Student rugby team forced to scrap ‘Thatcher vs miners’ party
FOR many living in Durham, the miners’ strike is an emotionally fraught period of recent history.
But it seems that for students in the northern city, the fight between the miners and the Thatcher government is nothing more than an amusing idea for a fancy dress party.
The Russell Group university has been forced to apologise after members of its rugby team planned a ‘Thatcher’s Government vs. the miners’ themed event. The ‘forwards vs backs event’ invitation read: ‘Think pickaxes. Think headlamps. Think 12 per cent unemployment in 1984.’
Forwards were told to dress as miners, with instructions for ‘flat caps, filth and a general disregard for personal safety’.
Meanwhile, the backs were told to dress as members of Margaret Thatcher’s government. The Facebook post said: ‘You are to elect one member to come as the Iron Lady herself. We want variety too, so a few working-class-beatingbobbys wouldn’t go amiss. Nor would a few Falklands war heroes. You get the gist.’
The party, which has now been cancelled, was described as ‘a confrontation higher than the Battle of Orgreave’ and illustrated by an image of striking miners clashing with a line of policemen. It was organised by students who appear to have been members of Trevelyan College Rugby Club.
The Durham Miners’ Association said it had ‘deep concerns’ about the party, which was condemned by the university as ‘wholly unacceptable’.
The Battle of Orgreave was one of the most violent clashes of the miners’ strike, taking place at the Orgreave coke plant in South Yorkshire in June 1984. A total of 95 miners were arrested. But the case against them collapsed, and police were accused of disproportionate violence and unprovoked assault. Activists have long called for an inquiry.
Owen Adams, Durham’s provice-chancellor, said: ‘Durham University and Trevelyan College utterly deplore this event which is wholly unacceptable.
‘The event has been cancelled by the students concerned. We are speaking to those students and we are considering what further action to take in due course.
‘Durham University is extremely proud of the positive contribution it makes to Durham City and North East England and our place in the rich heritage of this region.’