The UK Coal Miners Strike 1984-5

Putting together the exhibition and book of 'Hanging On By Your Fingernails' with the striking miners and their families was a democratic process, where everyone had their say. We recorded statements from many people, which were edited to produce the text. We also had discussions to decide which photographs where the key images.

'Hanging On By Your Fingernails' The Struggle at Lea Hall Colliery, Rugeley, Staffordshire, during the Great Strike of 1984-1985 and beyond. A few hundred brave strikers supported by their wives and families held strong during the year long miners strike, opposing the shutting down of coal mines across Great Britain. The striking miners were fighting the onslaught against them, from Margaret Thatcher and the National Coal Board. This was a Minority pit, most of the twelve hundred miners went to work and crossed picket lines, whilst a minority of a few hundred held out until the bitter end, manning the picket lines against the scabs.

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Copyright: Nigel Dickinson
Image Size: 2980x2000 / 2.4MB; https://nigeldickinson.photoshelter.com/p/terms-conditions; https://nigeldickinson.photoshelter.com/contact; Miners Strike miner coal mines Rugeley Staffs Staffordshire Lea Hall Cannock Chase Power Station Lyttleton Colliery Strike Scab strikers picket line 1984 1985 year long Hanging On By Your Fingernails nigeldickinson Nigel Dickinson Social documentary reportage black and white news acrimony fire scabs police policing Margaret Thatcher struggle protest demonstration manifestation greve charbon mineur party celebration community communal A & B workings meetings landscape post industrial midlands
Contained in galleries: The 1984-1985 Miners Strike at Lea Hall Colliery

Putting together the exhibition and book of 'Hanging On By Your Fingernails' with the striking miners and their families was a democratic process, where everyone had their say. We recorded statements from many people, which were edited to produce the text. We also had discussions to decide which photographs where the key images.<br />
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'Hanging On By Your Fingernails' The Struggle at Lea Hall Colliery, Rugeley, Staffordshire, during the Great Strike of 1984-1985 and beyond. A few hundred brave strikers supported by their wives and families held strong during the year long miners strike, opposing the shutting down of coal mines across Great Britain. The striking miners were fighting the onslaught against them, from Margaret Thatcher and the National Coal Board. This was a Minority pit, most of the twelve hundred miners went to work and crossed picket lines, whilst a minority of a few hundred held out until the bitter end, manning the picket lines against the scabs.