The Miners’ Strike: Return Journey

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The Miners' Strike: Return Journey

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Personal memories from one of the most bitter and divisive industrial disputes in the UK

Personal memories from one of the most bitter and divisive industrial disputes in the UK  40 years on.

The year-long miners' strike, that started in March 1984, dominated the news for 12 months. It's been described as 'a site of contested memories' and it still evokes strong feelings in those who lived through the strike and had direct experience of it. 

Chris Jackson, in his very first job as a young radio reporter in South Wales, found himself covering the dispute that scarred a generation and more. Now, 40 years after the start of the strike, he's meeting people from different sides, and together they return to a place that holds some very personal memories.

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The Miners' Strike: Return Journey: Grimethorpe

Grimethorpe

BBC Radio 4 - The Miners' Strike: Return Journey, Grimethorpe

Back to work - the miner and the Coal Board manager.

Personal memories from one of the most bitter and divisive industrial disputes in the UK 40 years on. The miner and the Coal Board manager.

Still seen as one of the most bitter and divisive industrial disputes in the UK, the year long miners' strike, that began in March 1984, dominated the news for 12 months. It’s been described as “a site of contested memories,” and it continues to evoke strong feelings in those who lived through the strike and had direct experience of it. 

Chris Jackson, in his very first job as a young radio reporter in South Wales, found himself covering the dispute that scarred a generation and more. Now, 40 years after the start of the strike, he’s meeting people from different sides of the difficult and controversial industrial dispute, and together they return to a place that holds some very personal memories. 

In this episode, Chris is in Grimethorpe, at the spot the miners gathered to return to work in March 1985, marching back to the pit behind their colliery band.  He meets two people from different sides of the industrial dispute to talk about that day.  Peter Haigh was a National Coal Board manager at Grimethorpe during the strike and Danny Gillespie was a striking Grimethorpe miner.

Presenter: Chris Jackson
Producer: Jo Dwyer
Executive Producer: Rosamund Jones
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