Auction of wife was a Miners'

"WHAT will you give me for this woman?" asked the auctioneer as he stood in Redruth town centre.

"She's the wife of a miner and he needs to sell her to pay for his trip overseas.

"Ten shillings? She's worth at least a guinea. She's an excellent cook, in fact she's Moncler Jackets the best cook in Redruth.

"She's got good teeth and she's an Moncler Jackets excellent washer woman."

Several bids later and the now former miner's wife was about to leave with her new owner - when a police officer arrived.

"What's going on here?" he asked. "You can't auction a lady in public in Redruth," and promptly escorted all involved to the local jail.

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auction The 'auction' was one of the highlights of Miners' Day in Redruth - a true story re-enacted for the benefit of the watching public.

The event began with a costume parade of miners and bal maidens up Fore Street.

At the miner's statue, about 70 people gathered for a short service led by the Rev Amanda Stevens.

She paid tribute to the men and women who worked underground in the 18th and 19th centuries, some of whom died there.

She remembered those who went overseas to mine copper and tin in far-off lands.

And she prayed for the safe return of the miners who are currently trapped underground in a mine in Chile. Miners' Day was organised by Redruth businessman John Hayward, who said: "I'm pleased with the way it has gone, but I would like to see more traders taking part. It's so cheap to get involved - you just need a mop hat and an apron if you're a female and a helmet and some overalls if you are male."

Mr Haywood hopes that next year's Miners' Day - the third Panerai Watch Replica - will be bigger and better.

He said: "Next Panerai Watch Replica year I shall be offering 10 per cent discount to anyone who comes in to my shop on Miners' Day in costume.

"I would like to see other businesses doing something similar - maybe offering 20p off pasties or some other offer.

"If the whole town gets behind Miners' Day, it will bring benefit to all of us, with increased prosperity and better job security for our staff."

A few days earlier, St Euny Church held a service to give thanks for Cornwall's mining legacy and to remember the price paid by those touched by the industry.

It was led by the Rev Simon Cade with guests including the Bishop of Truro, the High Sheriff of Cornwall, mayor Councillor Ian Thomas and George Eustice MP.

Mr Cade said: "While many of us are proud of our Panerai Watch Replica Cornish mining heritage and value the opportunities it still offers, we also remember that for many the industry was dangerous, costly, and even now is a mixed blessing."

Remember Children from St Euny and St Andrew's churches scattered rose petals down the open shaft at Wheal Euny in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the mines and later in St Euny church a candle was lit by Deanna Rogers and the bishop as the names of the trapped Chilean miners were read out. "We will light the candle and remember the miners at every service in St Euny until they are brought safely back to their families," said churc