Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
#1
Peter.
Please be aware there is a lot of swearing in the clips and commentary and especially in the blogs.
This thread is not to open up old wounds, Peter asked for more on the strike. I admit the clips are mainly one sided but the comments on this page are not and shows the feelings of people from both sides even today.
Peter asked for more and here is some more.
Beware the offensive language.
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"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
#2
Gary
a very moving record of events. I took some photos during the 1984 strike at Tilmanstone pit; here's one of them:
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
#3
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
#4
Not sure why that has come out so small but you can get the gist of it.
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
#5
Right! Been playing around with picture so will see what happens now:
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#6
cor wot a memory,i used to ride them cages regurly.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
#7
Got it right this time, Mark,lol.
We will soon have a DVD to give out on the History of Kent Mining from Sinking to the present day.
You should get out to the White House in Aylesham on a Wednesday morning, heritage lads get together over a coffee and reminisce over lots of pictures, films and memorabilia.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 664- Registered: 23 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,039
#8
How many pits remain? Two or three? What a waste to put so many people out of work then import coal. Madness.
Guest 688- Registered: 16 Jul 2009
- Posts: 268
#9
The demise of the coal industry was an act of ideological vandalism.A straight attack on a proud and defiant community.
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
#10
I don't have many pictures, Gary but here are a couple of others:
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
#11
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#12
garyc
some great stuff on there
looked at the other videos to
will post later on it got to go out
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Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#13
would love one of the dvs's
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Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
#14
Andrew.
UK Coal has 3 pits left, Daw Mill, Thoresby and Kellingley.
Powerfuel, owned Hatfield Colliery. This pit is experimenting with carbon capture (clean coal) with a power station nearby already having been granted planning permission.
However, they needed more funds and was brought out by a Dutch firm, who will now reap the profits of clean coal in England. I believe a Russian firm is still involved as well.
Mark.
Great pictures, I expect you have looked here but just in case, check this site out.
http://doverdc.co.uk/kentcoal/exhibition/discovery.asp They are working on the picture page but it will be up and running soon.
I will inform all, when DVD and Booklet is available.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
#15
Gary
I hadn't seen that website before - I will have a look later when I have a bit more time. Thanks.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
#16
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#17
GARYC;
Thanks for the link, looked at all the links around it to on you tube
some interesting views.
I think the miner was correct when he said after 1974 strike the miners sat back to much whilst the tories prepared for future strikes.
It became maggies ambition to crush the miners and the N.U.M and trade unions in general.
we also saw the tories beimng involved in the setting up of a scab so called union
(U.D.M) Where many of its few members stood for the tories at the very next election.
It would be interesting to have the full costs of chucking all those thousands of men on the dole (many for life) cost to the communities both in financial terms, and ripping the heart out of thecommuniuty)
the tores once were happy to put millions on the dole, and we appear to be heading back in that direction.
rule by fear.
theres so much went on during the 80's strike
thank you garyc for sharing those clips with us
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#18
well put keith.
two points stand out, firstly about 1974 when the n.u.m. thought they were in a win/win situation.
secondly about the infiltration by the true blues.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
#19
Keith.
History proves, we should have taken on Thatcher on our terms at the right time and if we had won, what would this country be like today?
The truth is, we never wanted to go on strike, we only went on strike when we were forced to, on her terms, with her timings and we do know the consequences of losing that strike.
However, to go on strike to bring down a government, would have been wrong and counterproductive, let alone against many miners principals, it was their pits that was important to them, not the government. As I have said many times, the only reason we went on strike was to try and save our pits.
Their plan was never about coal production or cost cutting, it was all about taking the miners out of the equation, beat the miners, bring the rest of the unions to heel.
Ironically, had we been the politically militant rampant beasts, we were portrayed as and planned our action as they did, we would have won.
As PaulW has said on here before, we were outflanked and out manoeuvred.
It wasn't just the miners who suffered by losing that fight, the whole country is still feeling the selfishness and hatred they had for unions. Today it the turn of the NHS and the Benefits System.
Both flawed, both in need of fixing but not by declaring war on them and demolishing them, like they did to the unions back then.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#20
GARYC;
I share fully your view
with regard to militancy, far from what maggie tried to portray
none of those charged were found guilty
i recall being in yorkshire during part of the strike and the media image, and tory politicians trying to portray the N.U.M as the ones in the wrong and mindless hooligans.
when in fact it was the complete opposite.
there was so much that did little to help relationships between unons.managers
and wirkforces in general.
no one wants to strike it is always a last resort.
i do feel scargill should have prepared himself better over the years rather than taking the same confrontationsal approach, but that said a lot of what he said about pit closures (denied at the time by the tories) did happen.
i did have a year down tilmanstone so have a little exerience and as an active trade unionist all my life have seen things from that side
and like garyc iv stood out at times hen national excutives have tried to force things through without ballot
was one that supported /campaigned for ballots to be held before disputes took place.
othes may recall unions used to just walk out like FORDS, N.,U.R.
Thus to today.
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