When given the opportunity to explore a Myth, legend or story that has an influence of a location my immediate thoughts were drawn to the Beast of Bodmin and the Bodmin Jail. Initial research for each was based on a google search and watching some documentaries on youtube. I found it interesting to some degree but quickly concluded that either of these subjects could not sustain my attention for 3000 words and three weeks worth of investigation. I had then decided to reflect back to previous weeks and conversations with Joe and more importantly my grandad. I concluded that I would like to research and write something that reflected the Mining industry and the impact that this had on a location, specifically Barnsley. Having grown up here my family have some connections to the industry of mining and particularly my Grandad. We have had some interesting conversations over the past few weeks regardings his work and experiences as a minor. He told me that he was part of the Rescue team that would attend major incidents at mines and the type of equipment that they would use. I found this incredible and something that I did not know about him, I knew that he worked down the pit but I did not know this much. I later found out that he was chief in charge of the search and rescue teams and it was his responsibility to direct and find the missing men. I was overwhelmed with pride but also curiosity. I wanted to know more, after a series of phone calls with him I soon realised that while this profession was everything to him he did not want to talk too much about it.
I spoke to my uncle about this and he too alluded to my Grandad’s reluctance to discuss the experiences that he had been involved in. There was something here that I wanted to unfold and learn more about but I just could not tap into the resource for fear of bringing up past memories. I soon found out that he had attended one of the worst mining disasters at Great Houghton mine. This was the second of its type and resulted in my grandad seeking out counselling and now, piecing things together may be the reason why he has had issues with the drink. Could he have PTSD? I did not wish to open any old wounds that he may be dealing with from his time in the industry but I knew that this profession was everything to him. My uncle had told me more about what Grandad did and could do, he was a talented, multiskilled man when it comes to this job, it was all he had ever known since the age of 15 when he first went down the pit for his first shift. 35 years service had left him in ill health, memories that have haunted him and seen many of his friends and close communities disappear.
Through further conversations with family, the one thing that was a common theme was this idea of brotherhood, a sense of community and strength. The unity of the miners and of those who also worked in other jobs close to the mine, all suggest that the this was the best part of the job and is hard to replicate outside of the industry. Having spoken to five family members who all were involved within this industry to some degree, each has said the same. I become interested in this idea of unity and community and how an industry brought this all together. Further conversations arose about the demise of this and a secondary re-occurrence was Ogreave.
”Following the 2016 inquest verdict into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, previously censored documents suggesting links between the actions of senior South Yorkshire Police officers at both incidents were published. This led to renewed calls for a public inquiry to be held into the actions of the police at Orgreave.”
The hate towards the Police service in the north, I initially thought that was a generational thing that has dripped down into a younger audience. I did not consider the origins of this hate and the impacts that it has had on peoples lives. During the 1984 / 5 miners strike the later named Battle of Orgreaves was a demonstration of Police brutality, politically charged acts of disregard to humanity and stands as one of the most violently corrupt demonstrations in our history. Once the Conservatives had regained power from a Labour government that supported a socialist workforce, the demise of the coal mining industry began. Thatcher strategically implemented plans and set barriers to divide and segregate the nation, some see this as a retaliation of a previous election where Labour overthrew the Conservative government.
My uncle told me that he and my Grandad were amongst the first 30 people at the picket line, it was peaceful on their part but you could sense something was going to happen with the amount of police present. The met police had been drafted in to support local stations in this picket line demonstration. Standing at the front, face to face with a police officer, my grandad was hit with a batton and his arm broken. In retaliation to this unprovoked attack my grandad headbutted the police officer and was then descended upon by several other officers. This was to be the start of a series of events that would leave bloodied, broken and police un-accountable for their actions. Further investigations into this have highlighted a range of stories and ideas that I have been fascinated in. The power, corruption and lies (to quote a new order) demonstrated during this time is unbelievable to think that these events were allowed, encouraged to happen by politicians.
Segregation was to be the only way to bring down Arthur Scargill and his army of Miners; Thatcher understood the brotherhood and the unity of the workers and the mining communities, she had implemented plans to start their demise. This, some hold the belief that this was in retaliation to the Labour government fronted by Neil Kinnock, his party had roots in the socialist union of workers, they had won a majority vote throwing the Tories out of power in the previous election. Thatcher rose to power and it was perceived she that was determined to take revenge upon the Unions and the Labour Government. Events leading up to the miner’s strike in 1984 brought incentivisation for workers in some areas of the industry, this promoted the stockpiling of coal in preparation for what was to come. My investigation will explore the influences and impact of the battle for Orgeave, a bloody battle between the Police and the Miners Union.
Pixels and Serifs. 