A while back, I wrote a blog about the Pit Ponies… and what an awful job it was. Many of the ponies were actually born underground and never saw the light of day.
If you’d like to read the Original story, just click here.
This is a photo I used in the original story.
WHEN I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A MONUMENT…
When I heard there was a monument being sculpted in tribute to the miners and their ponies, I wrote this update.
As he was working on the sculpture, the artist, Peter Walker, sent us some photos of his work in progress.
THE SCULPTOR SAW MY BLOGPOST AND WROTE TO US!
The sculptor, Peter Walker, in a small town in the UK (he must have Google Alerts…), read the blog post about his work and wrote to HORSE AND MAN to give us his view of the project – which was very cool. Here is the artist’s update for us.
WELL, TODAY PETER WROTE TO TELL US OF THE UNVEILING!
Yay! The Pit Ponies have had their day! And, happily, I bring to you the news that last Saturday (June 8th, my birthday) the statue was unveiled to a crowd of over 400. Many of the miners still live in the town and they all came out to see the statue… remembering how it was.
This is Peter standing next to the final piece. He’s young!
Here is the note I received from the artist, Peter Walker:
Dear Dawn
You will be pleased to hear that the miner and pit pony statue was unveiled on the 8th June. A crowd of around 4/500 people gathered to see the unveiling of the statue which since I last sent you images has been cast in bronze.
It now stands in its new home with a plaque adorning it – upon which are the names of 183 ex miners
I hope you enjoy the pictures (one is of me and the statue –for as there are so many miles between us I doubt we will meet!!!) and the link to the unveiling film and a film about making the statue
VIDEOS
Peter sent along two videos.
1) The new story of the crowd: (click here or click the image)
Click image to watch the short new story
2) This is a video showing the detail of the sculpture before it was cast – it also has an intro (that I couldn’t understand due to the heavy accent) of an actual miner from that time. Click here to view.
Click image to watch the video of the detail of the sculpture before it was bronzed.
FINAL THOUGHTS…
Wow. I love that the town rallied around their past. I love that they honored their past and paid tribute. And, I love that the artist is young and enthusiastic enough to do this (a piece of history well before his time) and enthusiastic enough to involve us in his process.
Thank you, Peter Walker! And thanks to ALL of the miners and pit ponies.
Finally. Your Day of Glory.
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Nice to see recognition for the work the pit ponies did alongside the colliers. The last working pit ponies finished their last shift at Pant-y-Gasseg colliery in 1999. You can see a little video of them on you tube’s pitponyman channel. There are still a very few real live warm Pit Ponies at the Pit Pony Sanctuary in Pontypridd. But hurry if you want to meet them before they are gone forever.
Great to see Peter getting recognition in your Blog . He has other Equine sculptures out there too , all good stuff . I have to admit to being an interested party , although never having met Peter , I have known his Mom and Dad since our schooldays , he couldn`t have a better pedigree , lovely parents from the industrial heartlands of England where his Dad was a member of that other great bastion of the hard working man , the Railway . They are so proud of him and with very good reason .
Wow, this is great! It’s so wonderful, as you say, how this town is honoring its past and the individuals (both human and equine) who played a part. And the sculpture is really exquisite. Kudos to Peter Walker for turning his attention and talent into making such a beautiful, accurately detailed piece. What a wonderful sculptor!
Very cool! I think the monument is an awesome piece of art and the fact that you made contact with the artist makes it even more interesting. Horses, ponies and mules have done SO much for us.