Miners’ Strike event at city Arts Centre

RE the 35th anniversary of the end of the Miners’ Strike in 1984/85. On

Thursday, March 5, the Pontardawe Arts Centre will be hosting a unique event to commemorate and remember the historic industrial dispute, when coal miners fought so hard to retain their jobs/pits in their communities which at that time were heavily reliant on those jobs.

It is unique in that it is the first time that a group of students (from Cwmtawe Community School) and the community at large will be given the opportunity to put questions to a panel of ex-miners, union officials and support group activists about what it was like to work in the coal mines, why they felt the need to fight for their jobs and communities, what it was like for the women supporting their husbands, and lastly, what have they learned and would they do the same today?

This is the first time the Arts Centre has tried this format for debating historical events that had such an impact on people and communities, and since the miners are all getting older it is critical that all these memories and experiences are recorded before they are lost in time.

Supporting this project is Swansea University Miners Museum, with a display of artefacts and recordings all week, and the Arts Centre has arranged for the opportunity for anyone in the community to record their personal memories in recording booths.

Congratulations, PAC, on organising this event, and I would encourage people of all ages to take advantage of this event and come along to the Arts Centre to hear first hand what it was actually like during the strike and show that the community will never forget the miners’ courage to fight for their jobs.

Malcolm Bubb Alltwen