Guest tommyking Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Hi everyone, My name is Tom. I'm from Sheffield and I am currently doing some reserach on The battle of Orgreave - as some of my family were involved in the miners strike. I really want to know more about peoples personal experiences at Orgreave and what occurred there in the summer of 1984. In particular I would like to know what memories people have about the battle? Where you were when it happened...etc? Cheers, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hjdary Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Hello Tom. Wasnt there my self (was still at school in Durham..watching the miners from the coastal pits getting beaten) but have been down there my self a time or two and find the place very interesting. It is a crying shame that there is no memorial there to tell the kids what the government did there. There was a little plaque for a time but that was pulled down....then the bridge was bypassed all together......as its still there I suppose that is the memorial! I hope you find plenty of tales....my favorite...I read this in one book, was the story of the miners and the snowman which I'm sure happened near the bridge. I would love to meet someone who was there that day and ask if it really happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 I remember I had to go to my work placement and there was a bus strike so most of the miners had been brought in coaches and minibuses from all over the country. I lived on Finchwell rd then and the miners filled the road as they walked over to Handsworth recreation ground to Orgreave coke and chemicals with a police escort. They met our milkman John just about at our gate and most of them paid for a bottle of milk. I remember he left a crate out for the empties, of which there was loads. As we walked to Darnall to get the packed train we couldn't imagine what would happen when they reached Orgreave. The rest is history. I remember watching it on the main news, I couldn't believe it could happen so close to where we lived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tommyking Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 Thanks to you both. It's interesting that there is no memorial there now - hjdary. And, I suppose maintaining the bridge is a symbolic gesture of some sort. I see that UK Coal are now redeveloping the site. Jeremy Deller did a re-enactment of the battle a few years ago. Knightstempler - I have found photos of miners running across the Sheffield-Lincoln railway line on the day of the battle. Something that shocked me when I saw the pictures and I wasn't even born when it happened. Once again cheers, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted June 14, 2008 Share Posted June 14, 2008 I still think of that day as I drive past Highfields on the way to work. The smell of the coke and chemical works as you passed it. Do you remember the chants Maggie out , Maggie out, Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, out, out, out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tommyking Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 I still think of that day as I drive past Highfields on the way to work. The smell of the coke and chemical works as you passed it. Do you remember the chants Maggie out , Maggie out, Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, out, out, out. I'm only a young un' (well 23). So I was in my mothers womb at the time! 'Here We Go' was another chant at the time... I've also read one about 'Milk Snatcher' that goes to the tune of 'Robin Hood'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunsbyowl1867 Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 I'm only a young un' (well 23). So I was in my mothers womb at the time! 'Here We Go' was another chant at the time... I've also read one about 'Milk Snatcher' that goes to the tune of 'Robin Hood'! Thatcher's boys in blue off for an early morning run and we complain about the way the Chinese infringe human rights! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tommyking Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Thatcher's boys in blue off for an early morning run and we complain about the way the Chinese infringe human rights! Quite right. I watched a news report on the BBC about China a few months ago - saying how its wrong that the Chinese media reports don't show any news about what is happening in Tibet. The same 'broadcaster' who 'inadvertantly' showed 'rioting' pickets 'attacking' police at Orgreave when the opposite was true! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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