The War Memorial in the grounds of the Llanhilleth Miners’ Institute was constructed in 1989 under the supervision of Pam Hopkins who was the main fund raiser for the project. W.E.(Bill) Smith, chairman of the Institute for many years and a miner at Llanhilleth (No.2) Colliery until its closure in 1969, had been a South Wales Fusilier and it was always his dream to have a War Memorial in Llanhilleth to commemorate the loss of local men during both World Wars. He wanted it within the grounds of the Institute and had a piece of land allocated. With the help of Pam Hopkins the committee contacted local businesses and councillors to raise the funds for construction.

The memorial was built in 1989 by apprentices from the Alan Davies Opportunity Centre in Tredegar.

The dedication service was attended by members of the Llanhilleth community and local dignitaries.

The First Armistice at Llanhilleth Institute Memorial

The first armistice was organised by Pam at short notice, from noon the previous day, but all went very well. This service and those for the next few years, were carried out by Pastor Trevor Russell of Tillery Street Methodist. Father Robert Prescott took over after the Pastor’s death, and currently the Rev. Viv Nicholls annually presides. Her grandfather,Ted Nicholls, was involved with the ‘Stute for most of his life.

Over the years, the Last Post and Revelle have been played by John Harris and Councillor Steven Bard.

The services are well attended, the congregation including ex-miners and their families.

“The annual service is held outside at the memorial to rememeber, and then inside the Institute to forget.”

Refreshments are served in the ‘Stute and usually someone will start to sing, followed in turns by other local community members. Approximately two hundred people or more now attend this annual service which started from nothing more than one man’s wish.

Pam will continue to organise the annual service and look after the memorial as long as it is possible for her to do so.

“Llanhilleth Remembers”

November 2009 many local people attended “Llanhilleth Remembers.” An event to commemorate the armistice. It was Pam Hopkins’ 20^th year as custodian and the 65^th year after the D-Day Landings.

Dedication of the Miners’ Windows at Zion Baptist

On 25 July 2010 at a service of dedication, at the Zion Baptist Church of Llanhilleth, the Reverend Viv Nicholls paid tribute to Llanhilleth’s industrial past, as three memorial windows were unveiled to commemorate the mine workers of Llanhilleth Colliery. The chapel was built over 130 years ago by the miners, and has played its part in community life until the present day.

New world Glass specialise in decorative glazing, and the artist “Ketch” heard many experiences of pit workers before completing his design for three separate panes. Each in turn depicting aspects of valley life when the pit was functioning: the pit head, a minersinging and the chapel itself.

Reverend Viv Nicholls had launched an appeal for £3,500 to provide a permanent memorial to the colliery which operated from 1855 to 1969. The required funds were raised within eight weeks. The programme was designed to reflect valley life when the colliery was at its heart:

            Councillor John Taylor remembered working at the coalface for forty years
                        from the age of 15.
            Christine Purkiss performed a solo, and
            Pam Hopkins recited “Our Valley is Green Once Again.”

The Right Reverend Bishop of Monmouth, Bishop Dominic Walker committed the Act of Dedication and spoke of his strong connection with the Llanhilleth area. He remembered, as a child, visiting his grandparents who had been local Coal Level owners.

Following the service guests enjoyed entertainment by the Town Silver Band, Ross Leadbetter and Elizabeth Webb, at a buffet at the Miners’ Institute. Later that evening many memories were shared of life in the coal mining era.