Miners’ Strike stories Filming Day

The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign have invited striking miners, their wives, partners, families, friends and anyone who supported them during the 1984/5 miners’ strike, to come and speak on camera about their favourite stories – sad, funny, inspiring, or anything they wish to share from the time.

People in attendance at the event at the NUM in Barnsley will also be able to browse the NUM banner collection in the Miners Hall and see images from artist Darren Coffield’s Ashes and Diamonds exhibition. Tea and Coffee will be provided and stalls will be there displaying information and selling OTJC fundraising merchandise and strike memorabilia.

Joe Rollin, organiser of the event and OTJC Deputy Chair said: “We want to capture the spirit of the 1984/5 strike on camera. This is not just to remind ourselves of, and put on record, the past struggles of trade unionism, but also to inspire future generations to stand up to inequality and injustice.”

Kate Flannery, Secretary of the OTJC said: “This is going to be a great event and we are really looking forward to hearing the stories relating to a difficult and painful time in our history. In the Miners’ Strike of 1984/5 the police organised road blocks to stop the movement of pickets, occupied mining villages and physically and verbally attacked miners and our communities. Many miners were wrongfully arrested and framed and the police behaved with impunity. This happened under a Tory Government and the legacy of treating workers with such contempt lives on today.”

Kevin Horne, a miner arrested at Orgreave during the strike said: “The OTJC knows about the importance of solidarity and supporting each other. Often adversity can bring out the creative side of people through art, theatre, song and poetry. We also saw the fantastic way the women organised during the strike and we made close friends with communities who suffered discrimination and supported us such as Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners. We’d really love to hear stories from all the different people involved in supporting the Strike.”

The filming day will be held on:

Saturday 7th December, 2019 10am–4pm

NUM Barnsley, 
2 Huddersfield Road, Barnsley S70 2LS

All welcome