THE dedication ceremony at the Miners' Memorial Garden in Benarty was a huge success on Sunday despite the poor weather conditions

Benarty Environment Group organised a special event in the Memorial Garden at the Auld Shank, Ballingry, on Sunday afternoon and despite the, at times heavy rain, there was an excellent turn out.

Those who gathered were there to remember those who had worked in the mining industry in the Benarty area and also the pits of Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly, Cardenden and Kelty.

Among those who gathered in the Garden were long serving former councillors for the Benarty area, Willie Clarke and Joe Paterson, who both spent their working lives in the coal industry.

The Dedication Service provided an opportunity for anybody who had a family member who worked in the mining industry to go along and pay their respects in the beautiful setting of the Memorial Garden, which is superbly maintained by the members of the Environment Group, to those who worked in coal industry which dominated the villages of Ballingry, Lochore, Crosshill and Glencraig for decades.

Willie Clarke said: "It was a lovely occasion to remember those who worked in the industry which the Central Fife area was built on.

"This is a lovely garden and shows that people really care about their local history."

After the service there were refreshments served in St Serf’s Church, in Ballingry, which people welcomed after the rather dreich weather of the day.