Blue plaque honour for miners’ leader AJ Cook
RHONDDA Heritage Park is now home to a Blue Plaque commemorating the life and achievements of one of the UK’s most prominent trade union leaders.
Arthur James Cook, known as A J Cook, was General Secretary of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain from 1924 until 1931, which included leading the miners during the 1926 General Strike.
Funded by the Association of Friends of Rhondda Heritage Park, the unveiling of the Blue Plaque was conducted by Rhondda Cynon Taf Mayor, Coun Rhys Lewis, on Saturday.turday.
The welcome address was given by retireded miner David Owen, also the chairman of the Association, folllowed by a speech h from former Lewis Colliery miner Ivor England.
There were also p e r f o r manc e s from Cor Meibion n Cwm Rhondda,a, The Plough Singers,ers, Hafod Primary School chool Choir and The Lewis Merthyr Band.
A large crowd enjoyedj d the day and everyone joined in the singing of the Welsh National Anthem, following the hymn Cwm Rhondda, which was written in 1905 by John Hughes and performed at Capel Rhondda in Hopkinstown in 1907.
Coun Lewisi said:id “I “It gave me great pleasure to unveil the Blue Plaque in honour of one of the country’s most famous trade union leaders in history.
“Arthur James Cook worked on the site of Rhondda Heritage Park
CLdecadesde ago, in the daysda when it was Lewis MerthyrM Colliery. “He“H was General SecretarySecre of the Miners’ Federation of GreatGrea Britain from 1924 until 1931, which included during one of the most turbulent times in mining history – the 1926 General Strike.
“It was A J Cook who famously coined the phrase ‘ Not a penny off the pay, not a minute on the day.’
“I am delighted that he has been honoured with a Blue Plaque and for that I applaud the efforts of the Association of the Friends of Rhondda Heritage Park.”
The Blue Plaque event concluded with a talk based on the life of A J Cook by David Chapple.
Visitors can follow in the footsteps of the coal miners by taking part in a unique Underground Tour Experience led by retired colliers.