AN 89-YEAR-OLD ex-miner will officially open a fascinating exhibition which tells the story of ten former pit workers.

As the Star previously reported, 'When the Pit Closed' is the creation of photographer Alan Smith, from Rainford, and will be shown at the World of Glass to mark 25 years since Sutton Manor Colliery closed down.

The exhibition will use words, music and black and white photos to portray the impact the closure in 1991 had on the ex-miners and what has happened to each of them since.

Alf Houghton, who began work at Sutton Manor in 1955, will launch the exhibits on Saturday, January 16.

Alf’s first job at Sutton Manor was a road man and then he worked with wooden pit props packing coal at the pit face.

Alf, also a former UGB and Pilkingtons employee, also worked on the development of other faces. Following a back injury, Alf was offered a job in the Lamp Room, issuing lamps and keeping them serviced after each shift.

He retired in 1985 as the head lamp man.

“Alf still lives in Sutton Manor so I thought it would be nice for him to officially open the event. He began his working life as a glass blower so he’s steeped in St Helens’ history,” said Alan, 58.

"The idea came two years ago when there was an event at Chester Lane Library and some ex-miners were there. I got chatting to one or two of them and thought these have interesting stories to tell about what happened when the pit closed.

"The ten in the exhibition all worked there in the run-up to it closing down."

Alan met with each of the men, photographing them in a countryside setting in contrast to the industrial environment in which they would have worked.

He interviewed them to help write their stories and Alan's son Andrew, along with friend Craig Sergeant, composed a musical score working with the story and photos as a reference.

"I just thought it's a fascinating story and it's a people's story. It's got a lot of interest and everybody I've talked to seemed really keen on it."

The exhibition launches on Saturday, January 16 at the World of Glass with doors open at 1pm with a talk to be given at 1.15pm.

The exhibits will be on display until Friday, March 18.