'The day I met Bruce Springsteen' - Wearside woman remembers the star who supported the striking miners

A Wearside mother-of-three has recalled the day she met one of the world's biggest music stars - while she was helping Wearside's miners.

Juliana Heron was part of a support group which was fighting on behalf of the striking pit workers of County Durham in 1984.

Her husband Bob Heron was doing his bit on the picket line.

Broth, mince and dumplings and hardship parcels

They had to split their duties between the strike and looking after their own young family.

Juliana and a group of other women from Eppleton got permission from the NUM to set up a kitchen.

For seven days a week, they served up hearty dishes such as mince and dumplings, broth.

There could be up to three sittings a day as hundreds of hungry villagers came forward. So did their children.

'We got word that Bruce Springsteen wanted to meet us'

And while some of the women kept the kitchen ticking, Juliana and fellow volunteer Jean Lamb made food parcels (eggs, potatoes, beans, tinned meat) especially for the single miners who didn't get a penny in benefits.

The two women also made up hardship parcels for people. Every week, they went to cash and carry stores to get enough supplies.

The kitchen workers toiled hard upstairs while Jean and Juliana worked downstairs on the parcels.

'We went backstage and he handed us a cheque for ten thousand dollars'

They were kept going by unions and individuals who constantly popped in with cheques.

But then came a day Juliana would never forget.

"I was at the Durham Mechanics and I was told 'Bruce Springsteen has been in touch. He wants to invite some women to his concert.

"We just knew we were going to St James' Park. I went, Anne Suddick and some other women went. The seats were great.

"We were asked to meet Bruce back stage and he handed us a cheque. It was for ten thousand dollars. He did one for us in Durham and one for Northumberland.

'It was really hard and winter was coming on'

"You just don't think that someone who is in America and has a very good career would do something like that.

"But it is surprising how many people actually did support the miners."

Paul Weller and North East legends Lindisfarne were big supporters as well. That backing was vital especially as the strike dragged on through 1984 and into early 1985, said Juliana.

"It was really hard and winter was coming in again."

Some miners went back before the strike officially ended.

Juliana described how she felt when the campaign was finally over - but the fight wasn't.

Hundreds of jobs lost - 'nothing to replace them'

"It was mixed emotions. Yes we were fighting to save the pits but we carried on fighting because Eppleton was one of them due for closure.

"We were fighting for a community."

A major source of work was lost when the pit shut but 'nothing was put in its place," she said.

Since 1984, Juliana has worked with Age Concern, Victim Support and has made a difference in her work as a councillor.

But before all of that, she tried her best to help the pit workers of Eppleton.