Tory boycott was an insult to our community
I WAS disappointed and saddened that the Tory group of Sunderland Council boycotted the 25th anniversary ceremony of the miners' strike at the Civic Centre.
This went beyond toeing the party line and party politics. It was a celebration of our community, the men, women and children who suffered such great hardship in the struggle. It was a milestone moment in our history.
Many of today's Tory councillors in the city are young people, like their leader Lee Martin, who were in primary school when this most bitter of disputes began in March 1984.
The unveiling of the memorial was all about communities and a tribute to the people who supported them.
Today's Tory party is worlds removed, unrecognisable from what it was then, when Margaret Thatcher, with an iron will, set about smashing any resistance to her policy of pit closures that brought us such civil strife.
This was also a celebration of women. Let us never forget they were indeed the backbone for their men, coming to the forefront as women so characteristically do – feeding the fellas on the picket line, running soup kitchens, standing shoulder to shoulder with them.
Florence Anderson, deputy council leader, was one of them, helping to man picket lines outside Eppleton Colliery. She was chairwoman of the Eppleton Miners' Wives Strike Support group, turning out 400 meals a day from the Welfare Hall.
Those of us who are old enough will for all time carry those graphic images of police drafted in to our pit villages to smash resistance with bully boy tactics.
Florence's arms were black and blue when she was arrested and manhandled into the police van.
"I was down the picket line at Philadelphia. It wasn't us being aggressive – we had been shouting and I was identified. We were ordinary women doing extraordinary things to keep them going."
No wonder Florence was also saddened that not one Tory turned up for the unveiling.
It was a privilege to be there. A visitor from Minnesota, who married a Sunderland woman 20 odd years ago, put into words what everyone was thinking.
He said: "Do you know, I will never forget this day. It's been an absolute privilege."
And that's how Florence felt. She will never forget going into neighbours' homes where the little bairns' feet were blue from the cold with no fire in the grate.
She told me: "The kids knew we had nothing but they never complained. That generation has grown up and to alienate people again is very silly."
Coun Martin, whose dad and brothers worked at Wearmouth, said if it had simply been a tribute to the miners he and his fellow councillors would have been delighted to be present "but in all good conscience we cannot attend to commemorate the anniversary of the 1984-85 miner's strike".
I think their boycott was an insult to our mining community.
And one which may very well be to their cost. Actions do indeed speak louder than words.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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