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23 Feb 10 - 07:22 PM (#2848217) Subject: The Ballad of the Miners' Strike From: Dave MacKenzie Next Tuesday, 2 March at 22:30 on BBC Radio 2, "The Ballad of the Miners' Strike" to mark the 25th anniversary of its end. |
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23 Feb 10 - 08:05 PM (#2848260) Subject: RE: The Ballad of the Miners' Strike From: Joe Offer Lots of information on the BBC2 Website. Also see the BBC Radio Ballads page. Next on: Tuesday, 22:30 on BBC Radio 2 SYNOPSIS In specially commissioned songs to mark the 25th anniversary of the end of miners' strike, Radio 2 explores how lives were changed by the year-long dispute (1984-85). The Ballad Of The Miners' Strike is a forthright and powerful exploration of contrasting human experiences. Songs inspired by their stories propel the ballad through issues still causing debate a quarter of a century later. Striking miners describe the physical and mental toll of the dispute and they and police officers recall the picket line confrontations; miners who worked tell how they're still called "scab"; miners' wives describe how the strike empowered them; and everyone remembers The Battle of Orgreave. The ballad is a musical and historical tapestry which includes sequences of reflection and testimony, punctuated and driven by archive clips of news bulletins, reportage and interviews from the strike period with key figures miners' leader Arthur Scargill and Coal Board leader Ian McGregor. Musical accompaniment is provided by acclaimed folk musicians John McCusker, Andy Cutting, Bob Fox, Barry Coupe, Jez Lowe, Andy Seward, Julie Matthews and John Tams. Interviews were gathered across the UK by reporter Vince Hunt who travelled to Wales, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Kent and Yorkshire to talk to miners and the women who supported them, police officers who served on the picket lines and the miners who crossed picket lines to work. These themed interviews have been used as sources to inspire the songwriters and then fed back into the songs. Jez Lowe's Judas Bus describes a minibus taking "scab" miners across picket lines; John Tams' Over in a Fortnight plants the battle lines for the strike in the victory over Ted Heath of 1974. Julie Matthews' Beyond The Picket Line was written after hearing women from mining families describe their part in the strike, organising food parcels, meetings and protests. Ray Hearne wrote Ordinary Copper from the stories of policemen finding themselves in bitter fights with miners This is the latest in a series of award-winning Radio Ballads commissioned in recent years by Radio 2, exploring important issues of our time. In 2006 a series of six ballads explored the decline of the shipbuilding and steel industries; thirty years of conflict in Northern Ireland; the end of hunting with hounds; the experiences of six people affected by HIV/AIDS; and the lives of Britain's fairground community. |
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25 Feb 10 - 03:43 AM (#2849566) Subject: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dave the Gnome Next Tuesday - 2230. In specially commissioned songs to mark the 25th anniversary of the end of miners' strike, Radio 2 explores how lives were changed by the year-long dispute (1984-85). The Ballad Of The Miners' Strike is a forthright and powerful exploration of contrasting human experiences. Excerpt from the BBC web site Enjoy. DeG |
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25 Feb 10 - 03:58 AM (#2849578) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dave the Gnome Sorry - I missed Dave Mac's post - I did look - Honest! Thanks for combining:-) DeG |
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28 Feb 10 - 04:07 PM (#2852423) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dave MacKenzie Refresh |
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28 Feb 10 - 06:15 PM (#2852540) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Steve Gardham 2 threads running. Please combine. |
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01 Mar 10 - 05:49 AM (#2852819) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dave MacKenzie It's tomorrow night |
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02 Mar 10 - 11:22 AM (#2854151) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dave MacKenzie Just a reminder - it's tonight! |
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02 Mar 10 - 05:17 PM (#2854466) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dave MacKenzie It'll be starting in just over ten minutes. |
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02 Mar 10 - 05:56 PM (#2854493) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: EnglishFolkfan Listening now: BBC Radio at it's best because they let the right people do it. My only complaint is that it's going out so late at night (10.30pm till 11.30pm) so many people who were active or affected in the Event at the time who are getting on in years are not likely to be listening. My elderly neighbours don't have the technology to record it or use iPlayer. It needs to be broadcast in the daytime too. Bringing back memories of living in Sheffield during the Strike and having moved there from the East Midlands mining area. |
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03 Mar 10 - 03:01 AM (#2854710) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dave Sutherland A most absorbing programme well in the tradition of the original Radio Ballads. Some fine songs too! Congratulations to all involved. |
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03 Mar 10 - 03:07 AM (#2854713) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Ruth Archer agreed. Really good. |
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03 Mar 10 - 03:12 AM (#2854716) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: peregrina Yes: it seemed to have a really good integration between the words of the eyewitnesses and the newly composed (&some older) music. I only regret that there wasn't a bit of contextualization for the music: it would have been nice to have heard some discussion of the role of music at the time, and the songs composed and sung then, and some words about the rationale for the songs commissioned for the show. Still--a full hour of very good radio. |
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03 Mar 10 - 04:18 AM (#2854738) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: The Borchester Echo First, bear in mind that this came from they who brought you Count Arthur Strong. To state the bleedin' obvious, John Leonard is not Charles Parker. Actually, I didn't hear much of it and so will catch it again on the iPlayer. Having located R2 on the bedroom radio, I lay down to listen. Playing was The Organist Entertains and the track, bizarrely, was the Blackpool Tower organist doing Day Trip To Bangor. And apart from a vague recollection of John Tams' voice, the next I knew was a lively rendition of Let's Dance, possibly from the very same theatre organ. It was 12.30. So, I'd slept through it. Did it even mention Orgreave? |
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03 Mar 10 - 04:27 AM (#2854742) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,Silas I absoloutly LOVE Count Arthur Strong - one of the best things on radio. |
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03 Mar 10 - 04:58 AM (#2854757) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dave Sutherland They did a large section concerning Orgreave which I'm sure you will find most captivating. The song surrounding that bit showed good imagination too. |
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03 Mar 10 - 06:19 AM (#2854795) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dennis the Elder A very good programme. Living in a pit Town, being born in a Pit Village in a Pit house and having both granddads who worked down pits all their working lives, it brings back many memouries. Please does any one have the words for one of the songs featured with the chorus starting "It'll all be over in a fortnight" . It is a "New song night" at Wath on Sunday and never having sang this one I would like to practice it and sing it. Wath is also steeped in mining history and is just down the road from what was Corton Wood Colliery, obviously for those that did not know. |
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03 Mar 10 - 10:15 AM (#2854961) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dave Hanson On the whole it was excellent, in some places though, just a bit too sympathetic to the scabs and the filth. Dave H |
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03 Mar 10 - 01:12 PM (#2855120) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: r.padgett I have just posted on the BBC chat about this I have listened to the whole hour on BBC play back It is, in my view a land mark piece of audio recordings and songs which is a true reflection of many of the views held during the strike I applaud all who have taken part in this and trust it will be part of the enduring Radio ballad resources to augment those of Maccoll and Charles Parker Well done Ray |
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03 Mar 10 - 01:26 PM (#2855130) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dennis the Elder Hi Ray Have you the words for the song with the chorus starting with It'll all be over in a fortnight featured on the programme? |
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03 Mar 10 - 03:14 PM (#2855222) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: George Papavgeris Excellent programme. Dave H, I don't think the programme makers showed any particular sympathy with the scabs, quite the opposite. But they went out of their way to get as many viewpoints included, without adding comment, which is right and proper. They let the listener draw the conclusions. My favourite was "When the Judas bus goes by", so evocative... |
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03 Mar 10 - 07:45 PM (#2855453) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,padgett Dennis no I havent got round to listening and transcribing this song sung by Bob Fox I think! Dont tell anyone that I have recorded it to listen to will you!! Ray |
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04 Mar 10 - 04:24 AM (#2855640) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dennis the Elder It will be our secret Ray |
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04 Mar 10 - 06:49 AM (#2855702) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Singing Referee Couldn't see one anywhere else, so here's a link to the iplayer page |
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04 Mar 10 - 12:34 PM (#2855992) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: EnglishFolkfan Excellent programme indeed, and when the BBC sorts out the current debacle on what Radio stations they intend to keep, change, whatever let us hope the increased emphasis on words intended for Radio 2 means many more programmes in the Ballads format . I, like many others, have recorded the programme so the songs and words can be repeatedly enjoyed just in case it doesn't make it onto the Radio Ballads website or tragically that website becomes one of those the BBC plan to axe in the planned cutbacks. |
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05 Mar 10 - 02:06 AM (#2856502) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,Ian Cameron I listened to and enjoyed the programme very much indeed - really nice to hear so many regional accents that one way and another "normally" get airbrushed into oblivion. Would be really helpful to have posted somewhere in due course all the titles of the nine songs that featured. The lyrics would be helpful too especially for senile eldely ex activists like myself - well not entirely "ex" -not yet. I agree with some points made above about late night transmission etc., With the death of Ian Tomlinson last April for daring to walk home from work in the vicinity of the Boys In Blue their thuggish murderous fun and games are still going on. And no rush tom justice either ... 11 months later and still no charges or court appearences by Tomlinson's killers. Time for a "BALLAD OF TOMLINSON'S G20 MURDER". |
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05 Mar 10 - 04:43 AM (#2856574) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,John Wintersgill What a brilliant programme! Does anybody know how (or if) you can get hold of the songs from the programme? |
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05 Mar 10 - 04:53 AM (#2856576) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,Ed Does anybody know how (or if) you can get hold of the songs from the programme? You could record it.... |
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05 Mar 10 - 04:55 AM (#2856579) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,Ralphie Hi John W Don't know when (or if) The Miners Strike Radio Ballad is going to be made available for purchase. But, you can get the first 6 on CD. (Just Google Radio Ballads). If you liked the format of Tuesdays show. then you'll certainlay enjoy the series broadcast a couple of years ago. Subjects like, The Steel industry, Shipbuilding, HIV, etc. All reflecting life as it is now. Many of the artists that are on the Miners project can be found there too... Hope you have a large wallet! |
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05 Mar 10 - 05:36 AM (#2856598) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,padgett Check out BBC folk chat for singers and writers etc and the programme is still available on Radio 2 playback, but not for long Ray |
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05 Mar 10 - 08:03 AM (#2856667) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Bonzo3legs I shall enjoy it more when I have edited out scargill's voice. That man and livingstone whipped up the crowd at the Jubilee Park festival in June 1984, resulting in a gang of skinheads attacking the Hank Wangford Band, badly hurting BJ Cole and smashing equipment. |
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05 Mar 10 - 12:49 PM (#2856890) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Les in Chorlton I missed it but will catch up shortly. I would echo Ralphie, the other recent Radio Ballads were also excellent. Jez Lowe etc really do write some great songs. Seeger, MacColl, Parker et al a very hard act to follow but Jez and the others did, IMHO, just as well. I guess they had good teachers? L in C |
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05 Mar 10 - 01:22 PM (#2856919) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Geoff the Duck Skinheads never needed any excuse for violence. Quack! GtD. |
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05 Mar 10 - 05:08 PM (#2857065) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Bonzo3legs Mmmmmmm just can't get rid of scargill completely without losing music. Mostly done though! |
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05 Mar 10 - 07:34 PM (#2857171) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dennis the Elder Geoff the Duck, you obviously live in an unusual world. The miners strike was nothing to do with skinhead violence, your attitude and obvious knowledge of the situation worries me. However, on a more positive note, I have transcribed from the radio broadcast the sond which I have called "It'll all be over in a fortnight", not sure what it is actually called!. It'll all be over in a fortnight It'll all be over in a fortnight, Together strong and true And it'll all be over in a fortnight Give or take a day or two We thrashed their team away from home They won't give us much trouble We won the game last time we met Now were going for the double It'll all be over in a fortnight, Together strong and true And it'll all be over in a fortnight Give or take a day or two We scuppered Ted Heath's dinghy And beached him on the sand Now they think they break the Union But united we will stand It'll all be over in a fortnight, Together strong and true And it'll all be over in a fortnight Give or take a day or two Now the grocer's daughter she's stepped up She's heading for a shock Our women don't like bullies Specially ones who wear a frock It'll all be over in a fortnight, Together strong and true And it'll all be over in a fortnight Give or take a day or two It'll all be over in a fortnight, They'll have to listen when we speak And it'll all be over in a fortnight Or perhaps another week. I love this song and intend, all being well to sing it at the Wath Folk Club on Sunday. It also appears to be an easy song to sing with my limited singing talent. Ray - this will save you the trouble, if you transcribe any of the other songs please let me know. Any one else who transcribes any of the other songs this is a good place to post them. |
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05 Mar 10 - 07:42 PM (#2857179) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Joe G Geoff - maybe wise to explain your comment to avoid misinterpretation |
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06 Mar 10 - 07:14 AM (#2857456) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Bonzo3legs My point was that scargill was a troublemaker, and had a silly hairstyle! |
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06 Mar 10 - 07:22 AM (#2857463) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Les in Chorlton Thsi is dangerous talk, his wife was a hairdresser |
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06 Mar 10 - 10:40 AM (#2857563) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dave Hanson You wouldn't think Arthur Scargill was a trouble maker if he was fighting to save YOUR job. Dave H |
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06 Mar 10 - 10:54 AM (#2857568) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Stu And less face it, he was right in a sense - the sense being he vastly underestimated the decimation the coal industry was about to suffer. |
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06 Mar 10 - 10:59 AM (#2857571) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Bonzo3legs But coal was finished as a power source. You lose your job, you learn a new trade, you write letters - 100s of them, I did both times I was made redundant. I heard a great deal of working class bigotry and inverted snobbery in that programme! |
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06 Mar 10 - 11:08 AM (#2857573) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,Ralphie Interesting Bonzo Old Chap. Don't recall many songs from that era extolling the virtues of Margaret Thatcher and her policies....? Did I miss something. To quote. There is a green field far away, that used to be a pit. But know it's just a grassy bank, where picnic parties sit. And deep beneath their Quiche Lorraine, the ghosts of miners sing. The politics of selfish gain, has ruined everything. I thought that the programme was well balanced, and reflected the thoughts and emotions of the people involved at the time. Arthur Scargill, like him or not, was a pivotal participant in those events. You can airbrush him out of history if you want to. Others won't. |
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06 Mar 10 - 11:22 AM (#2857580) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,Ralphie Bonzo/Boko...Whoever. If it's all working class bigotry, and inverted snobbery, why on earth did you bother to listen to it in the first place? Ah, get it now....You're a fan of the "Home Service". the band , not the Radio station! (and wish you could download recordings of same...(It's called stealing where I come from!) Sorry to inform you Boko/Bonzo. The company that performed the music for this programme that you so despise, on the whole have first hand connections with what was the mining industry. They were there...Where were you? And at the end of the day, It was a fitting resume of the feelings of ordinary people/workers at the time. I'd get back to campaigning for Mr Cameron if I were you. (or are you off on another trip to sunnier climes?) |
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06 Mar 10 - 12:38 PM (#2857639) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Mavis Enderby "but coal was finished as a power source" I don't think that's even remotely true. Maybe it was viewed that way in the eighties with an accountant's eye but I don't think it's finished by a long way - it's too useful a fuel to ignore. As oil and gas become increasingly expensive mines will be re-opened. I can see it happening in my lifetime. It would of course have been easier to have kept an eye on the long term and left the mines open in the first place.... Back on topic, I thought the Ballad of the Miners Strike was excellent and I hope there are more modern radio ballads on the way. Pete. |
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06 Mar 10 - 01:30 PM (#2857673) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: The Sandman My father put up a number of Kent miners,for 6 months,during the strike. did Arthur Scargill,make the right decision? maybe not but the scabs of the democratic miners didnt save their jobs either. Thatcher planned this confrontation, as a result of the defeat of the 1974 mining strike.,so Scargill didnt [imo] have much choice.Thatcher was out to smash the NUM Deputies were part of the mining establishment,they are on the side of the mine owners. |
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06 Mar 10 - 02:58 PM (#2857756) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Les in Chorlton Scargill was fighting the whole of the 'State Machine' - the government, the law, the police, the right wing press. He did have a choice? Once Notts had decided not to fight it was only time to the defeat. Her children are on the rise again and if/when they get back the will make the poorest suffer again. L in C |
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06 Mar 10 - 03:09 PM (#2857763) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: akenaton Scargill was a good man. The bastards tried everything, even character assasination to discredit him.......he never lost his nerve, but almost everyone around him did, including some of the guys he was fighting for. Arthur Scargill should be a hero for the left.....but of course, there's no "left" left....Ake |
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06 Mar 10 - 03:24 PM (#2857772) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Dennis the Elder We can argue about the pros and cons of the miners' strike and Arthur Scargill forever. I was not particularly in favour of the strike or against it, what I was and still am is for the people who were miners and their rights. I stated in a previous post that I live in a pit Town, was born in a Pit Village, in a Pit house and both granddads worked down pits all their working lives", I could be nothing but pro miner. I also know that working down a pit was not a wonderful and easy place to work, but it was a place to work. Unemployment in the town where I live is still way above the national average and this was originally due to the demise of the mining industry and demoralisation of families, where well paid jobs were lost. I had many friends who actually, worked in the mines then and very few now, although quite a few friends who are ex miners. I do not believe that Arthur Scargill, who I have met, was or is the nicest person in the world, but the theories he quoted then have, in the majority, been proved to be true, unlike the words of the politicians of the time, which have again in the majority been shown to be the opposite. Living in a mining town was, believe it or not, a good place to live, with a very strong sense of community. The town is the same, but the kindredship and the community have been much reduced. It will never be the same. I know who I blame for this and it is not Arthur Scargill. The main thing that he was guilty of was underestimating the cunning of Margaret Thatcher. He was drawn into a strike at the wrong time of the year and well before it should have started. I think we should perhaps draw a line under our differences of opinion and concentrate on the wonderful songs that have been the result of the programme. Congratulations to all involved. |
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06 Mar 10 - 05:00 PM (#2857848) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Bonzo3legs You wouldn't think Arthur Scargill was a trouble maker if he was fighting to save YOUR job. Nobody fought to save my job in 1992 when I was made redundant from Binder Fucking Hamlyn - Chartered Fucking Accountants thankyou very much. |
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06 Mar 10 - 06:34 PM (#2857910) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Bainbo Well you should have joined a union then, shouldnt you? |
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06 Mar 10 - 06:48 PM (#2857920) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,Girl Friday Just listened to the show. Jez lowe has written some great songs, but none more powerful than "The Judas Bus." Shame it's not yet available. |
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07 Mar 10 - 01:52 AM (#2858093) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,Ralphie Having listened closely to all the Radio Ballads (The new ones), I'm sure that the technique used was to record the songs in one go, but with carefully timed (to the second probably!) instrumental interludes. All the music would then have been mixed together, thus making a music "bed" over which the speech inserts (already selected and pre timed) could be overlaid. A relatively simple process using digital editors. When I was working on Radio 1/2 docs in the 70s and 80s...It was loads of reels of tape, that you normally kept losing! If you just released the basic music "backing" as used on the programme it would sound quite odd I'm sure!!! Mind you, as you say there are some fine songs there, and I'm sure that more conventionally structured versions will find there way onto the artists next projects in due course. |
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07 Mar 10 - 03:55 AM (#2858124) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,padgett O dear This has got a bit out of kilta As Joe suggests Geoff the Duck maybe could clarify what he has said as Dennis has slightly misunderstood what he said!! Arthur Scargill represented miners in tribunals and similar for very many years and really did know his stuff and saved jobs and families Acountants and similar traditionally had/have no union as such so I can sympathies with Bonzo above Unions work very well and tirelessly where there are many employed and have strength on their side The miners were underpaid, worked in apalling conditions and risked their lives daily and over many decades. Their retirements were badly paid and short lived Uncaring unknowing educated with little idea of physical work and industrial wealth creation at grass roots elected as MPs by a majority of the population who similarly know little of industry!! Ray |
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07 Mar 10 - 04:12 AM (#2858129) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Les in Chorlton We will all forget how truly evil the Tories are when in power L in C |
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07 Mar 10 - 05:07 AM (#2858148) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Kampervan Call me cynical. but I don't think that there are many politicians who join a party out of conviction these days. They join the party that they think will get them elected and in a position to do themselves the most most good. Labour are just as dishonest and self-serving as the Tories and the honest members of both parties could be counted on the fingers of two hands. Then they wonder why no-one bothers to vote. Put an 'abstention' option on the ballot paper if you really want to get a feel for what the public thinks. |
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07 Mar 10 - 05:39 AM (#2858163) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Les in Chorlton Perhaps you are right Mr Campervan although I wonder on what hard evidence you base your conclusion? The 'popular press' are important opinion formers and they are much, much more corrupt than politicians. Did you follow the News of the World practice of breaking into people's e-mail and mobile systems? What was probably worse was the way the rest of the press kept quiet. I dont think 10 MPs are the only honest ones - as you imply. Part of the problem is keeping Governments accountable between elections. It's odd isn't it that Labour may/will loose because of the war, expenses and the banking colapse to a party that was at least as keen on the war, probably did better out of expenses and is full of *ankers and their friends Best wishes L in C |
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07 Mar 10 - 05:59 AM (#2858179) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Kampervan Oh, I agree that getting the Tories out was a very good thing, but I just don't feel that the Labour party has done a very good job of replacing them. The question now is , who could do any better? And the scary thing is - I don't know the answer And yes, all I have to go on is what is broadcast in the papers and on television and the radio. As for the number of honest politicians, well maybe I underestimated, but who would you put on the list - |
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07 Mar 10 - 06:27 AM (#2858192) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Bonzo3legs Acountants and similar traditionally had/have no union as such so I can sympathies with Bonzo above Thank you Guest Padgett |
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07 Mar 10 - 08:10 AM (#2858258) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,Shimrod "It's odd isn't it that Labour may/will loose because of the war, expenses and the banking colapse to a party that was at least as keen on the war, probably did better out of expenses and is full of *ankers and their friends" How very, very true, Les! But I have long believed that the Left, in this country, is/was hopeless. Too obsessed with ideological purity and too full of smug self-righteousness and self-importance to bother with proper strategy or tactics. And when they get their chance, what do they do? Swing to the Right, start an illegal war and devote themselves to slavishly promoting the 'free market' and the financial industry (which has dropped us all in the shit) - thanks Labour - you f*cking useless, hypocritical tossers! Mind you I also think that the Tories get in again and again and again because of the innate snobbishness of the British people. The Tories know that all they have to do is to promise to 'punish' those perceived to be of a 'lower social status' (the 'working class', the 'poor', 'benefit scroungers' 'immigrants' etc., etc., etc.). God help us - a plague on both your houses!! |
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07 Mar 10 - 10:36 AM (#2858334) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Bonzo3legs Perhaps the mob should change into proper clothes from their tracksuits and trainers and vote Cameron in then! |
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08 Mar 10 - 03:26 AM (#2858900) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: akenaton The population has been persuaded that money equals happiness. Until that mindset is shown for what it is, we are fucked. Nothing will ever be changed until we wake up to a world full of wonder and beauty. |
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08 Mar 10 - 04:29 AM (#2858925) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Les in Chorlton The Strike was about the unequal distribution of power and wealth. That inequality remains and is much more extreme in other parts of the world. It stops people from having the time and opportunity to a enjoy "world full of wonder and beauty". just a thought L in C |
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09 Mar 10 - 03:33 AM (#2859821) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: akenaton "It stops people from having the time and opportunity to a enjoy "world full of wonder and beauty". I would agree with that Les, if you meant to apply it to "Capitalism" All the stuff about inequality is meaningless in a global sense. The people of the thrird world are probably more equal than we are, but do you want that sort of equality? |
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09 Mar 10 - 12:00 PM (#2860180) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Les in Chorlton "All the stuff about inequality is meaningless in a global sense." No it isn't, it's just very complicated "The people of the thrird world are probably more equal than we are," The people who own and control wealth in much of the world are probably based 'off-shore' and have little loyalty to any place. "but do you want that sort of equality?" What do you think. It seems to me that I cannot tune a banjo properly so don't ask me to explain injustice on a world scale. But I think I know it's there and it's wrong. Best wishes L in C |
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21 Jun 20 - 01:45 AM (#4060471) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: r.padgett And having listened to some of the hour long Ballad of the Miners' Strike from 2010 I found the thread ~ thanks for the words of "It will all be over in a fortnight" Dennis ~ John Tams song So 2020 10 years ago and US Of A and Trump at War with himself and African Americans, and women ~and we thought inequalities would have been sorted out better over last 10 years ~ not a chance and Covid 19 spares no one Ray |
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21 Jun 20 - 03:44 AM (#4060488) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,henryp 3 days ago; Great Britain's record coal-free run is over, after 67 days, 22 hours and 55 minutes, following a coal unit running tests after essential maintenance. This had been the longest run without coal for Britain since 1882. BBC 10 June; Renewables were responsible for 37% of electricity supplied to the network versus 35% for fossil fuels. Nuclear accounted for about 18% and imports for the remaining 10% or so. "So far this year, renewables have generated more electricity than fossil fuels and that's never happened before," says Dr Simon Evans of Carbon Brief. |
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21 Jun 20 - 05:12 AM (#4060503) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,crumbly funny how these favourable statistics refer to GB- England's performance is pretty poor compared to Scotland's so can we have the figures for England please? As for the horrors of 1984, be in no doubt this government is quite capable of doing it all again, and probably will. |
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21 Jun 20 - 05:31 AM (#4060510) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: Joe G Last night Joe Solo livestreamed a performance of the whole of his excellent 'Never Be Defeated' album which describes the experiences of miners in South Yorkshire during the strike. It was a tour de force performance (as Joe's always are) and you can find it via his Facebook page |
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21 Jun 20 - 05:58 AM (#4060515) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,henryp Crumbly; electricity figures refer to the National Grid, which serves Great Britain but not Northern Ireland. There are about 100 hydro-electric schemes of various size in Scotland, and half a dozen in Wales. Rheidol is the largest hydro-power station of its kind outside Scotland. Dinorwig is an important pumped storage scheme. |
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21 Jun 20 - 07:50 AM (#4060524) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: The Sandman guest crumbly they would have to find a union leader like joe gormley , gormley[along with ray buckton] reported back to mi5 on union leaders meetings during the 1973 miners strike and then signed productivity deals so that mrs thatcher was able to stock pile, coal to defeat the miners. crumbly, where were you in 1984?. |
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21 Jun 20 - 01:12 PM (#4060592) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,crumbly That's the point, henryp- the figures are for GB- if there were figures for England alone, its own renewable production would be substantially less than 37pc! I know nothing about Wales' contribution, but it sounds like the additional exclusion of Wales would result in even lower English figures. Sandman, you're quite right about the corrupt NUM led by Gormley, but the strikes WON by the miners were in 1972 and 1974- I don't understand why you wonder where I was in 1984?? |
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21 Jun 20 - 03:23 PM (#4060614) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST "That's the point, henryp- the figures are for GB- if there were figures for England alone, its own renewable production would be substantially less than 37pc! I know nothing about Wales' contribution, but it sounds like the additional exclusion of Wales would result in even lower English figures." Would they really? I'm not sure what that would prove, but I'd be interested to see your figures. |
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22 Jun 20 - 08:48 AM (#4060727) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,crumbly It has to be obvious that the Scottish Government has a much more active policy on renewable than Westminster, who have to be dragged kicking and screaming in any sensible direction. The Scottish policy is not popular everywhere in Scotland, but Holyrood's aim is to be 100pc renewable THIS YEAR! It's probably happened already, due to Covid. Illogically, Scotland does not use all of its power- a large amount is sent to England, which is why I made the point that, like many other things in UK, UK/GB/NATIONAL figures don't tell the full story! |
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22 Jun 20 - 08:58 AM (#4060729) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,Rob Mad Jock Wright The Oyster band did a great version of Coal Not Dole by Kayak Sutcliffe. Another great version is by Angie Wright and is on her Captive Heart available on Spotify. So a bit of blatant publicity there. .. |
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22 Jun 20 - 11:12 AM (#4060762) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,henryp John Tams was the musical director of the Radio 2 Ballads. Jim Boyes had recorded Coal not Dole with Swan Arcade in April 1990 for the Hokey Pokey charity compilation Circle Dance. John Tams suggested setting it to the tune of the carol See, amid the Winter's Snow. So Jim Boyes recorded it again in 1993 with Coope Boyes and Simpson. This 'striking' version appeared on the miners' benefit compilation Undefeated (listed as sung by Boyes Coope and Simpson) and on their breath-taking first album Funny Old World too. |
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22 Jun 20 - 12:09 PM (#4060777) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,henryp "Great Britain's record coal-free run is over." Crumbly, the point I was making is that coal, the real enemy, is being steadily defeated, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is relying less and less on fossil fuel. There is good progress towards renewable fuel in Scotland, I'm sure, but the thermal power stations - whether coal-fired or nuclear - have been closed independently of the Scottish Parliament. The SNP, of course, campaigned for Scotland to be an independent state whose wealth would be founded on the extraction of oil from the North Sea. For the record, renewable capacity at the end of 2019 was; England 30.1GW, Scotland 11.8GW. |
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23 Jun 20 - 03:08 AM (#4060879) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,Rob Mad Jock Wright KAYAK ...... don't know how that happened should have been KAY Sutcliffe. Oh blasted thing tried to do it again! |
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23 Jun 20 - 05:36 AM (#4060903) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,crumbly times have changed, henryp- my annoyance was that GB figures are used when it favours England, a frequent deception by Westminster over the years. To summarise- good English figures= English figures..... bad English figures= British figures!!! I think we agree it's good that coal is being phased out & that Holyrood has to base its future independence on something other than oil. However both governments have still to find a proper replacement for the total loss of heavy industrrial jobs, the root of most of our present troubles. On the subject of the thread, have you heard the Ed Pickford song 'The Tshirts and the blood' about the 84 strike- a fine version by Jim Sharp of Newcastle. |
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23 Jun 20 - 06:56 AM (#4060919) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,henryp crumbly; times have changed, henryp- my annoyance was that GB figures are used when it favours England, a frequent deception by Westminster over the years. Yes, Scotland does have the advantage of its own national parliament and an electoral system based on proportional representation. Think yourself lucky. |
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23 Jun 20 - 07:37 AM (#4060930) Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Ballad of the Miners Strike From: GUEST,crumbly Oh I do- believe me! |