Nottinghamshire miners who were on strike in 1984/5 returned to St Albans on Wednesday night [26 March], to commemorate the strike’s 30th anniversary with members of the St Albans Notts Miners’ Support Group. During the year-long strike, the group raised over £32,000 in cash and £1,0000 worth of food, shared among all the pits in South Notts.

Strike leader and former NUM Vice Chairman Keith Stanley told a packed hall at the Jubilee Centre ‘I will never forget the warm welcome and generosity we received from the people of St Albans’. He read extracts from a letter sent by the National Coal Board to all strikers in June 1984, which denied there was a plan to cut 86 pits. Mr Stanley pointed out that recent Official Secrets disclosures show that the strikers’ fears for their industry were well-founded. Mrs Evelyn Stanley, treasurer of the Newstead women’s support group, brought her account book, detailing every penny received and how it was spent to support the families of striking miners, and also single men who had no income whatsoever.

Introducing the event, St Albans writer Vivien Bailey said, ‘The miners may not have won the strike, but they won a place in history, in the history of this city, and in the hearts of many of its citizens.’ Founder member of the support group, sculptor Frank Casey, reflected on the lasting benefits of the unity showed by members of the support group. Describing some examples of the culture shock felt by strikers staying in St Albans, he recalled how one miner, when offered a cup of Earl Grey tea at the Waffle House, took a sip and spluttered loudly ‘It’s nowt but hot watter!’.

Film-maker Mike Simons, author of two books about the strike, showed a clip from his film ‘(Still) The Enemy Within’, which will be premiered in June at the Sheffield Documentary Film Festival.

Support group member Jane Hardy called for similar solidarity today to help fight cuts in public services and damaging policies such as the bedroom tax.

A commemorative booklet about the work of the St Albans support group is available from Dave Barnes on 07802890331.

ENDS Based on information supplied by Dave Barnes.