In this series of Strike Stories we hear the highs and lows of that life changing year through the eyes of miners, families, police officers and politicians as they recall what life was like in 84–85.

The Strike Stories form part of the Streic 84–85 Strike exhibition which is on display at National Musem Cardiff until April 27 2025.

© Mike Thompson

Stephen Smith (former miner, Maerdy pit)

I was one of the last set of apprentices they took on with the old National Coal Board and ended up working at Maerdy colliery. I was a bit of a naughty boy in school and I applied for a few apprenticeships in gas, telecoms, all sorts. But I’m the fifth generation in a mining family and ended up following suit. At 17, I got a mining craft apprenticeship, which was to get you ready for management further along the line.

I’ll never forget my first day going underground. My stomach was churning as the cage dropped down the shaft.

We were on strike pretty much every year once I’d joined, usually about pay and conditions. The Strike in ’84 was different. It was all about the preservation of our jobs and the mining communities.

I was one of the lucky ones – I didn’t have a family to support and I was still living at home. My father made me pay rent right the way through the strike, he said that if I supported it then I should feel the hardship of having no money exactly the same as everyone else on strike.

We show of hands vote about coming out on the Sunday in the Maerdy Working Men’s Hall. The world’s media were on our doorstep waiting to see if we would back the Yorkshire miners (Cortonwood is where it started). We voted to come out on strike.

We started to travel to other mines and join picket lines to try and talk to the lads going to work and persuade them to join us. Often, we’d be turned back by the police en route – I was convinced we’d had our phones tapped as there was no way they’d have known about the little roads we took, otherwise. Once, we ended up getting pulled over and the coach driver was told he’d be arrested if he took us any further. So we got off the bus and in the middle of the night walked through the drizzle to our designated pits that we were going to picket.

There was a new employment Law – Tebbit’s Law, about not being allowed to picket in groups of more than six. Occasionally, we broke it. At Newstead Colliery, when we broke the line, a copper grabbed by finger and bent it back. then put my arm behind my back, another copper came alongside and was punching me in the side and I was bundled into a police van. I got taken to the station and put in a cell along with a few others from my pit. At about 3am I was taken from the cell and interviewed by CID who began with ‘Are you a member of the Communist Party? Are you a Scargill supporter?’ and so on. We were in overnight. We were given a piece of toast and something pretending to be tea and sent to court in handcuffs, which was humiliating. The police inspector told the court there were around fifty people and that I was the instigator, pulled from a group of 50 or so pickets. This was a lie.

I was charged with Breach of the Peace, the NUM lawyer said: ‘Plead guilty or you’ll be sent away, the NUM will pay your fine.’ I was still a teenager, so I took the advice and pleaded guilty, even before any statements were read out. The magistrate told me that if I appeared in front of him again he would be sent to Risley (Grisly Risley as it was known) remand centre.

It was rough. There were times we’d be kicked in the shins or have our feet stamped on so we’d end up wearing our work boots, for protection. Once, a copper started whacking my head repeatedly on the bonnet of a car. There were reporters there. I shouted ‘I hope you’re going to report this!’. The media were dead set against us, they painted this misconception that we were a bunch of thugs! It was the state and the police that were the thugs, and there should be an enquiry as to what involvement the government had on the strike and the police thuggery.

We were fighting for a full year – not just for our jobs, but for our communities. Going underground builds such incredible, tight camaraderie, we had each other’s backs. It was character-building and we were all in it together – before the strike, during and after. Everyone worked in or around the Pit. The impact was wide-reaching. I had an invitation from Oxford and went and spoke at a fund raising event. They raised an awful lot of money for us and sent us food parcels.

My only regrets - being unable to save our jobs, communities and subsidiary industries. And that I’d pleaded guilty to a breach of the peace when the police had lied. I was not guilty.

In this series of Strike Stories we hear the highs and lows of that life changing year through the eyes of miners, families, police officers and politicians as they recall what life was like in 84–85.

The Strike Stories form part of the Streic 84–85 Strike exhibition which is on display at National Musem Cardiff until April 27 2025.

© Imogen Young

Sian James, activist and politician.

I was married at 16, had two kids by the time I was twenty, with a hubby who worked underground. Within two years of starting work, he’d voted to back Scargill for the NUM and the whole family were behind him. Scargill was our leader, he’d fight on our behalf and we were immensely loyal. There was no hesitation when it came to the strike.

We stood strong. You did not cross a picket line. Our family didn’t understand those who did. People said, ‘well, hardship…’ but how the hell did I last on £20 a week with two kids? We did it by organising ourselves within our communities. Not just me and my community, but thousands of women.

The realities weren’t easy: hiding behind the sofa from the rent man. Hearing an ice cream van outside and telling my daughter there was no money. She told my husband to jump up and down. She could hear the change in his pocket. There were big changes for our family.

All extras were removed from the trolley. Debt would catch up with us, but we weren’t the only people experiencing that suffering. We all got involved to whatever degree we could. We got stuck in. There was a clear turning point for me. In the August, Thatcher and MacGregor started describing us as ‘the enemy within’. I was no-one’s enemy. We just wanted to retain our loving communities. We knew how it all worked, what made it tick.

I was amazed at how militant I’d become. The excitement of meeting women who fought and thought like I did, shoulder to shoulder and side by side. The thing is, they couldn’t touch us, sack us – we didn’t work for them.

We spoke on platforms all over the place. Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire. The men’s story had been ‘mined’ to death: we were a new voice. The attention shifted to how families were organising themselves. We told the women’s story: we are in this together. When we started getting invitations to speak publicly, we began to ask for a bit more. My role was organising and fundraising.

We had some support group rules.

• Every penny raised went into the pot.
• Everyone got the same out of the pot. Whether they had kids or not.
• If you turned up for the Sunday afternoon meeting, you had to vote.

At the lodges, only members – the men – could vote. But suddenly, women’s opinions were sought.

We were the Neath, Dulais and South Wales Valleys Miners’ Support Group. We had ten food centres feeding anything from thirty to several hundred miners. But this soon turned into us feeding over a thousand families, at £8 a bag, but the time we were finished.

The whole thing transformed my life. When the gay and lesbian groups came out in support of the miners, they brought a whole new level of experience and expertise: they were people who’d had to fight for justice, they were used to it. And they helped us in incredible ways. They were good socialists and campaigners. They understood the system.The people who supported us from those groups then, are still my friends, today.

I often say: my strike was a good strike. I was frightened it was all going to go back to how it had been before, to be honest. But I went to University, built a name as a media commentator on S4C, because I spoke Welsh – it was the language of the men who worked underground. I went on to work in public affairs, worked for all sorts of companies including National Trust, Save the Children and Welsh Women’s Aid before eventually standing and getting elected into Parliament in 2005.

During the strike, I had the chance to talk to speakers, women on strike like me across the country. We all had mouths to feed. We all had to keep going. But my God, I met such wonderful people, women and men. Someone once asked Julia Gillard what her best advice was for her fourteen-year-old granddaughter. She replied: ‘Don’t let anybody turn your volume down.’ And that’s the thing. Chopsy women change the world.

Hi Bulb Buddies,

Thank you for all the weather data you have entered to the website so far. Please try to get all your data uploaded this week, as The Edina Trust will be using it to predict when our plants might flower!

I have seen my first daffodil in bloom this week! This feels very early. Have any of you seen any early signs of spring? Please let me know what you've seen and how your plants are doing when you share your comments this week. Do any of your plants have flower buds forming yet? You can use resources on the website to help prepare for taking flower records: Step 5: Keeping flower records (January - March)

Are you taking part in the BulbCast competition this year? If so, you could take video footage of your plants at different stages to use in your entry. I can't wait to see what you come up with. Remember to read the supporting resources that outline how the task can be structured so that everyone has a role to play: Bulbcast competition

January saw some dramatic weather, and this was reflected in your weather comments (see these below). Lots of you reported school closures, powerful winds, low temperatures and some reported snow and frost! Many of you were impacted by Storm Eowyn on the 24th of the month. This was the fifth named storm this storm season (September-August) and the first red warning for wind in 2025. Wind speeds of over 90mph were recorded in parts of Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, and a 100mph gust was recorded in Drumalbin, Lanarkshire!

Days after storm Eowyn, storm Herminia reached the UK bringing heavy rain to parts of England and Wales. Some of you may have wondered why the storm names jumped from E to H! This is because storm Herminia had already been named by the Spanish Meteorological Service before it reached us. The next storm named by the UK will be Storm Floris! More information on named storms can be found here: Weathering the Storm

January Weather Summary

> January’s temperatures were colder than usual. All four nations recorded below-average temperatures, making it a chilly start to the year. 

A fascinating fact for our Spring Bulb scientists: what we now consider a "cold" January would have been considered average in the past. The 1961-1990 January mean temperature was 3°C (the average for this year), while today’s 1991-2020 average is 3.9°C (making this year 0.9°C bellow the average). This highlights how climate patterns are shifting over time!

> Rainfall was mixed across the country. Southern England experienced above-average rainfall, while Scotland and Northern Ireland were much drier than usual.

> Despite the cold and stormy spells, January turned out to be one of the sunniest on record! The UK saw 61.8 hours of sunshine, making it the fifth sunniest January since records began in 1910. 

A fascinating fact for our Spring Bulb scientists: four of the five sunniest Januarys have all occurred in the 21st century (that's since January 2001).

Keep up the great work observing and recording your data Bulb Buddies!

Professor Plant

Comments from schools:

Storm and School Closures

Irvinestown Primary School: School was closed on Friday due to the red weather warning.
Professor Plant: It’s always best to stay safe during severe weather! I hope you were able to check on your plants when you returned.

Logan Primary School: We were not at school on Friday due to the storm.
Professor Plant: I hope you and your plants were safe from the storm. Did you notice any changes in your garden when you returned?

Scarva Primary School: We had to close on Friday because of Storm Eowyn and a red weather warning so we could not record weather data.
Professor Plant: Storms can be very disruptive! I appreciate you keeping track of the data when possible.

St Mary’s Primary – Maguiresbridge:We were unable to get a reading on Friday as the school was off with the storm (Eowyn). We have lost some plants and pots because they have been lifted with the wind.
Professor Plant: Oh no! I’m sorry to hear about the damage. Hopefully, you can replant some bulbs, and they’ll still have a chance to grow!

Meldrum Primary School: Bad storm on Friday, could not get any data.
Professor Plant: That’s understandable! I hope your plants weren’t damaged. Did you notice any effects on your garden afterward?

St John’s Primary: No weather recorded for Friday 24th as school was closed due to the storm.
Professor Plant: That’s okay! It’s always important to stay safe in bad weather.

Wellshot Primary School: School was closed on Friday because of the storm.
Professor Plant: I hope the storm didn’t cause too much damage to your plants!

Langbank Primary School: Our school was closed on Friday because of Storm Eowyn so we did not get the weather data.
Professor Plant: I appreciate you updating me despite the closure. Well done for staying safe during the storm. 

Ysgol Porth Y Felin: We had a big storm last night.
Professor Plant: I hope your plants made it through safely! Storms can bring a lot of rain, which can be helpful or harmful depending on how strong the wind is.

Stanford in the Vale Primary: We had Storm Eowyn on Friday.
Professor Plant: I hope you and your plants were okay! Did you notice any changes when you came back to school?

Ysgol Gymraeg Morswyn: Dim cofnod ar dydd Gwener oherwydd fod yr ysgol ar gau oherwydd Storm Eowyn. (No record on Friday because the school was closed due to Storm Eowyn.)
Professor Plant: Diolch am roi gwybod i mi. Mae'n bwysig cadw'n ddiogel yn ystod stormydd. (Thanks for letting me know. It is important to stay safe during storms.)

Cold and Icy Weather

Doonfoot Primary School: It was freezing.
Professor Plant: Sounds like a chilly week! Did you notice frost on the ground or your plants?

Ysgol Tycroes: This week has been very cold. We have had snow and most mornings have been very frosty. The temperature has been as low as -1°C.
Professor Plant: Frosty mornings can be beautiful but challenging for plants! Well done for braving the cold to get your readings!

Pil Primary School: The weather has been very cold this week.
Professor Plant: Cold weather can slow plant growth. I wonder if you’ll see a change once it warms up! 

Cornist Park C.P: “There is a lot of snow and it is very cold, it feels like -1 degrees.” “We have had snow, rain, sleet, and hail, the wind is making it feel like -1 degrees.” “Today the hail has frozen the roads and they are icy, it is very cold.” “The ice on the path and road is very slippy, it is cold.” “We have ice and it is very cold, the wind makes it feel like -5 degrees.”

Professor Plant: Thank you all for sharing your weather comments. It sounds like quite a chilly week with the snow and icy conditions! Make sure to stay safe and warm everyone, and well done for collecting your weather readings in these cold temperatures!

Stanford in the Vale Primary: Very cold and the ice has settled in.

Professor Plant: Stay careful on those icy paths! It’s important to stay safe in these conditions. 

Bwlchgwyn Primary School: Lots of snow and ice covering our rain gauge all week.

Professor Plant: It sounds like you've had quite a bit of snow! Remember to bring your rain gauge inside for the snow to melt. Do you think the reading will be higher or lower once the snow has melted? 

Meldrum Primary School: A lot of rain and snow at the start of the week and pretty cold throughout the week.

Professor Plant: Rain and snow can sometimes create difficult conditions, but it’s a good opportunity to observe how the weather affects both the plants and the surroundings. Well done Bulb Buddies. 

Observations of Rain and Wet Conditions

Gavinburn Primary School: Normal weather for this time of year.
Professor Plant: It’s great that you are noticing seasonal patterns! Do you think this will help predict when your plants will flower?

Cornist Park C.P: It has been very cold and lots of rain this week. Our plants must feel cold.
Professor Plant: Plants can be quite hardy in the cold! They’ll start growing faster once it warms up.

Ysgol Porth Y Felin: Very wet.
Professor Plant: Lots of rain can help plants grow, but too much might cause waterlogging. Keep an eye on them!

Stanford in the Vale Primary: A lotta rain this week, mate.
Professor Plant: Rainy weeks can be great for plant growth! Did you see any changes in your garden, mateys?

Plant Growth and Gardening Observations

Ysgol Tycroes: All of our bulbs have sprouted stems and leaves. We have been learning about what a plant needs to grow strong and how a plant makes its own food called photosynthesis.
Professor Plant: That’s fantastic! Photosynthesis is key to plant survival. I’m excited to hear how your plants continue to grow.

Ysgol Pennant: Roedden ni wedi plannu yr planhigyn oedd wedi chwythu ffwrdd ar y dydd mawrth. (We replanted the plant that had blown away on Tuesday.)
Professor Plant: Gwaith da! Gobeithio bydd y planhigyn yn parhau i dyfu. (Well done! I hope the plant continues to grow.)

Bwlchgwyn Primary School: We can see some sprouts opening.
Professor Plant: That’s wonderful! Your plants are making great progress. Keep watching for their next stage of growth.

St Mary’s Primary – Maguiresbridge: We have noticed that the bulbs have all started to sprout.
Professor Plant: That’s exciting news! Keep an eye on your bulbs, they are on their way to flowering.

Henllys Church in Wales: Plants coming through.
Professor Plant: Great to hear! Keep monitoring them for new growth.

Langbank Primary School: Most of the pots/bulbs are starting to grow
Professor Plant: Fantastic news! Keep an eye on them!

Ysgol Tycroes: Nearly all of our bulbs now have shoots coming out of them.

Professor Plant: Wonderful news about the bulbs! Keep up the good work!

Ysgol Llanddulas: Some of our bulbs have grown a lot. No flowers still.

Professor Plant: That’s fantastic progress! Bulbs are getting ready to bloom, but sometimes they take a little more time to flower. Keep observing them, and I’m sure you’ll see the flowers soon enough.

Data Collection

St Joseph's Cathedral: We are very sorry that we have forgotten to record these past weeks. Once again, we are deeply sorry for the inconvenience that we have made for your research.
Professor Plant: That’s okay! Thank you for letting me know. Keeping records is a great habit, and I appreciate your efforts.

Ysgol Llanddulas: I did this on Monday because we had a new teacher on Friday, and they did not know how to log us on.
Professor Plant: No worries! It’s great that you caught up with the data.

Roaring Reptiles - Ysgol Llanddulas:We did not get weather records on Friday because our school shut due to a burst water pipe.
Professor Plant: That sounds like an unexpected event! I hope everything was fixed quickly.

Ysgol Porth Y Felin: We had no school on Monday and then 2 snow days.
Professor Plant: Snow days are always exciting! Did you notice any effects on your plants afterward?

In the quiet of winter, the gardens of St Fagans National Museum of History are alive with activity. January is the perfect time to prune apple trees, ensuring healthy growth and a good harvest later in the year. At St Fagans, the orchards are home to several heritage apple varieties, each with its own fascinating name and story.

One such remarkable apple is Gwell na Mil, meaning "Better than a Thousand." This variety, known as Seek No Further by English speakers in Monmouth, dates back to at least the 1700s and was mentioned in the Cambrian Journal of 1856. Another is the Pig y Golomen, or "Pigeon’s Beak," a traditional variety from Pembrokeshire, with a name inspired by its distinctive shape. There’s also Morgan Sweet, a favourite among Welsh miners, who valued its refreshing flavour during long shifts underground.

These apples, along with others, can be found in the many orchards across St Fagans. The old trees not only provide fruit but also act as vital habitats for wildlife. Birds, insects, and bats all rely on the orchards for shelter and food.

Every year, the apples are harvested and taken off-site to be pressed into juice, which is then sold in the museum shop. This annual cycle of care, from winter pruning to autumn harvesting, keeps the orchards healthy and productive and reflects traditional care that has supported orchards for generations.

January is also the season for wassailing, an ancient tradition to bless apple trees and ensure a good harvest. Wassailing often involves singing, offering cider to the trees, and sometimes driving away bad spirits. The museum’s collections feature beautiful wassailing bowls, traditionally used during these celebrations. Visitors can see some examples of these in the Gweithdy gallery, including pieces of Ewenny pottery.

January in the orchards is a time to reflect on traditions and care for the future. The pruning done now ensures the trees remain healthy and productive for years to come, continuing a cycle that has been part of Welsh rural life for centuries.

Hello Bulb Buddies,

We hope you’re enjoying taking part in the Spring Bulbs for Schools Investigation. This project helps us all learn more about how the weather affects the growth of plants—and your observations play a key role!

As part of the project, please remember to upload your weather data to the Amgueddfa Cymru website. By uploading the data collected so far, we can use it to predict when our plants might flower. It’s exciting to think that your contributions will be part of a bigger picture encompassing schools from across the UK. Your data is really important to us, so please upload everything you’ve documented so far by the end of January!

A Month of Wild Weather

Let’s take a moment to look at the weather from December. It was an eventful month, and this has had an impact on our gardens and bulbs. Here’s a quick weather overview:

- Storm Darragh (6th–8th December) brought heavy rain and severe gales (wind), especially to Wales and southwest England. It was the fourth named storm of the season, and it caused disruption from damaging winds and a lot of rainfall. A rare red weather warning was issued during this multi-hazard event.

- After Storm Darragh, the weather calmed and we saw colder conditions, with frost and freezing fog, especially in Scotland.

- December overall was milder (warmer) than average, with a provisional mean temperature 2.0°C above the long-term average. This made it one of the warmest Decembers on record! 

- Rainfall was also above average. Flooding occurred in parts of northwest England and Scotland on the 30th and 31st due to heavy rain.

- It was a dull month, meaning there was less sunshine than average (a total of only 24.3 hours of sunshine!)

What Does This Mean for Our Spring Bulbs?

All this rain and mild weather might mean that our bulbs could flower a bit earlier than expected! It’s important to keep measuring and recording your data to see how the conditions in your area compare to others across the UK.

A Few Tips for Uploading Your Data:

- Double-check your rainfall and temperature measurements before uploading.

- Add any interesting comments about what you’ve noticed in your garden - has the weather affected your bulbs?

- Don’t forget to upload your data weekly to the Amgueddfa Cymru website so that we can all track the progress together.

Looking Ahead

Remember to look out for early signs of spring and share these either with your comments, by email or on X/Twitter. We’re expecting more growth from our plants throughout January, so remember to keep a close eye on them.

Happy investigating!

Professor Plant

December's comments:

Bulb Growth Observations:

Langbank Primary School: Most of the pots/bulbs are starting to grow.
Professor Plant: Fantastic news! Your bulbs are waking up, spring must be just around the corner. 

Ysgol Tycroes: Nearly all of our bulbs now have shoots coming out of them.
Professor Plant: Well done! Shoots are a sign that your bulbs are healthy and happy. Keep observing for any changes.

Ysgol Llanddulas: Some of our bulbs have grown a lot. No flowers still.
Professor Plant: That’s perfectly normal. Flowers take time, so keep visiting your plants to see how they grow!

Henllys Church in Wales School: It felt a lot colder than it was this week, and our bulbs are trying to push through the soil.
Professor Plant: Bulbs are incredibly resilient! Even in cold weather, they’ll keep growing. Great observation!

Bwlchgwyn Primary School: Most of our plants have shoots now. We think they are mostly the daffodils pushing through.
Professor Plant: Spot on! Daffodils tend to grow quickly this time of year. It will be interesting to see if the crocus grow later but bloom first!

Langbank Primary School: We spotted signs of growth in some of our pots today and 2 of the bulbs planted in the ground.
Professor Plant: Brilliant! It’s exciting to see both potted and planted bulbs thriving. Well done for watching them!

Clonalig Primary School: Lots of bulbs are beginning to shoot up, and the mystery bulbs’ shoots are well up.
Professor Plant: How exciting! Mystery bulbs add a layer of fun and soon, you might be able to tell what they are. Keep observing closely.

St John The Baptist Primary School Portadown: We noticed some of our plants have some green shoots appearing.
Professor Plant: That’s excellent news! Green shoots are the first step towards a beautiful display. Keep up the good work!

Cold Weather and Ice:

Cornist Park C.P: There is a lot of snow, and it is very cold. The wind makes it feel like -1 degrees.
Professor Plant: Brrr! The snow can make things challenging for plants, but your bulbs are hardy and will continue growing underground. It's interesting how we feel the weather, some days feel colder to us even when the temperatures the same. This can be for reasons like wind chill, humidity, and sunlight.

Stanford in the Vale Primary School: Very cold, and the ice has settled in.
Professor Plant: It’s amazing how bulbs can survive icy weather. I hope you are all staying warm too!

Bwlchgwyn Primary School: Lots of snow and ice covering our rain gauge all week.
Professor Plant: Snow and ice can be tricky for measuring rainfall. It's fun to bring the rain gauge inside and take the reading after the ice has melted. 

Pil Primary School: There was hardly any rainfall this week, and it was very cold.
Professor Plant: Cold, dry weather is tough, but it’s good to see you’re keeping up with observations. Well done!

Ysgol Tycroes: It felt really cold this week.
Professor Plant: It can feel extra cold in winter, but your bulbs are well-equipped to handle the chill. Make sure you wrap up warm when going outside to take your readings.

Rain and Storms:

Scotstoun Primary School: The rain gauge has been full for some time now - it has been full due to torrential rainfall in December.
Professor Plant: Good observation. Remember to empty your rain gauge after taking each days reading!

Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School: Monday 6th January includes rainfall from over Christmas. Snowfall on the night of 3rd January melted.
Professor Plant: Melting snow often adds to your rainfall measurements. Great work noting the context, it’s very helpful!

Rhayader Primary: Over 50mm of rainfall after the weekend, with Storm Darragh. No temperature readings as school was shut due to no electric after the storm.
Professor Plant: That sounds like a wild week! Storm Darragh brought lots of rain, well done for recording what you could. Thank you for sharing the impact that the storm had on your school. 

Ysgol Pentreuchaf: Yr ysgol ar gau Dydd Llun, dim trydan yna yn dilyn Storm Darragh.
Professor Plant: Storm Darragh caused so much disruption. Diolch for keeping up with your records despite the challenges!

Ysgol Gymraeg Morswyn: 7-8/12/24 - Storm Darragh.
Professor Plant: Storm Darragh made quite an impact! Thank you for noting the storm in your comments.

St Mary’s Primary School - Newry: There was lots of rainfall collected on Monday because of Storm Darragh.
Professor Plant: Great job recording after the storm. That rainfall will help hydrate the bulbs in the soil.

Ysgol Porth Y Felin: There was a storm—that is why there is no record for some days.
Professor Plant: Storms make recording tricky, especially big storms that might cause school closures. You’ve done well to note the circumstances—thank you!

General Weather Observations:

Cornist Park C.P: Today it is cloudy and dark. It is damp and cold.
Professor Plant: Cloudy and damp conditions can be tough, but bulbs still grow under the soil. Well done for getting outside and monitoring!

Meldrum Primary School: Not as much rainfall this week as previous weeks, but there is still a general amount of rainfall.
Professor Plant: Great observation. A balance of rain is important for bulbs, they’ll appreciate the moisture in the soil.

Pil Primary School: There has been lots of rain on Thursday. I got wet reading the temperature and rainfall this week.
Professor Plant: Thank you for your dedication! Your readings are invaluable - great work braving the rain.

Mountain Lane School: Storm Darragh on Fri/Sat.
Professor Plant: Thank you for recording such significant weather events. 

Holiday or School Events:

Stanford in the Vale Primary School: It was hot during the first 3 days but then it got a bit colder. Also, Merry Christmas!
Professor Plant:  Hope you had a Merry Christmas too! Thank you for your weather observations. 

Wellshot Primary School: All of our school Christmas shows and parties took over the first few days, but we made sure to update the last 2 days.
Professor Plant: Great teamwork! Balancing festivities and science is impressive, well done!

Mountain Lane School: Nadolig Llawen.
Professor Plant: I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas too! 

Ysgol Porth Y Felin Christmas holidays/yay!
Professor Plant: Thank you for keeping your weather records up to date right up to the holidays!