Banner of Maerdy Lodge NUM
Designed and made in 1979 by Aylwyn Bowen (raised in Maerdy) and friend Peter Astbury in Exeter using artists’ acrylic paints on cotton. Eve Spencer, a friend, neighbour and a former production manager in the London rag trade, stitched the front and back together. The banner replaced and in many ways copied an earlier one, now housed at the South Wales Miners’ Library, which was damaged during a demonstration in Swansea on 16th April 1979. On the original banner the Lodge name was spelt Mardy, reflecting the spelling of the colliery. However the village is spelt Maerdy.
The banner is now on display at the Rhondda Heritage Park. http://www.rhonddaheritagepark.com/
Thanks to Mike Richards, Gordon Williams, David Owen, Aylwyn Bowen, Wayne Thomas and the staff at the Rhondda Heritage Park.
Any further information about this banner would be appreciated.
Banner image copyright South Wales Area N.U.M.
A minimum of 10p of the price of this card is donated to the South Wales Area Miners’ Benevolent Fund, Registered Charity number 500118.
Photography Martin Shakeshaft. www.strike84.co.uk