The poster seems to indicate it might have been a grudge match! The Coke Ovens Team beat the Melting Shops, who appeared to produced this poster to mourn the passing of their team. Of course the Coke Ovens might have had the poster produced as a jibe at the Melting Shop! BUT Colin Hart comments: “The real reason for the production of the poster R.I.P.; after a bit more research I found that the date on the poster May 8th 1920 was the actual date the Bury Cup final was played and the Coke Ovens beat the Melting Shop.” This must have been a poster produced by someone as a jibe after the final had been played.
Derick Pearson told us: ”This was no joke, in fact it was a most dreadful accident and remembered for years by many. The original card was from a lady at East Loftus in 1970. She had lost a grandfather in the disaster. It is understood that the disaster had affected many families as there were so many hurt or killed, it is believed that the greater part of the team had been lost through the explosion. The dangers involved in coke making even today pose the threat of explosion; though the techniques used today are much safer. The original card was a treasure to keep. Note this was printed by Richelieu. He was the Post Master and Photographer Printer in Carlin How Square. Some of his cards are superb”
Reference has been made to an explosion at the coke ovens on Bill Normans excellent Wartime History site,: ”2030hrs. 2 HE fell near No.2 coke oven at Skinningrove Ironworks. 1 man (John Joseph Carter of Liverton Mines) was killed and 5 were injured. Slight damage was caused to the plant but there was no interference with production.” For the unlearned HE in the text refers to HIGH EXPLOSIVE .”
Image courtesy of a compilation by Derick Pearson and other collections, thanks to Derick Pearson and Colin Hart for the updates.
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