On Saturday in Oxford, we co-hosted an event with Strike Map at Florence Park Community Centre to commemorate the anniversary of this historic strike, celebrate the huge solidarity shown in Oxford, and lessons we can bring with us in our ongoing struggle today.
The evening started with Sea Green Singers, Didcot Red Kites singing radical songs to uplift the room.
Then extract readings from the Miners’ Strike in Oxford book were read out by trade unionists and some who were involved in support to the miners 40 years ago.
A recording of Mike Richards from the NUM was played to address the room which closed the first half of the event.
The second half of the night had performances from Banner Theatre’s Battle Lines Then and Now, and speakers from Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign and Strike Map.
Peggy Seeger, who was also attending on the night got up to share her experience of being down a mine in Durham.
The evening ended with the room standing up with raised fists to sing the Internationale.
Huge thanks to our contributors:
Venue Hire, Bar Staff: Florence Park Community Centre
Caterers: Planted Plates
Front of House Volunteer: Alan Hughes
Lights & Sound Volunteer: Steve Cooney
Extract Readers: Megan Hiatt, Ciaran Walsh, Anne-Marie Sweeney, Bill MacKeith
Singers: Didcot Red Kites, and Sea Green Singers
Speakers: Chris Peace from Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign, Gawain Little from GFTU speaking on behalf of Strike Map, Mike Richards from NUM, and Peggy Seeger!
Main Performance: Banner Theatre
Main Organiser: Paula Dunne (Strike Map/ODTUC/NUJ Oxford)
Organisers: Bill MacKeith (ODTUC/NUJ Oxford), Peter Cann (NUJ Oxford)
Financial Support: CWU CCTV Branch, NASUWT Oxford Branch, NUJ Oxford Branch, TSSA Branch, Unite TGWU Oxford Branch, and UCU Oxford Branch.