South Wales Coalfield Collection

Interviews 1974-79 Study

Ref No. Description Dates
AUD/11 Interview of Price, Lil and Goff.
Recorded memoirs of Lil and Goff Price, which mainly focus on LP's recollections of the Bedwas dispute in 1933 when she was arrested and imprisoned. Also discussed is their attitudes towards the Spanish Civil War.
Covers period : 1920-1945 (c).
Running time : 34mins 21secs.
25.10.1974(c)
AUD/28 Interview of Sinkinson, Geoffrey.
Description by Geoffrey Sinkinson, a civil engineer from the Forestry Conservancy Commission, concerning derelict land reclamation schemes in the South Wales coalfield.
Covers period : 1960-1974 (c).
Running time : 34mins 10secs.
11.1.1974
AUD/49 Interview of Gale, Tom.
Recorded memoirs of Tom Gale, Abertillery, concerning his political experiences. Included are his activities as a member of the Communist Party; his imprisonment (and escape) as a conscientious objector in World War I; his activities with Sinn Fein; and his experiences both in America and Russia.
Covers period : 1900-1976 (c).
Running time : 43mins 47secs.
7.1.1976
AUD/51 Interview of Hill, Len.
Recorded memoirs of Len Hill, Abertillery. Included are his memories of the Blaina march in 1935, and of his prosecution for his part in it; his experiences of poverty and unemployment, and benefits for the poor; the Spanish Civil War; and his role as an agent for the Labour MP's for Abertillery.
Covers period : 1935-1970 (c).
Running time : 37mins 52secs.
1974-1979
AUD/160 Interview of Gregory, William.
Recorded memoirs of Bill Gregory. Includes his interest in the Independent Labour Party and trade union movement, and first starting work in his uncle's barber shop.
Covers period : 1940-1976 (c).
Running time : 23mins 30secs.
6.1976
AUD/161 Interview of Williams, Emlyn.
Recorded memoirs of Emlyn Williams, NUM President South Wales. Includes Powell Duffryn's treatment of workers; return from the army after nationalisation; effect of nationalisation on Bwllfa Colliery; effect of influx of men from the armed forces; amalgamation of pits to form larger pits; militant pits selected to be closed eg Seven Sisters; and Will Paynter's criticism of unofficial groups.
Covers period : 1930-1970 (c).
Running time : 23mins 55secs.
19.6.1976
AUD/177 Interview of Jones, Urias.
Recorded memoirs of Urias Jones, Upper Tumble. Includes his interest in Spanish Civil War, and volunteering; experiences while in Spain; and his service in the army during World War II.
Covers period : 1920-1960 (c).
Running time : 53mins 11secs.
9.10.1974
AUD/212 Interview of Evans, Edgar.
Recorded memoirs of Edgar Evans, Broad Haven. Includes a discussion of the founding of the Miners' Institute and Welfare Hall in Bedlinog; the persecution of people involved in trade unionism, and the non-union campaigns; his arrest, trial and imprisonment in 1935; the welcome he received on his release; the Minority Movement in Bedlinog; the role of the shopkeepers in the 1926 General Strike; a comparison of Maerdy and Bedlinog; volunteers for Spain; and the work completed during his time on the Council.
Covers period : 1910-1973 (c).
Running time : 3hrs 20mins 24secs.
9.7.1975
AUD/245 Interview of Rogers, Lance.
Recorded memoirs of Lance Rogers, Cefn Coed. Includes his political and trade union activities; recollections of a hunger march to London in 1936; his opinions of Arthur Eyles, Lewis Jones, and Aneurin Bevan; his reasons for volunteering for the International Brigades, and the personal effect of the Spanish Civil War; refusing to be conscripted, being caught, and imprisoned.
Covers period : 1930-1975 (c).
Running time : 1hr 18mins 59secs.
4.4.1975
AUD/246 Interview of Gittins, Ned.
Recorded memoirs of Ned Gittins, Nelson. Includes a discussion of the 1926 General Strike in the Treharris and Bedlinog area, and its effect on his family; and the Council of Action in Bedlinog.
Covers period : 1926-1975 (c).
Running time : 14mins 21secs.
4.4.1975
AUD/247 Interview of Davies, Dai Coity.
Recorded memoirs of D C Davies, NUM Pontypridd. Includes a discussion of the 1926 General Strike and lock out; an attempt by police and colliery managers to persuade his father to return to work during the 1925 strike; an incident when his father was beaten up by police; and the scab union at Pencoed.
Covers period : 1926-1975(c).
Running time : 18mins 42secs.
4.4.1975
AUD/343 Interview of Thomas, John (Dr).
Recorded memoirs of Dr John Thomas. Includes adult education in Wales; funding for the Workers Educational Association; lectures and classes arranged and taught in South Wales by JT; attacks on the WEA by Aneurin Bevan; conscientious objector during World War I; pupils at Aberdare Grammar School before World War I; the importance of institute libraries in the education of the community; his published books; and WEA summer schools.
Covers period : 1920-1974 (c).
Running time : 1hr 15mins 33secs.
4.1974
AUD/381 Interview of Hayward, Don.
Interview of Jenkins, Emlyn.

Recorded memoirs of Don Hayward and Emlyn Jenkins concerning pit closures, and especially the closure of Wern Tarw Colliery.
Covers period : 1940-1974 (c).
Running time : 10mins 28secs.
19.6.1976
AUD/382 Interview of Davies, D C.
Recorded memoirs of D C Davies, NUM Pontypridd. Includes his interest and involvement in social insurance, including compensation claims, industrial injuries, and the claims procedures for an individual certified as suffering from pneumoconiosis; changes in the disability benefit and its effect; and the Wern Tarw issue.
Covers period : 1930-1976 (c).
Running time : 37mins 30secs.
19.6.1976
AUD/394 Interview of Davies, D J (Mr and Mrs).
Recorded memoirs of Mr and Mrs D J Davies, Ystrad Rhondda. Includes Mrs DJD (nee Phippen) family background; her father's career and involvement in trade unionism and politics; the imprisonment of DJD for being a conscientious objector, and the clothing worn in prison; career of Mrs DJD as a nurse; DJD attended the Labour College; arrest of communists during the 1920's; secret wedding to allow Mrs DJD to continue with her career; the persecution of DJD; a discussion on the reputation of Maerdy (Little Moscow); demonstrations and hunger marches in London; the Welsh community in London; and their opinions on the closure program.
Covers period : 1910-1974 (c).
Running time : 1hr 51mins 41secs.
14.10.1974
AUD/395 Interview of Payne, Merfyn.
Recorded memoirs of Merfyn Payne, Pencoed. Includes his family background; first day working underground, and dislike; his opinion of A J Cook; preparations for the 1926 General Strike; local prosecutions during the strike; the treatment of black-legs; activities of the scab union in the Pencoed area; attitude of the police to the strikers; women's role during the lock out; opinions of leaders of the South Wales Miners Federation; police intimidation to persuade the strikers to return to work; and his involvement in County Council affairs.
Covers period : 1900-1975 (c).
Running time : 1hr 30 mins 12secs.
18.6.1975
AUD/423 Interview of Picton, Walter.
Recorded memoirs of Walter Picton, mainly relating to his brother, Tom Picton, who was killed in the Spanish Civil War, as well as his own experiences.
Covers period : 1920-1940 (c).
Running time : 24mins 30secs.
30.1.1976
AUD/447 Interview of John, Evan.
Recorded memoirs of Evan John of his life and career, and family background. Included is his father's persecution for trade union activities; his early mining experiences, conditions and pit customs; childhood recollections of Craig Cefn Parc, and visits to Swansea; developments in the community, including transport and communications, and the introduction of the radio; religious influences; recreation, sport and cinemas; recollections of various strikes; his involvement in lodge activities and growing political awareness, especially during the 1930's; experiences working in the Kent coalfield; the Spanish Civil War and World War II; local election activities, and working on the executive; amalgamation of lodges with the sinking of Brynlliw Colliery; and support for the 1970 Asturian miners' strike.
Covers period : 1910-1970 (c).
Running time : 2hr 20mins.
2.12.1975
AUD/448 Interview of Price, Lilian May (Mrs).
Recorded memoirs of Lil Price concerning trade union and political influences on her life; joining the Communist Party; recollections of attitudes to black-legs in Bedwas Colliery; account of the Bedwas riot 1933, and her trial and imprisonment, and consequent persecution in various pits.
Covers period : 1920-1940 (c).
Running time : 26mins 40secs.
25.10.1974
AUD/450 Interview of Thomas, William.
Recorded memoirs of Wil Thomas, Cwmparc. Included is his migration from Llanybydder to the South Wales coalfield; the Welsh language in the community; experiences in the pits; recollections of the 1926 General Strike and riots; attitudes to black-legs and police; influence of the South Wales Miners' Federation and the South Wales Miners' Industrial Union; the Dare Colliery stay-in strike against scab unionism; comparison between the Park and the Dare Collieries; nationalisation and closure. Also includes a brief interview with Mrs Thomas of her service in London, and periods of strikes.
Covers period : 1910-1965 (c).
Running time : 1hr 2mins.
19.12.1974
AUD/451 Interview of Hill, Len.
Recorded memoirs of Len Hill, Abertillery. Includes his political and trade unionist influences; lodge representation; political activities in Abertillery during the 1926 General Strike; persecution for his activities, and involvement in the National Unemployment Workers Movement; 1930's demonstrations, and account of the 1935 Blaina march, and his prosecution; experiences of poverty and unemployment; the Spanish Civil War; and his role as an agent for the Abertillery branch Labour Party.
Covers period : 1920-1976 (c).
Running time : 1hr 6mins 40secs.
7.1.1976
AUD/452 Interview of Francis, Dai.
Recorded memoirs of Dai Francis, former General Secretary South Wales Area of the National Union of Mineworkers, mainly concerning his political awareness and involvement in the trade union movement. Included are early influences of the Anthracite and General Strikes on his life; local recreation and religion in Onllwyn; influence of the Welsh language in the community; joining the Communist Party in 1936, and working on Onllwyn Lodge; Spanish Aid Committee activities; election onto the Executive Council; conflict within the Communist Party, and activities and disputes during World War II; wage agreements; nationalisation and the formation of the NUM; influence and activities of Arthur Horner; the advent of pit closures with the National Coal Board; role as the General Secretary of the South Wales NUM, and the 1972 strike; and the culture of the miners galas and eisteddfodau.
Covers period : 1925-1976 (c).
Running time : 3hrs.
21.6.1976
AUD/566 Interview of Howells, Lew.
NOT FULLY CATALOGUED. Recorded memoirs of Lew Howells. Includes his brother's accident underground; the Barry system; working methods; and the influence of the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company in the community.
Covers period : 1900-1940 (c).
Running time : 40mins 23secs.
AUD/569 Interview of Evans, Glyn.
Recorded memoirs of Glyn Evans includes discussion of A J Cook (his views and decisions) and GE's visit to Russia.
Covers period : 1910-1930 (c).
Running time : 17mins 56secs.
21.7.1976

The UniversityPeopleLifeStudyResearchAdmissions
© University of Wales Swansea 02 July, 2007 LIS Web Team