Over 35 former miners made it to the annual reunion at the Radstock Miners wheel, after the event was cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

Numbers included one of the most famous former miners of them all, Glastonbury's Michael Eavis who worked in the mines for three years from when he was aged just 19.

Mr Eavis who remains President of the Miners Trust, told Nub News: " I am so looking forward to seeing these men again, I worked with some of them 50 years ago now, it has been that long."

Following the cancellation of the event last year due to the pandemic, Mr Eavis has never missed an annual meet up, a chance for the museum's chance to say thank you to all the former colliery workers and for all the donations they have made to the displays in the Somerset Coalfield Life Museum collections.

The miners, all still spritely and clearly thrilled to be meeting up their old work friends, staged a commemorative photo before catching up over a cup of tea and a beer.

The event was organised by Chairman Bryn Hawkins of Somerset Miners' Welfare Trust who told Nub News : " This is important because there are not too many of us left !"

Bryn, himself is 80 in a few days time, and said in past times the Trust had thousands of members and reminding us that when it closed Norton Hill colliery had 500 men working the seams.

He added : " We are now down to around 70 members but it is important for us to meet up, we enjoy it and having a chat. It is a bit different this year. We are planning even more for them. "

There will be a day out at the Midsomer Norton Heritage Railway on October 26 for all ex-miners, ex National Coal Board employees, their children, grand children and great grandchildren.

" That is all paid for by the Somerset Miners Welfare Trust. We had to get these reunions back, albeit on a scaled down version. It is good to see all these former miners, all here chatting and catching up. Some of them have not seen each other for a long long time."

But the Trust also welcomed some new faces and if you know of anyone who did work in the mining industry they would be most welcome, especially for the special lunch at the Midsomer Norton railway on October 26 (Call 07877 907 963 to book.)

The day also saw the museum launch a Lifetime Museum Free Entry Ticket for all the miners in recognition of their part in making the history of the Somerset Coalfield.