Nestled on the border between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire is the small village of Pinxton. With just under 5,700 people calling it their home in 2011, the quaint spot, just off junction 28 of the M1, has a community feel, with a friendly atmosphere.
But recently the village has become the centre of a decades-long mystery, thrusting it into the national spotlight. On Thursday, June 8, Nottinghamshire Police confirmed human remains found in Coxmoor Road, Sutton in Ashfield, on April 26, were that of Pinxton miner Alfred Swinscoe - who disappeared 56 years ago.
Mr Swinscoe, went missing in early 1967 after drinking at the Pinxton Miners Arms. He vanished in unusual circumstances, leaving his family with a number of questions about his disappearance and death.
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What was once the Pinxton Miners Arms is now a private house, situated in Church Street West. The pub was a popular spot for the mining community, including with Mr Swinscoe. It was here that Mr Swinscoe told his son to get another round in. He went outside to use the toilet and was never seen again.
Shirley Ward is 87-years-old and has lived in Pinxton for 67 years with her husband. She said: "I saw that they had found him in the news.
"We've lived here for 65 years, so I remember the village back in 1967. In fact, I knew of Alfred - I didn't know him personally but I knew him through people.
"He was well-known around the town and I remember being told he went missing." Mrs Ward, who now lives close to where the Pinxton Miners Arms used to be, recalled the village and pub as friendly places in 1967.
She added: "I can remember the Miners Arms, but we were not drinkers so didn't go, but I remember that it was a nice pub from what I knew.
"Pinxton is a nice place to live. I've liked this place for 65 years, my husband has liked it for 65 years." Mr Swinscoe was a father-of-six and a miner, who worked at Langton Colliery from the age of 14 and was last seen at work on January 20, 1967.
He was a 'cutter’, known for operating a machine that cut large chunks of coal out of the coal face for others to then break down. According to those who live there, Pinxton has remained a friendly place to live.
On a sunny weekday, the village is busy with parents collecting children from school, and kids heading out to play with friends. It feels animated and a safe place to be.
Karren Potter, 52, who has lived in Pinxton since 1991, said: "It's an ordinary village that has the same problems every other village does. It's still friendly but it's not quite as friendly as it used to be.
"I think people keep to themselves a bit more than they used to. But I think that's the case anywhere." Customer service executive Nicola Greenwood, 31, added: "It's a friendly place and it feels very community-led here. With the case, it was 50 years ago so obviously I wasn't here then so I can't say much.
"Pinxton is a nice place to live though." Andrea Annabel was visibly shocked when she found out that the human remains found in Sutton in Ashfield were that of Pinxton miner, Mr Swinscoe.
"I feel horrible for the family," the 45-year-old said. Craig Breuster, 47, agreed and acknowledged that the case was extraordinary.
Speaking on life in Pinxton he added: "It's been nice here, it's a not a cliquey place. I've found people of all ages to be quite friendly." Now, Mr Swinscoe's family have been left with "mixed emotions", with his discovery leading the family to have fresh questions about what happened to their loved one.
Speaking at a Nottinghamshire police press conference, Mr Swinscoe's grandson, Russell Lowbridge said: "While we might be able to give my grandfather the proper funeral he deserves we still don’t have the answers we desperately need.
"We hope that someone out there can help change that. We urge anyone with information, no matter how small, to contact Nottinghamshire Police as soon as possible. Please help us understand what happened."
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