Commemorative plaque honouring a former miner unveiled

A commemorative plaque honouring a former miner has been unveiled at the Agecroft Colliery memorial, with Salford’s MP praising it as “hugely important.”

On Saturday 26 April, a plaque commemorating Prince Peter Lobengula, an actor from South Africa who worked at Agecroft Colliery in Pendlebury, was erected at the Agecroft Memorial.

The event was attended by a variety of speakers from trade union associations, the Irwell Valley Mining Project, Salford Trade Council and Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, who praised the memorial as “hugely important.”

The memorial was in honour of both Lobengula and all who died or were injured throughout Salford’s long industrial history.

Paul Kelly, from the Irwell Valley Mining Project, recited the names of men, women and children who died in the collieries of the Irwell Valley, and stressed the importance of remembering the history of Salford’s industries.

Other speakers included trade union activists, who called for class solidarity across Salford and the rest of the world, including in Ukraine, South Africa and Palestine.

Prince Peter Lobengula’s commemorative plaque was then unveiled by local resident Lloyd Ellis.

The plaque erected commemorates Prince Peter Kushana Lobengula of Matabele, an actor and circus performer from South Africa who said he was the son of King Lobengula, the last King of the Matabele.

He immigrated to London as part of a “Savage South Africa” show in 1899 and gained significant attention when he announced his engagement to Florence “Kitty” Jewell, a white woman.

He then moved to Salford, and became a miner at Agecroft Colliery, where he once again gained recognition after petitioning Salford Revision Court for the ability to vote in local elections due to his parentage.

The court ruled in Lobengula’s favour, but he died not long after from tuberculosis.

Prince Peter Lobengula was buried at Agecroft Cemetery in November 1913, down the road from the location of his plaque, which titles him: “Our own King of Salford.”

Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey was in attendance and described the event as “hugely important,” adding that Agecroft was a large employer in the Northwest.

“It employed loads of people, and it was a huge loss to the community when it closed.” She then echoed the main sentiment of the day, stressing the importance of remembering those lost.

The Salford MP continued: “It’s important to remember the names of those who’ve died. Not just because of who they were, but also the social history that they provide.”

“They built industry here in the Northwest, but they also built the political landscape that we live in.” Long-Bailey added.