(15 Mar 2014, 7:28 pm)aureolin wrote I wasn't born till 86

(15 Mar 2014, 7:34 pm)citaro5284 wrote Bloody hell, just a young'un then

(15 Mar 2014, 7:28 pm)aureolin wrote I wasn't born till 86, so wasn't around it all. Few members of my family were involved though and all toughed it out for the duration. Those that crossed are still seen as scabs today though when you talk about it.

One thing it did teach me though is that I'd rather walk in front of a bus than cross a picket line.

(15 Mar 2014, 5:16 pm)fozzovmurton wrote A lot of us will know it is the 30th anniversary of the 1984-85 Miners Strike, the longest dispute in history and shaped the area we see today.

I was wondering if anybody knows which bus companies were used to carry strike breakers, were Northern, United and then Busways used for miners* transport to work or was it just small independents contracted to do it, did many buses get wrecked in rioting and what damage was done to companies reputations for carrying working miners*

I was only 22 months old when it started, so have never had any recollection of it, do many others here remember the strike???

How old were you when it happened, was your father/uncle/granddad or brother miners, if so, did they tough the year out or go back to work before the end.

What was life like, from what I have been told and learnt is that brought a lot of poverty, nobody had a pot to piss in, and most are still seeing the effects financially to this day.

What was your families support for Scargill like and did they hate Mrs T as much

my great-nana once said to me 'I dont condone terrorism, but I wish the IRA had blew her up in Brighton in '84, bloody mickey mouse terrorists'

So over to you guys with your memories

#minersstrike30
#minersstrikememories

*I refuse to use the 'S' word to describe people who went back to work, it is a horrible word and although some probably deserve to be called it, to me it is just as bad as branding someone a rapist or paedophile...Am absolute horrible word that should not be messed with or thrown about

(16 Mar 2014, 2:51 pm)fozzovmurton wrote There is a good feature in the Sun today about what has become of Arthur Scargill, he has gone from being a powerful Union leader to virtually friendless who is living a reclusive life in Barnsley locked in legal battles with the Union he once ruled with an Iron Fist...IMO it could not happen to a better arse of a man

(16 Mar 2014, 2:51 pm)fozzovmurton wrote There is a good feature in the Sun today about what has become of Arthur Scargill, he has gone from being a powerful Union leader to virtually friendless who is living a reclusive life in Barnsley locked in legal battles with the Union he once ruled with an Iron Fist...IMO it could not happen to a better arse of a man

SYNOPSIS

In 1984, Britain stood on the brink of massive change. The way people made, and spent, money was changing, the era of the yuppy was arriving. It was a vibrant, fluid, controversial time of change. And in the midst of it all was the Thatcher revolution, and the miners' strike. In March 1984, the government announced plans to close 20 coalmines, with the loss of 20,000 jobs. National Union of Mineworkers leader Arthur Scargill led his workers out on strike.

This documentary uses extensive archive footage and the recollections of an eclectic mix of the key players from both camps, including politicians, policemen, comedians, pop stars and, of course, miners and their wives, to recount the events of this unique and formative period in modern domestic history: the year Britain went to war.

(16 Mar 2014, 2:51 pm)fozzovmurton wrote Couple of people I have spoke to over the years are adamant the Army was brought out to police picket lines, a few people even think Special Forces i.e. The SAS were deployed.

A bloke I used to know was a Squaddie in the 80's and he was adamant he was on policing duties in 84/85 during the strike and I could never find a reason why he would need to lie to me about it...

There is a good feature in the Sun today about what has become of Arthur Scargill, he has gone from being a powerful Union leader to virtually friendless who is living a reclusive life in Barnsley locked in legal battles with the Union he once ruled with an Iron Fist...IMO it could not happen to a better arse of a man...

As for the Colliery Bus Contracts during the strike, I was watching something the other night, and they said at one point that bus drivers had a No.2 working with them and some of them carried baseball bats, seeing what was going on back them, I can see why they would want to be armed

(16 Mar 2014, 2:58 pm)AdamY wrote The Sun....hmmm

Well regarded for its objectiveness towards Scargill and the Miners Strike.

(16 Mar 2014, 3:13 pm)AdamY wrote If anyone wishes to learn more about the Miners Strike and/or has a spare 1hr 40m, then I think that this is a decent documentary which provides a good overview to what the strike was all about.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/when-britain-went-to-war/4od

(16 Mar 2014, 5:09 pm)fozzovmurton wrote How can I watch this, I can't get 4od on my tablet

(16 Mar 2014, 4:43 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote The Sun will take every opportunity they can to have a pop at Scargill.

There was a piece of graffiti for years, slagging him off, on a roadsign on the roundabout at the bottom of Peterlee, heading towards Horden/Blackhall.
It was only removed (or the sign replaced), within the last 10-15years.

(17 Mar 2014, 7:48 pm)gtom wrote A fine looking bit of kit that