Miners’ champion honoured with first blue plaque for Hednesford

Posted on: Friday, April 26th, 2019 In: Council news,Hednesford news

Miners’ champion honoured with first blue plaque for Hednesford

A blue plaque commemorating the life and times of miners’ champion Albert Stanley has been unveiled.

Miners’ champion honoured with first blue plaque for Hednesford
Picture shows: Councillors Derek Davis and Alan Pearson at Albert Stanley’s grave
Miners’ champion honoured with first blue plaque for Hednesford
Picture shows: David Wisehall, Charles Hawley, Alan Pearson and Derek Davis paying tribute to Albert Stanley

Around 20 descendants of the campaigner for workers’ rights and votes for women attended the ceremony in Hednesford, Staffordshire on Saturday, April 13.

The plaque, provided by Hednesford Town Council, was erected at Woodseaves in  Green Heath Road – where he lived

The plaque, launched by Deputy Staffordshire Lord Lieutenant Charles Hawley, marks the legacy of the Labour MP elected in 1907, who was also Hednesford’s first county councillor elected in 1889.

Albert was also known throughout the area for his work on behalf of local miners, campaigning for better working conditions and rights.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by local VIPs as well as Albert Stanley’s relatives who traveled from across the UK

The plaque is the culmination of a long campaign for recognition by Hednesford town councillor Derek Davis OBE, who has a special interest in the town’s heritage.

Cllr Davis said: “This was a great occasion and the culmination of a lot of work. It was wonderful to see so many people related to Albert able to come along and in some cases greet relatives they’d not met before.”

“Albert Stanley was a man of many great achievements, not least speaking up for the working men of the Staffordshire pits. It’s wholly appropriate that he should be remembered with a blue plaque and we are delighted to be able to make this happen.”

Before the ceremony, Cllr Davis was accompanied by Hednesford Town Council chairman Alan Pearson in laying a wreath at Albert Stanley’s grave.

Albert Stanley factfile:

  • Born June 7th,1862 into a coal mining family in Dark Lane, Dawley Salop.
  • Baptised in St Leonard’s Church, Malinslee July 6. 1862.
  • The family moved, with many other mining families, into the Hednesford area in 1880.
  • Local Methodist Preacher.
  • Died in Hednesford 1915.
  • First elected to the Staffordshire County Council representing Hednesford 1889 – 1915.