South Wales Coalfield
Collection University of Wales
Swansea Library South Wales Coalfield
Collection
| Ref No. | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| AUD/33 | Interview of Williams, Emlyn. Recorded memoirs of Emlyn Williams, National Union of Mineworkers National Executive Council South Wales member. Included are his views on the development of the NUM; the Miners' Forum, and the Aberdare Miners' Group; and the over-all effect on the collieries of the threat of closures. Covers period : 1920-1980 (c). Running time : 1hr 24mins 16secs. |
22.10.1980 |
| AUD/39 | Interview of Heathfield, Peter. Recorded memoirs of Peter Heathfield concerning his experiences as the Derbyshire leader of the National Union of Mineworkers. Included are references to the relationship between miners on a local and national level; comparison of the Derbyshire 'branches' and the South Wales 'lodges'; and his views of the NUM. Covers period : 1950-1982 (c). Running time : 1hr 2mins 38secs. |
1979-1982 |
| AUD/40 | Interview of Daly, Lawrence. Recorded memoirs of Lawrence Daly, NUM General Secretary. Included are viewpoints on the differences between the Scottish NUM and other areas; reactions and resistance to closures; incentive bonus schemes; and the introduction of new fuels to the international energy market. Covers period : 1926-1982 (c). Running time : 1hr 56mins. |
1979-1982 |
| AUD/53 | Interview of Paynter, Will. Recorded memoirs of Will Paynter, former NUM General Secretary, of his early life and career. Mainly includes his political activities, and those of Arthur Horner, during the 1940's and 1950's. Included are the setting up of various coalfield committees; negotiations; nationalisation; staydown strikes; loyalty to the new Labour government of 1945; and militancy in the coalfield. Covers period : 1910-1960 (c). Running time : 1hr 18mins 44secs. |
1979-1982 |
| AUD/105 | Interview of Paynter, Will. Recorded memoirs of Will Paynter, NUM General Secretary. Includes his opinion of the Labour government's fuel policy; South Wales demonstration in London in 1959; regionalism within the National Union of Mineworkers; attitude to pit closures, and the support gained from other areas; the threat of the oil and nuclear industry; strike situations; effect of nationalisation; opinions on decentralising the control of the National Coal Board; relations with mining constituency MP's; press support; his opinion of Lord Robens; inquiry processes into disasters. Covers period : 1920-1980 (c). Running time : 2hrs 5mins 26secs. |
1979-1981 |
| AUD/109 | Interview of Whelen, Joe. Recorded memoirs of Joe Whelen, Nottinghamshire. Includes his childhood and early working life; his interest and career within the National Union of Mineworkers; support for other areas during the 1972 and 1974 strikes; attempt to split the unity of the NUM; decline of the industry; attitude of Nottinghamshire miners to the National Power Loading Agreement; picket tactics and strike negotiations during the 1969 surfacemen's strike, concerning hours of work. Covers period : 1935-1980 (c). Running time : 1hr 31mins 34secs. |
21.10.1980 |
| AUD/113 | Interview of Williams, Glyn. Recorded memoirs of Glyn Williams, formerly South Wales. Includes the coal industry during the World War II; settlement of disputes following nationalisation; experience as NUM Executive Member; work as miners' agent; differing customs within the area; the proposed closures of seven pits in South Wales in 1958; necessity of unity of the whole industry to fight closures; geological difficulties in mining in South Wales; threat of the oil industry; his opinion of Lord Robens; the decline of political consciousness in the South Wales Coalfield; and the improvements required in the mining industry. Covers period : 1935-1982 (c). Running time : 2hrs 47mins 21secs. |
1979-1982 |
| AUD/124 | Interview of Mitchell, Harold. Interview of Callan, Tom. Recorded memoirs of Harold Mitchell and Tom Callan, Durham leaders. Includes HM's first job in the mines on the surface screens, and the conditions when he first went underground; involvement within the union; description of the job as President of the Lodge, and as check weighman; opposition to pit closures; organisation and attitudes during the 1972 strike; the controversy and opposition to Seaton Carew Power Station; effect of the National Power Loading Agreement on the self-respect of the miners; opinion of the NUM National Executive Council, and its organisation; and the future of the Durham coalfield. Covers period : 1920-1980 (c). Running time : 1hr 33mins 11secs. |
1979-1982 |
| AUD/126 | Interview of Collins, Jack. Interview of Moyle, Johnnie. Recorded memoirs of Jack Collins and Johnnie Moyle, Kent leaders. Includes reasons for becoming a miner; descriptions of the most militant pits; union problems within Kent area; position of Kent coalfield in relation to the British coalfield; Kent miners in relation to the National Union of Mineworkers; markets for Kent coal; investment in the Kent coal industry at the expense of job losses; and the proposed closure of Snowdown Colliery. Covers period : 1929-1981 (c). Running time : 49mins 44secs. |
4.12.1981 |
| AUD/131 | Interview of Francis, Dai. Recorded memoirs of Dai Francis, formerly South Wales. Includes opinions on the constitution of the NUM National Executive Council; his relationship with union leaders in other coalfields; unity of the South Wales coalfield, and the formation of the South Wales Miners' Federation; his opinion of Lawrence Daly; stucture and unity of the National Union of Mineworkers and Rule 7, and it's support for a Labour Government; representation on the NUM National Executive Council; role of the union during nationalisation; general career of DF; the run down of the coal industry; Seaton Carew issue; his own relationship with the rank and file; role of Lord Robens; and organisation during the 1972 strike. Covers period : 1920-1982 (c). Running time : 4hrs 7mins 34secs. |
1979-1982 |
| AUD/137 | Interview of McGahey, Michael. Recorded memoirs of Michael McGahey, Scottish leader. Includes unions before unity of the National Union of Mineworkers; strikes during the war; the Piece Working System; his relationship with leaders in other coalfields; effect of a Labour government in 1945; Horner's support for the French miners strike; investment and planning of the coal industry; his opinion of the National Coal Board's performance in running the coal industry; and his opinion of proportional voting in the NUM National Executive Council. Covers period : 1926-1980 (c). Running time : 1hr 3mins 4secs. |
1979-1982 |
| AUD/140 | Interview of Rees, George. Recorded memoirs of George Rees, South Wales. Includes the militancy of Fernhill Lodge, and it's relationship with other lodges in the Rhondda; working conditions in the Fernhill pits; unofficial groups meeting in the coalfield; reaction of National Union of Mineworkers leaders to pit closures; contacts with other representatives of other coalfields; industrial relations at Fernhill; his initial opinion as a new member of the NUM National Executive Council; and the structure of the union. Covers period : 1930-1980 (c). Running time : 28mins 37secs. |
22.10.1980 |
| AUD/143 | Interview of Scargill, Arthur. Recorded memoirs of Arthur Scargill, Yorkshire. Includes the role of the National Union of Mineworkers; relationship between the Labour Party and the leadership of the NUM in Yorkshire; his persecution by the National Coal Board and colliery lodge; opinion of the NUM National Executive Council on his election; reasons for the strikes of the 1970's; relationships with leaders in other coalfields; centralised leadership in Yorkshire different to other coalfields; education program for young members of the trade union; threat of the Area Incentive Bonus Scheme to unity of the NUM; the NUM National Executive Council and its representation, role of its President, and opinions of its leadership. Covers period : 1950-1980 (c). Running time : 59mins 43secs. |
1979-1982 |
| AUD/148 | Interview of Vincent, Sid. Recorded memoirs of Sid Vincent, Lancashire leader. Includes his early involvement in trade union activities; problem of ballot rigging 1961; campaign for election of Joe Gormley for National General Secretary's position in 1969, and National President of the National Union of Mineworkers in 1971; opposition to closures in the 1960-70's; and Government policy on energy. Covers period : 1950-1980 (c). Running time : 1hr 14mins 34secs. |
1980 |
| Archivist: Elisabeth Bennett |
Web development: Martin Price |
Enquiries: library@swansea.ac.uk |
Last updated on: 31 January 1997 |
