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Deborah Price
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How Black Were Our Valleys: A 30th Commemoration of the 1984/85 Miners' Strike: Volume 1 (Miners' Strikes) Paperback – 3 Feb. 2014

by Deborah Price (Author), Natalie Butts-Thompson (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 24 ratings
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How Black Were Our Valleys All profits from the sale of this book go to 'The South Wales Area - Miners' Beneficiary Fund,' which helps ex-miners and their families both socially and medically. To commemorate 30 years since the 1984/85 miners strike, we have collected a variety of memories, stories, poems and events that happened during that time. A law professor who helped the miners with free legal advice, and also set up the Rhymney Valley Miners’ Support Group. An inspirational speech that led to the making of this publication. Stories of hardship, solidarity, overcoming prejudices and adversity add to the diversity of this collection. Women who changed their outlook on life completely. The government tactics used against the striking miners. Those who were just children at the time and the impact it had on them when they were growing up. The generosity of all those that came out in support of the striking miners. What happened after the strike? Why did all those mines have to close? The memories and accounts are personal, these are the stories that didn’t get to the mainstream media, but are extremely important regardless, not just to the South Wales Mining Community, but also to all those communities that were involved .
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  1. Print length
    200 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    3 Feb. 2014
  4. Dimensions
    15.24 x 1.17 x 22.86 cm
  5. ISBN-10
    1495399494
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1495399497
  7. See all details
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Product description

About the Author

Natalie and Deborah are 2nd year history students at University of South Wales, in Treforest. The book was written as part of their work placement with the NUM in Pontypridd. Natalie comes from a family of miners, with her dad and grandad both working in the pits, her own story is included in the book. Debbie writes short stories and poetry.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1st edition (3 Feb. 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 200 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1495399494
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1495399497
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 1.17 x 22.86 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

About the author

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Deborah Price

Deborah Price

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I live in the South Wales Valleys, it is very beautiful and inspiring for a writer, the mountain mentioned in the book is seen from my window every day and I often go up there and feed the mountain ponies and the sheep with bread and apples, it is a fantastic place to watch the sunset, it's like being on top of the world.

My Blogspot is on wordpress here is the link ...

http://baarbaarathesheep.wordpress.com

My second book has just been completed after struggling with the wording in the second half, I finally had a Eureka moment and the book will now have parts 2 and 3, It is called "Hedgehog Rescue saving Itchee & Scratchee."

My third book is a poetry anthology entitled "The Black Hole" available next week,it is written to raise awareness of the real fears that people have concerning these opencast mines, for health, the environment and the landscape We are currently fighting against a proposed opencast mine extension, the poetry is written partly by myself and local people, the book also includes poetry donated by well known poets and authors, Mike Jenkins, Abigail Wyatt and Winston Plowes. Their websites are listed below.

http://www.mikejenkins.net/

http://abigailwyattthepoetry.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.winstonplowes.co.uk/

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
24 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the stories in the book heartfelt and interesting. They also say it brings back memories of the struggle faced by miners.

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StoriesStory
4 customers mention ‘Stories’4 positive0 negative

Customers find the stories in the book heartfelt and moving. They also mention the author's personal account is particularly moving.

"...was a teenager herself in 1984 and her personal account is particularly moving...." Read more

"...There are genuinely moving images throughout this engaging and very human account...." Read more

"...There are stories of hardship, propaganda, unity and community spirit. Tales from those who were children at the time...." Read more

"wonderfully written.a heartfelt collection of stories told through miners and people who campaiged to the end.brilliant book.read it 3 times.authors..." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Story’4 positive0 negative

Customers find the story interesting and bring back memories of the struggle faced by the protagonist.

"...There are genuinely moving images throughout this engaging and very human account...." Read more

"...So interesting I could hardly put it down. The book gives a real insight into what life was like for the miners in the Valleys during the 1984/85..." Read more

"Really interesting read brought back lots of memories of the struggle faced by all miners families, myself included...." Read more

"This is a marvellous book which gives moving accounts of how the strike went. Would recommend this highly, I bought this as a present." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

Huw Beynon
5.0 out of 5 stars "If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything"
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 March 2014
Verified Purchase
This is what one of the women interviewed for this book feels that she has learned from living in the South Wales valleys and growing up during the coal miners' strike of 1984/85. In this way, through interviews and extracts from documents, the book tells of how the strike remains a lived reality in the valley towns of South wales. One man ,a young striker in his teens in 1984, reflected that "the violence that was inflicted on me and the violence I witnessed fellow miners receive will stay with me for the rest of my days". The book itself was inspired by a speeches and discussion at a social evening at the Newbridge Hotel held on the occasion of the funeral of Mrs Margaret Thatcher. This inspired two undergraduate students to document stories of the strike that they felt deserved to be more widely heard. In a very short time, they have collected the materials, and published them in this excellent collection. . One of them (Natalie Butts-Thompson) was a teenager herself in 1984 and her personal account is particularly moving. In exploring the voices of the young people the book brings a perspective that has been silent in many accounts of the strike. More generally it challenges many of the myths that still exist about the strike, and helps to explain its lasting significance in people's lives.
6 people found this helpful
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Dr Fiona Reid
5.0 out of 5 stars How Black Were Our Valleys: Coal not Dole
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 February 2014
Verified Purchase
This book is a real tribute to the men and the women of the Welsh valleys who stood so firmly against Thatcher and her Tory government during the miners' strike of 1984-85. Based on interviews with those who took part in the strike, this book makes plain the violence that was visited upon a whole community as an instrument of policy. There are genuinely moving images throughout this engaging and very human account. There is a picture of the author as a 9 year-old girl watching men dig coal from the snow in that freezing winter. There are also poignant tales of the friendships between miners' wives and members of the London Gay Community who had raised funds to support the strike.

With reminiscences, anecdotes, poems and pictures this book provides some insight into the damage that was done to the nation at large as the hard-won social democracy, created after the Second War, was being systematically dismantled.

Fiona Reid
11 people found this helpful
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BaarbaaratheSheep
5.0 out of 5 stars A piece of Welsh oral history that shouldn't be forgotten -Commemorating 30 years since the 1984/85 Miners' Strike
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 February 2014
Verified Purchase
The strike lasted a whole year, the camaraderie and support that ensued carried the miners and their families through those difficult time. There are stories of hardship, propaganda, unity and community spirit. Tales from those who were children at the time. The strength of the women's support groups that sprung up around the whole country. All these topics are covered and more. You will laugh and cry at these beautifully related memories from the 1984/85 Miners' Strike.
All profits from the sale of the book will go to The South Wales Area Miners' Beneficiary Fund.
8 people found this helpful
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david jones
4.0 out of 5 stars great book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 April 2014
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wonderfully written.a heartfelt collection of stories told through miners and people who campaiged to the end.brilliant book.read it 3 times.authors should be proud of themselves
4 people found this helpful
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S Chapman
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 December 2014
Verified Purchase
Just finished reading How Black Were Our Valleys. So interesting I could hardly put it down. The book gives a real insight into what life was like for the miners in the Valleys during the 1984/85 strike. What fantastic communities these must have been. The book also includes Ray Davies' riveting personal story as a boy miner in the 1940s when conditions were truly horrendous. A must read!
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars miners strike
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 April 2014
Verified Purchase
Really interesting read brought back lots of memories of the struggle faced by all miners families, myself included. Just to lose the pits after all. Always remember after the return to work seeing a graffiti on a wall at a nearby pit "SOLD OUT BY SCARGILL "
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 May 2017
Verified Purchase
This is a marvellous book which gives moving accounts of how the strike went. Would recommend this highly, I bought this as a present.
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paul waites
5.0 out of 5 stars How black were our valleys
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 April 2014
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Outstanding read brought back such a lot of memories very well worth the money highly recommended well done all involved
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Bev Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great local and country history of coal in Wales
Reviewed in Canada on 12 January 2018
Verified Purchase
written by my Welsh relative. Great local and country history of coal in Wales.
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