Enamel badges from the Durham area
A collection of nine badges from branches around Durham. Listed from top left to bottom right.
Horden
Issued to striking miners.
Hundreds issued. 25mm x 24mm shield. Green and blue. Chrome.
Monkwearmouth
Produced by Harry Dinnings in 1985.
700 issued. 36mm x 25mm oval. Red and yellow. Gilt.
Victimised and Sacked Durham Miners
Issued for victimised miners and officials.
100 issued. 21mm round. Red. Gilt.
Easington
Issued to strikers.
Several hundred issued. 25mm round. Red and blue. Gilt.
Durham Miners Association
Issued after the strike.
Issued in large numbers. 25mm round. Red, white and blue. Gilt.
Vane Tempest
Mechanics strike badge.
Limited numbers issued. 19mm round. Black and red. Gilt.
Dawdon Lodge
Produced after the strike.
Several hundred issued. 27mm x 23mm crest. Blue, black and red. Chrome.
Eppleton Lodge
Issued to striking miners.
Limited number issued. 25mm round. Red, blue and black. Gilt.
Tursdale Lodge
Strikers issue form the workshops.
Limited amount made. 25mm round. Blue and pink. Gilt.
Durham Miners’ Gala
The Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) is a thriving community organisation, based on the traditions of the miners and their communities.
It still organises the hugely successful Durham Miners’ Gala, often called the Big Meet. Held on the first Saturday of June of each year. It attracts tens of thousands of people, banners and bands. For more information:
http://durhamminers.org/Gala.html
An excellent book of the history of the Gala is “The Big Meeting” by David Temple. You can purchase it here.
http://durhamminers.org/Shop.html
The Miners’ Strike 1984-85
The Miners’ Strike of 1984/5 was in defence of the coal industry, to protect jobs and communities. By the end of the strike in March 1985, 200 mineworkers served time in prison or custody, 20,000 people had been injured and 966 mineworkers had been sacked by the NCB. Two members of the National Union of Mineworkers were killed on picket lines; David Jones on the 15th March 1984 and Joe Green on the 15th June 1984. Three people died digging for coal during the winter.
National Justice for Mineworkers Campaign
The National Justice for Mineworkers Campaign was formed at the 1985 Labour Conference and was launched at the Albert Hall, London, in October 1986. The objectives of the campaign are to keep the issue of those victimised miners to the forefront of the labour and trade union movement and to raise money to alleviate hardship among the families of the victimised men.
The 966 men were originally sacked for no more than honouring picket lines, defending their jobs and pit communities, their class and the future of their children. Only a small number had been dismissed for offences against the person or damage to property. Many miners subsequently cleared by the courts were not re-instated and neither were many more who successfully won their cases for unfair dismissal at Industrial Tribunals. Many were even blacklisted from getting any work outside the coal industry.
The Justice Campaign is supported by the NUM, Labour Party, TUC conferences and many national & regional unions.
National Justice for Mineworkers Campaign
103 Cliff Road Hornsea HU18 1JB
Email: to be advised
Web: www.justiceformineworkers.org.uk
Phone: 01964 532954 & 07816 030236
A minimum of 10p of the purchase price of this card is donated to the NJMC.
Enamel badges of the National Union of Mineworkers
Many thanks to Brian Witts for information, advice and access to his collection. Brian produces the definitive book about the enamel badges and a large format poster using images of the badges to illustrate the wreckage caused by the Thatcher government to the mining industry and the mining communities. Contact Past Pixels if you want details.
Image of badge is copyright National Union of Mineworkers.
Photography by Martin Shakeshaft www.strike84.co.uk
