden collapses," he said."So, my heart goes out to the families of those killed in Gleision Colliery."I hope they will gain some comfort from knowing that everyone in Wales is behind them. The whole community is heartbroken for them."A miners' remembrance tribute was also held at the church hall in Neath Road, Resolven on Saturday.A wall of messages reflecting the feeling of the local community has been created inside the hall.The Reverend Peter Lewis, vicar of the Vale of Neath parish, said people would continue to gather to light a candle, pray and leave a message of support and sympathy."Lots of people who have got mining connections themselves are finding that they are thrown back to the memories of when they were younger."People locally want to reach for support for those who are in the immediate families of those affected and also the rescue workers who helped that are also from the area."The Catholic community of south Wales also sent condolences to relatives and friends of the miners killed.Archbishop of Cardiff George Stack said: "Prayers will be offered in all our churches this weekend for the repose of the souls of those who have died."We shall also pray that those who have been bereaved will be given the strength and support they need to bear this tragic loss."Organisers of sporting events across the region also paid respects, with a minute's silence at the Glamorgan cricket ground in Cardiff, where England faced India, and at Swansea City's Premier League game against West Bromwich Albion.Local rugby sides Ospreys and Llanelli Scarlets wore armbands, and Wales' Rugby World Cup squad sent their sympathies from New Zealand.An inquiry has been launched into the cause of the incident with safety experts promising lessons would be learned from the investigation.The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it was too early to know what caused the mine shaft to flood with water on Thursday but mining experts said operating near old workings which contain water was always a hazard.HSE specialist mine inspectors are on site working closely with the police.Police have now formally identified the men who died and the order in which their bodies were found.Mr Jenkins was found first, followed by Mr Powell, Mr Hill and then Mr Breslin. Mr Hill was from Neath and the other three men were from the Swansea Valley.Three miners escaped as flood water broke through a retaining wall. Two joined the rescue effort, but a third, Malcolm Fyfield, was injured and taken to Morriston Hospital, Swansea.The incident began at 09:15 BST on Thursday when emergency services were called to the drift mine at Cilybebyll.Water that was blocking the miners' exit was pumped out of the mine, and oxygen pumped in.But when divers moved into the mine early on Friday the body of the first miner was discovered at the bottom of the main shaft.The second man was found at lunchtime, believed to be close to where he was working. Police confirmed during Friday that the remaining two bodies had been discovered.From / BBC