Miners’ Strike 40 Years on - a Commemoration

Back in the summer, we worked with Flux Rotherham, recording, producing and releasing a four part podcast series to commemorate 40 years since the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike.

This project is a collaboration with folk legend Ray Hearne; created to preserve and commemorate the stories from the pit communities of Cortonwood, Silverwood, Wath & Manvers and Maltby.

In these four unique audio soundscapes, we have captured the voices, thoughts and memories of generations past, present and future. The individual episodes discuss matters of police brutality; the strikes and their hardships; women’s experiences of the strike, and the importance of community. 

Matt Ritchie, owner of Hybrid 3 Studios, said: “As union after union was broken, everything changed nationally. To understand the Miners’ Strike is to understand our shared history… We have witnessed how this history is either being lost or turned into folklore.”

“It means a great deal to [the miners and their families] to have their stories told and their struggles commemorated.”

On Monday 2nd September, to celebrate the release of this project, we hosted a listening session at our studio in Sheffield. Hosted by Ray Hearne, the night included open discussion and live folk music from Emily and Rebecca Hearne.

The night made a wonderful tribute to the events that took place in 1984-85. 

We would like to thank Exposed Magazine for featuring us on their website, and for BBC Radio Sheffield for having Ray on the show to talk about the project.