Hundreds pay tribute to miner killed in blast

A British miner who died in the New Zealand mining disaster was remembered as a “real character” and a “true friend” as more than 600 people gathered for a thanksgiving service in his memory yesterday.

By The Newsroom

Published 29th Jan 2011, 14:47 BST

Malcolm Campbell, of St Andrews in Fife, was one of 29 miners who lost their lives last November following a series of explosions at the Pike River mine in Atarau on the country’s South Island.

He was one of two Scots killed in the tragedy.

Fellow Briton Pete Rodger, 40, from Perthshire, also died at the mine.

Hundreds of Mr Campbell’s friends and family gathered for a remembrance service at St Leonard’s Parish Church in St Andrews yesterday, on what would have been his 26th birthday. Among them were his fiancee Amanda Shields, 23, whom he was due to marry in December last year.

Some of Mr Rodger’s relatives were also at the service.

During the ceremony, a sombre roll call of the 29 names of those who perished in the disaster was read out.

New Zealand St Andrews