Swansea Bay memories of the 1984-85 miners' strike

The 1984-85 miners' strike seems an awfully long way off. Those Swansea Bay media folk who covered the story, however, are certain to retain vivid memories.
My own professional experience of the picket lines came as a newspaper reporter in Yorkshire in pits at Emley and Clayton West and at NUM rallies in communities such as coal-dusted Skelmanthorpe.
Such experiences can now be refreshed thanks to Ian Isaac, one of the NUM South Wales officials of the time.
He's written a book and has some launch events planned. Ian's got a wealth of fabulous recollections and is well worth engaging with.
When We Were Miners is due to be published on March 5 to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the ending of the strike.
There's a launch event on Tuesday, March 2, from 7pm at the Railwaymens’ Club, Wind Street, Swansea. Another follows the next day from 7pm at Chapter, Market Road, Cardiff CF5 1QE.
On Thursday, March 4, from 7pm, there's a third event at Maesteg WMC, Temple Street, Maesteg CF34 9YY. On Saturday, March 6, from 11.30am, you can catch Ian at the Afan Forest Park Visitors’ Centre, next to the South Wales Miners’ Museum, Cynonville, SA13 3HG.
The strike was a pivotal moment in Welsh history that changed the character and outlook of valley communities. Ian was in the frontline of the struggle to retain the mining industry and to save valley communities from destruction.
His book recalls what it was like to be an area leader of the South Wales Miners before, during and after the strike.
He discusses the battles during that period from his position as a member of the South Wales NUM executive from 1983 to 1988, and as lodge secretary of St John’s Lodge NUM in Maesteg from 1978 to 1986.
It's fascinating - and important - stuff. It deserves a wide audience.
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