"They don’t want a new car or a new pair of shoes. They don’t dream of winning the lottery. They don’t want fame or fortune, and they certainly don't want a bottle of coke. They dream, they want and they need to make just enough money every day to feed, clothe and educate their children, and not have to risk their own lives in the process." - Chris Mear.
"The final pit to close in Leicestershire was Bagworth in ‘91. I would have been almost 12 months old. Bagworth Colliery was once the most productive colliery in Europe, and even held a place in the guinness book of records. Coal mining was one of this countries greatest industries, it built communities and then supported them through thick and thin, peace and war. The coalfield of Leicestershire was no different - it was central to the regions community and economy for centuries. In 2008 I began photographing the area, two decades after Bagworth shut-up shop and the “black gold” era came to an end." - Chris Mear.