A FORMER ‘Coal Queen’ opened the Miner’s Gala at the National Coal Mining Museum.
Margaret Lister was crowned the National Coal Queen in 1972 and returned to the former Caphouse Colliery at Overton, between Huddersfield and Wakefield, yesterday.
The gala featured weird and wonderful activities, including the knitted vegetable competition, a mini-farm, bonkers bikes and a cake and flower competition.
Margaret said: “I’m delighted to be invited back to the colliery after all these years.
“The prizes I won in 1972 included a holiday in Sicily, £500 spending money and an Omega gold watch, plus cosmetics and clothing.
“It was a different world back then, but it’s great to know that our mining heritage is being celebrated and remembered in such a positive way through the Miner’s Gala.”
Emley Brass Band performed and the new Coal Traders art exhibition opened.
