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Miners' strike 1984-85, photograph
Williams, Richard
(Photographer)
Digital copy of a photograph showing miners and their families, along with local politicians and union officials, marching back to Garw/Ffaldau Colliery days after the end of the miners' strike in March 1985. The procession set off from the Square in Pontycymmer and walked the mile or so to the pit in Blaengarw. Local councillors on the march included Muriel Williams (in the light coat), Will Trigg, Vernon Chilcott and Colin Evans. Terry Thomas, Vice President of the South Wales NUM, walks next to the wall at Muriel Williams' side.
Collection Area
Industry
Item Number
2025.14/113
Historical Associations
Association Type: Colliery
Place: Garw/Ffaldau Colliery
Creation/Production
Born in Bridgend, Richard has had a lifetime of capturing communities around him. It all began as he photographed the areas and people around Bridgend in south Wales and grew into a long career during which he took enduring images of presidents, prime ministers, and celebrities.
Several years before the 1984–85 Miners' Strike began, Richard started documenting the decline of the South Wales coal industry and was there with his cameras as the coal workers walked out in opposition to the Thatcher government's programme of pit closures.
As a young freelance photographer, he followed the strike to its end and beyond, seeing miners march proudly back to work after their year-long struggle. During this time, he met a young journalist, Amanda Powell, starting her career on the Glamorgan Gazette newspaper and they worked together on some of the events unfolding during the strike. They went on to marry.
Role: Photographer
Place: Pontycymmer
Period: 03/1985
Acquisition
donation, 14/11/2025
Techniques
Digitial copy
Photograph
Location
In store
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