Museum wants memories of miners who lived through strike

May 5 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal

STRIKING miners clashing with riot-clad police to a backdrop of rows of terraced houses.

The scenes, which still provoke bitterness on the streets of Easington, County Durham 25 years on, were later re-created in the film Billy Elliot.

Now museum bosses are inviting people who lived through the miners’ strike to share their memories.

On Saturday staff from Beamish Open Air Museum will be at Easington Colliery’s Welfare Hall as part of a project to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike. Beamish spokeswoman Jacki Winstanley said: “The Welfare Hall has stood proudly on Seaside Lane for almost 100 years and has played a large part in the life of the community.

“Beamish would like to hear your memories of the Hall and the role that it has played in the past 25 years, during the 1984/85 Miners’ Strike and beyond.

“ We would like people to bring along any related photographs and objects to show and share with others over a cup of tea and to ensure that memories of Easington Colliery and its Welfare Hall are not forgotten.”