I always thank the lord that I never had to go down the pit, I was brought up in a mining area in Scotland. No matter what part of the country you lived in your heart went out to miners steel workers car industry workers, and now we have no industrial infrastructure left in our country. It’s going to take generations to try and claw back some semblance of reality and again it’s going to be the working class people who will do it. Thank you for this gritty no holds barred video of these remarkable workers from all parts of Britain who are in the same boat.
Was a miner at Cwm Colliery for 25 years but in the year of the strike I was out on strike from the start until the end. Out of more than a 1000 men in my pit in Beddau only 5 scabs broke the strike and went back early and when we finally went back they were finished. Had the full backing of my family and village when I was on strike. Proud of them all.
Harold Wilson closed more mines than thatcher and miners were given the biggest pay out in world industrial history yet I still think its sad that these great people lost their community life.
+redicderldavis the difference was Wilson closed them with Union agreement and the miners were found other jobs or moved to new pits...Thatcher smashed the manufacturing industry and gave it away!
290 were closed under Harold Wilson’s premierships alone (1965-1969 1974-1975) Approx 10 years The more important detail is the number of deep pits closed, disregarding small mines, sometimes privately owned Labour in total closed 371 deep pits. Clement Atlee closed 101 in the early days after nationalisation Harold Wilson closed 235 between 1964 and 1970 and 18 in the years after the miners strike during Heath’s term in office James Callaghan continued the policy of supporting the NUM by closing just 4 mines in 1977- 1979 Blair closed 10 in 10 years and Brown 1. Thatcher closed 115 deep pits. MacMillan closed the most: 246 during the times that “we never had it so good” 1957- 1963 Previously Churchill had closed 78 and Eden 35. There was little protest at mine closures during this time or throughout Wilson’s time in office. Heath closed 24 pits but disputes over pay and 2 miner’s strikes resulted in him losing power when he called a general election hoping to gain popular support in refusing to agree to the miner’s claims. This gave the NUM the impression that they held a great deal of political influence. Although the number on mines closed by Thatcher was just marginally more than Atlee it was a much greater percentage of mines remaining. Cheap imports oil and nuclear power had made British coal less profitable and the militant miner’s union had put politics before production
You should not comment on something you know nothing about. Small colliers were closed solely due. The wereto small. Shafts and roadways. No miner lost his job only the ones who wanted the redundancy. Most of them came back after a few years out. Modernisation had to be done because under private ownership. Investment was nothing. Mines working system had been in use for hundred years. The war brought it to light. Britain mines under these antiqued system could not supply enough coal during the war or the new peace time.
The valleys miners thought Arthur scargill was on their side, but he was only for himself. The cook report showed how he had 3 payments of the Arab countries where there were 50,000, first payment, and second payment again of 50,000 and the 3rd and final one was 25,000" these payments were meant to go into the miners relief fund and yet good old Arthur bought a new house and eat very well while having the cheek to march with starving people who should have got the 125,000 which should have gone into the relief fund would have went a real long way but no" Mr Scargell set fit yo pocket it. Well done to Roger Cook who brought it all to light
While I respect their fighting spirit and determination to save their jobs and their communities, this is what comes of the unsustainable notion that the government owes ANYONE a living. Put people in indentured servitude to the state and they will never look further than the meager wages they are being paid and the limited lives they are allowed to lead. The greatest tragedy of this documentary is that these people could have had so much better; not only from their mines but from other opportunities if they hadn't been enslaved by socialism.
And it was all for what?? Within 10 years of this film, most of the pits were closed, the miners weather they struck or worked through were out of work anyway and their jobs gone to the wind.. its all very sad... however I would question the logic of striking when your job is under threat?? surely it would have been better to work harder, mine more coal and prove that the pit you worked in could pay?? of course, here we are now in 2017 and its ALL gone, save for a few small drifts and some opencasts....... very very sad indeed...
290 were closed under Harold Wilson’s premierships alone (1965-1969 1974-1975) Approx 10 years The more important detail is the number of deep pits closed, disregarding small mines, sometimes privately owned Labour in total closed 371 deep pits. Clement Atlee closed 101 in the early days after nationalisation Harold Wilson closed 235 between 1964 and 1970 and 18 in the years after the miners strike during Heath’s term in office James Callaghan continued the policy of supporting the NUM by closing just 4 mines in 1977- 1979 Blair closed 10 in 10 years and Brown 1. Thatcher closed 115 deep pits. MacMillan closed the most: 246 during the times that “we never had it so good” 1957- 1963 Previously Churchill had closed 78 and Eden 35. There was little protest at mine closures during this time or throughout Wilson’s time in office. Heath closed 24 pits but disputes over pay and 2 miner’s strikes resulted in him losing power when he called a general election hoping to gain popular support in refusing to agree to the miner’s claims. This gave the NUM the impression that they held a great deal of political influence. Although the number on mines closed by Thatcher was just marginally more than Atlee it was a much greater percentage of mines remaining. Cheap imports oil and nuclear power had made British coal less profitable and the militant miner’s union had put politics before production
Miners and their families which mine have been in the past have always been shafted to buggery people complain about the price of coal ffs look at miners and the hardships still proud and fighting even in very poor times but sadly the ncb and others didnt look out for them just look at Abervan and other pits total disgrace on thatcher and the ncb i only hope she is in hell with the miners putting on more coal in the furnaces xx
I always thank the lord that I never had to go down the pit, I was brought up in a mining area in Scotland. No matter what part of the country you lived in your heart went out to miners steel workers car industry workers, and now we have no industrial infrastructure left in our country. It’s going to take generations to try and claw back some semblance of reality and again it’s going to be the working class people who will do it. Thank you for this gritty no holds barred video of these remarkable workers from all parts of Britain who are in the same boat.
So glad this piece of history is preserved ....
dont go to the zone of flix it be not what you thinketh
Was a miner at Cwm Colliery for 25 years but in the year of the strike I was out on strike from the start until the end. Out of more than a 1000 men in my pit in Beddau only 5 scabs broke the strike and went back early and when we finally went back they were finished. Had the full backing of my family and village when I was on strike. Proud of them all.
My dad was a miner in point of ayr north wales he worked down pit over 35 yrs proud men❤
The loyalty of the Notts miners paid of for them. No pits, no jobs, no friends.
The welsh are a proud people
True welsh spirit AS ALWAYS IM HALF WELSH AND PROUD
Ok boys lets a light will you, blooming dying for a smoke by here. Gasping I am, ahhh your a star butt thanks
The phrase lions led by donkeys has never been more apposite.
The end had me in tears
Sad to see the miners arguing with each other. Exactly what the establishment wanted.
The welsh are proud they are honest
But they are dignified
Harold Wilson closed more mines than thatcher and miners were given the biggest pay out in world industrial history yet I still think its sad that these great people lost their community life.
+redicderldavis the difference was Wilson closed them with Union agreement and the miners were found other jobs or moved to new pits...Thatcher smashed the manufacturing industry and gave it away!
290 were closed under Harold Wilson’s premierships alone (1965-1969 1974-1975) Approx 10 years
The more important detail is the number of deep pits closed, disregarding small mines, sometimes privately owned
Labour in total closed 371 deep pits.
Clement Atlee closed 101 in the early days after nationalisation
Harold Wilson closed 235 between 1964 and 1970 and 18 in the years after the miners strike during Heath’s term in office
James Callaghan continued the policy of supporting the NUM by closing just 4 mines in 1977- 1979
Blair closed 10 in 10 years and Brown 1.
Thatcher closed 115 deep pits.
MacMillan closed the most: 246 during the times that “we never had it so good” 1957- 1963 Previously Churchill had closed 78 and Eden 35. There was little protest at mine closures during this time or throughout Wilson’s time in office.
Heath closed 24 pits but disputes over pay and 2 miner’s strikes resulted in him losing power when he called a general election hoping to gain popular support in refusing to agree to the miner’s claims. This gave the NUM the impression that they held a great deal of political influence.
Although the number on mines closed by Thatcher was just marginally more than Atlee it was a much greater percentage of mines remaining. Cheap imports oil and nuclear power had made British coal less profitable and the militant miner’s union had put politics before production
You should not comment on something you know nothing about. Small colliers were closed solely due. The wereto small. Shafts and roadways. No miner lost his job only the ones who wanted the redundancy. Most of them came back after a few years out. Modernisation had to be done because under private ownership. Investment was nothing. Mines working system had been in use for hundred years. The war brought it to light. Britain mines under these antiqued system could not supply enough coal during the war or the new peace time.
And their kids generation paid and still are in 2022
The valleys miners thought Arthur scargill was on their side, but he was only for himself. The cook report showed how he had 3 payments of the Arab countries where there were 50,000, first payment, and second payment again of 50,000 and the 3rd and final one was 25,000" these payments were meant to go into the miners relief fund and yet good old Arthur bought a new house and eat very well while having the cheek to march with starving people who should have got the 125,000 which should have gone into the relief fund would have went a real long way but no" Mr Scargell set fit yo pocket it. Well done to Roger Cook who brought it all to light
Most of these ladies,must be in their 70s' late 70s'early 80s,'
I feel sick... am I alone!?
Unfortunately it has slipped
N
7
While I respect their fighting spirit and determination to save their jobs and their communities, this is what comes of the unsustainable notion that the government owes ANYONE a living. Put people in indentured servitude to the state and they will never look further than the meager wages they are being paid and the limited lives they are allowed to lead. The greatest tragedy of this documentary is that these people could have had so much better; not only from their mines but from other opportunities if they hadn't been enslaved by socialism.
are you the curator at big pit?
Yes
The guy speaking in a army jacket with a dai cap looks a right handful if he started
And it was all for what?? Within 10 years of this film, most of the pits were closed, the miners weather they struck or worked through were out of work anyway and their jobs gone to the wind.. its all very sad... however I would question the logic of striking when your job is under threat?? surely it would have been better to work harder, mine more coal and prove that the pit you worked in could pay?? of course, here we are now in 2017 and its ALL gone, save for a few small drifts and some opencasts....... very very sad indeed...
290 were closed under Harold Wilson’s premierships alone (1965-1969 1974-1975) Approx 10 years
The more important detail is the number of deep pits closed, disregarding small mines, sometimes privately owned
Labour in total closed 371 deep pits.
Clement Atlee closed 101 in the early days after nationalisation
Harold Wilson closed 235 between 1964 and 1970 and 18 in the years after the miners strike during Heath’s term in office
James Callaghan continued the policy of supporting the NUM by closing just 4 mines in 1977- 1979
Blair closed 10 in 10 years and Brown 1.
Thatcher closed 115 deep pits.
MacMillan closed the most: 246 during the times that “we never had it so good” 1957- 1963 Previously Churchill had closed 78 and Eden 35. There was little protest at mine closures during this time or throughout Wilson’s time in office.
Heath closed 24 pits but disputes over pay and 2 miner’s strikes resulted in him losing power when he called a general election hoping to gain popular support in refusing to agree to the miner’s claims. This gave the NUM the impression that they held a great deal of political influence.
Although the number on mines closed by Thatcher was just marginally more than Atlee it was a much greater percentage of mines remaining. Cheap imports oil and nuclear power had made British coal less profitable and the militant miner’s union had put politics before production
Interesting figures.
These days they would be closed because of bloody greenies
With climate change.
Miners and their families which mine have been in the past have always been shafted to buggery people complain about the price of coal ffs look at miners and the hardships still proud and fighting even in very poor times but sadly the ncb and others didnt look out for them just look at Abervan and other pits total disgrace on thatcher and the ncb i only hope she is in hell with the miners putting on more coal in the furnaces xx