What's people's overiding memory of the strile?

Mine was travelling to Cleethorpes and seeing about 40 coal wagons with 40 vans full of police escorting them and my dad shouting loads of abuse out of the window. Just seemed to sumup the extent the government went to to break the miners.</p>

My dad worked at Woolley and waslucky to get another job straight after the pit closed - some weren't as lucky. Barnsley should seemed to change forvever as a result of the strike and some may say it's never fully recovered</p>

 

Seeing the village i lived in

wrecked by miners. All lamp posts broken down and our dry stone wall pulled down to be used as missiles!

Cheers!

 

Yeah, they stole our front gate, but we did'nt say owt in case they....

took a fence....... al get me coyt.

 

Awe the poor Met police officers

Running riot in the pit villages, smashing up pubs because they were bored. Flashing their wage slips at families as they walked the streets.
Wind up or not, Westie you are one idiot and are clueless about the actual goings on. Miners, Including myself do admit we broke the law during the strike.However we felt it was out of neccessity to protect our jobs & communities. You never admit that the Thatcher Govt, the Police, or anyone that supported her actions did anything wrong.
Every post you make seems to attack the local comunities and Miners, perhaps its best that you don't live in this country. I hope for omne that I never have the misfortune to meet you, I may just spoil my manners. (furious)

 

Let's face it, the miners acted like sheep following that Barsteward Scargill, whose intentions most of the NUM thought were totally honorable. No-one can excuse the attrocities of the Met. (who were, and still are, a corrupt bunch), however is it not possible for this history to be put to bed.

 

Hang on a minute

I lived in Dodworth during the strike. I overheard many people who met most nights to discuss the next day's violence. Many of them were not miners, they just attached themselves to a cause, like football, to enjoy a ruck. I rarely heard any discussions about the politics, poverty, rights or wrongs of the strike, just plans about how to avoid the police cordons, where to attack next etc etc. It may have been a minority but it was all I heard at the time.

The company I worked for at that time had everything made of wood stolen, and the police would not act because they feared they would inflame an already bad situation.

Before I get an earful, I think Thatcher destroyed the mining industry, for whatever daft reason, but Scargill was equally polarised in his views. I know and have heard of many mining families who suffered badly and even split up because of the strike. However, I think the town has eventually recovered well, and one day, as many on here say, some pits will have to re-open.

 

One thing that is overlooked is that Scargill pleaded with Yorks NUM OT to come out on Strike at that time. Once the Strike escalated he no option but to back his members. Fact. You sir, seem to fall in the trap most people fall into, the Thatcher verses Scargill Strike.
The Miners were forced into a corner by a despicable & vindictive regime that was supported by a propaganda campaign that could never have been envisaged by anyone, except of course. The Thatcher Govt. I'm not a Scargill is god almighty person, but him & his Union said at the beginning that there was a Pit closure programme planned, and worse still, it wasn't about economics, it was simply to break the strongest Union, so the path would be clear to whatever they pleased with this country. Thatcher and her Cronies at that time denied this saying the NUM were scaremongering. History proves who was right. The billions of pounds spent on this dispute by the govt was nothing short of criminal.

 

One question. Why wasnt there a national Ballot on strike action ? nt

 

RE: Hang on a minute

Polarised views, particularly in politics are healthy. Its what a certain individual/ group, will do to enforce those views on others. Hitler springs to mind. What Thatcher's Govt. did to places like Barnsley and their Communities can never be forgotten or forgiven. Barnsley is nowhere near the same place as it was 25 years ago in terms morality, community spirited. The pits were not the healthiest places to work, but they were a fall-back to people. They offered an income and hope to anyone who may have been down on their luck in other employment.
I can only conclude that people such as Westie who post the drivel they do cary the same gutter principles as the Thatcher Govt. Just glad I don't know many of these.

 

Again, ignorance to the fore.

There was a National Ballot on the strike. It took place Months before the action.IMHO, in hindsight it would have better to have held another, but the NUM were quite within their rights to uphold the mandate for industrial action from the earlier ballot.

 

Not wanting to defend Westie's stance on the strike

But where the **** did he mention owt about the police, Met or otherwise?

 

he doesn't have to say

I've had plenty of dialogue with him in the past about this subject. His views appear ultra right wing and I don't recall him ever criticising Thatcher. Indeed, he is of the opinion that it was the best thing to happen. I know many things happened and there was lawlessness, in the Comunities, caused not least of all by those who were supposed to uphold the law.
I believe that People who think it was a good thing that Barnsley and it's Communities suffered irrepairable damage, due to an egoistic Thatcherite Govt, are beyond comprehension and hold no moral values. Come to think of it, I wish they wouldn't support the same team as me and go & watch Forest or Chelsea.

 

Being mugged of a loaf of bread on Eldon Street North.

 

I'm not really commenting on the rights or wrongs of the strike

I'm just saying what I saw and overheard in Dodworth pubs around that time.

Personally I believe that Barnsley is a FAR better place now (although you make good points about morality and community spirit). For a start, it is cleaner, has a wider range of industries including some hi-tech ones, it has greater wealth, and above all, there are 2 curry houses in Dodworth. The present world-wide recession is obviously a massive fly in the ointment however - it remains to be seen what the long lasting effects of that will be. Of course, the new industries may still have arrived even if the pits had stayed open, no-one will ever know.

I have nothing but admiration for the lads who went down the pit and worked in that environment, and nothing but pity for those who suffered financially and emotionally during and after the strike.

As many on here know I left Barnsley and went to live in Germany. Didn't take me long to come back as I LOVE the place.

 

Remember the actions of a Barnsley Traffic Warden

My son was single at the time and I went in my van with him to collect free food parcels the union were giving to strikers.

I parked outside the offices thinking it would be a bit heavy to carry, waiting in the van, a Traffic Warden stuck a parking ticket on my window, then my son came out and said as he was single he did not qualify. I explained this to the Warden still stood alongside his remark was 'hard lines' The parking fine would have bought 3 hampers, Barsteward. (wnkr) (wnkr)

 

The Rotherham Council worker who lived in Brampton.

</p>

Who left his home to go to work and was badly injured by the Barstewards of Thatcher's Blue Army otherwise known as the Police. I understand he never worked again. </p>

Also a mate who worked at Dodworth who wouldn't hurt a fly. He was dragged off a picked line and was badly injured by the same said Barstewards, who pulled his arms so far up his back he still suffers from the shoulder injuries he received.</p>

The Barnsley Policeman who left the force after being shocked by what the called brutality of the Police did during the strike. </p>

</p>

 

Mmmmmm

Violence eh?

Nice!

 

it has greater wealth?

 

I think Barnsley has greater wealth

But I don't know for sure, it's only an opinion. And as I said, it may be about to go pear shaped because of the current global recession, depression or whatever it is.

If you drive around Silkstone or Cawthorne, or even parts of Dodworth, you can see evidence of this improved wealth. Whether those involved have earnt it is of course quite another question.

Anyway I know you have seen the downside of things recently, so best of luck to you for the future.

 

?

It was terrible what happened to the families, alot of my own family and friends worked in the pits. Uncles, grandparents........ but, it was the best thing to happen looking at the BIG picture. I was out helping many who struggled during and after the strike and saw alot of the difficulties families went through.

You know nothing about me so i think it's best you don't judge either.

I understand why families hate her, it dosn't take a brain surgeon to see that.

But then again i manage to see a bit further than my own front door.

By the way, sticks and stones may break my bones but calling names won't hurt me!

:'(