Originally Posted by
Jordi Culé
I'll echo some of those sentiments Bob.
I grew up in Aberfan, Merthyr Vale colliery in sight of my parents house and heated the pit hooter daily. Played football for a local boys club that was just outside the grounds of Deep Navigation.
The miners also contributed to a number of local services which were benefits of the community. In Deep Nav's case most miners contributed a few pence to the Boys club. Miners Gala's, local events and services all receiving money from the miners also.
In relation to the 'strike', I was 12 or 13 when it started. It had a big impact on me as I saw mates rummaging for coal on tips, soup kitchens, food parcels for families within the close community.
Throw in the death of David Wilkie and a number of suicides, probably brought about by the strike, the whole human wasn't lost on me at all.
Families fractured, communities shattered and then left to get on with it.
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