Mining museum exhibition pays tribute to coal queens of Britain

IT WAS a little bit of glamour in a world otherwise known for its grime.

Coal queen competitions started out as simple local colliery contests which would see a miner's daughter or wife crowned as queen at local pits around the country.

Colliery winners would compete for the regional title at the county's miners' gala and in 1969 the competitions had become so popular that they were made into a national event.

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Now the history of the country's coal queens will be celebrated in a new exhibition at the National Coal Mining Museum, near Wakefield.

Those behind the exhibition have been sourcing items from throughout the nation from the contests, which were at their height between the early 1960s and mid 1980s.

Between 1969 and 1983 the National Coal Board, supported by Coal News, ran the Coal Queen of Britain competition, where regional winners competed for the national title. Winners received prizes including holidays and went on to represent the National Coal Board at events during their reign.

The museum has talked with ex-Coal Queens, from Yorkshire to Cumbria, and Nottingham-shire to Northumberland.

The exhibition will run from May 17 until September 26. Admission into the exhibition and museum is free.