PONTARDAWE ART CENTRE: 35th ANNIVERSARY OF END OF MINERS STRIKE

To the miners, their families and friends and the communities that lived through it, it only appears to be yesterday but in reality on the 3rd March 2020, it will the 35th anniversary of the end of the Miners’ Strike, a twelve months strike set up in an attempt to stop the pit closures.

To commemorate this major industrial dispute that had such a social and economic impact on families and local communities, Pontardawe Arts Centre have invited a PANEL of ex-miners and NUM trade unionists who were heavily involved in the dispute to share with the community, especially the school children, their personal memories and experiences of this major industrial dispute e.g.:-

• Organizing food collection and distribution to the miners families
• Organizing the picketing and attending magistrate courts to represent the miners arrested during the dispute
• Organizing pickets to speak all over the country to lobby support for the miners and their families especially for financial support, again representing families who fell into arrears with their rent or mortgage
• Attending both major National and Regional (South Wales) NUM Meetings held during the dispute.

As the years go by and the old miners get older it is critically important that these experiences/stories are told and recorded for current and future generations before it is too late This all happened in our communities to our friends, neighbours and families and their historical fight to keep their jobs should never be forgotten!.

The event will feature- A PANEL event on Thursday 5 March at 12.30pm and 6.00pm hosted by Jeremy Miles AM.  This discussion will be recorded and kept as archive available for all to view. 

The panel will include Eric Davies Dr Hywel Francis, Peter Hain, Lyn Harper, Sian James, Wayne Pedrick and Wayne Thomas.
– A week-long display of artefacts from the Miners Museum to be displayed at the PAC
– Music and Song to celebrate those artists who give their wholehearted support to the miners during the Strike.
– A screening of the film PRIDE at 2.00pm & 7.30pm on Tuesday 3 March.  With Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton the true tale of gay activists helping the miner during the strike.

If you have a story you would like to share please contact Malcolm Bubb on [email protected]

PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR THE PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL TO BE PUBLISHED BY THE PAC- TO BOOK YOUR PLACE IN THE AUDIENCE EARLY!