The women at the heart of our mining communities

WALTER Waygood’s photographs of life in the Valleys during the 1970s and 1980s have struck a chord both with those who lived through those times and those wanting a glimpse into the past, writes David Owens.

The prolific emergence of these images comes after the photographer, pictured, returned to south Wales after a 20-year exile in Hampshire and a retirement from lecturing.

A return to his spiritual home of Merthyr Tydfil allowed him to edit and archive images taken 40 years ago – many never having been seen before.

These striking images were thematically diverse representing culture, industry and society.

Waygood’s collection, The Family

Of Miners, a National Museum of

Wales permanent collection of photographs, can be seen at the Pit Head

Baths, National Coal Museum, Blaenavon.

Just over a year ago these same pictures were used as a backdrop for the BBC programme The Miners

Who Made Us.

The programme portrayed the life of the Welsh miners with a balanced history that was devoid of romantic, nostalgic sentimentality. The pride and dignity was shown through a variety of personalities which acted as a memorial to the men who worked in this hard industry.

Women, the miners’ wives, were mentioned in the background especially during the miners’ strike campaign in their supportive role. However, on reflection, Waygood wanted to redress a picture portraying working class Valleys culture and present a more comprehensive family view of the men and women.

It was the men, women and sometimes even the children who worked in these heavy industries which formed a complete family unit and out of this unity came the camaraderie and hard-working ethos that formed the backbone of community life.

The result is The Factory Girls – a fascinating collection of photographs of women in industry, which are being exhibited for the first time since Waygood’s camera shutter button was pressed in the late 1970s.

■ The Factory Girls exhibition can be seen at the World Heritage Centre, Blaenavon, until May 27. The Family Of Miners permanent display is on show at the National Coal Museum, Blaenavon. Check the website for opening times – www. visitblaenavon.co.uk

■ The book Miners & Factory Girls can be purchased for £9.99 by contacting the photographer at: walterwaygood@btinternet.com. Waygood will also be a speaker at the Merthyr Rising Festival on May 25 with a talk – Art, Politics And Photography. This will be followed by a Q&A session with Western Mail and WalesOnline journalist David Owens. Find out more at www.merthyrrising.uk