South Wales Coalfield
Collection University of Wales
Swansea Library South Wales Coalfield
Collection
| Ref No. | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| AUD/22 | Interview of Morris, William
Benjamin. Recorded memoirs of Ben Morris, former NUM Chief Administrative Officer South Wales. Includes his first impressions of working in the pit; methods of working; social life in New Tredegar; women in service in London; the 1926 General Strike; pit closures, its opposition, and alternative employment after closures; mechanisation; the 1966 Aberfan disaster; Will Whitehead; motivation of workers; his grandfather's experiences as a miner; miners' pay during the Second World War; and the Porter Award. Covers period : 1910-1982 (c). Running time : 3hrs 38mins 41secs. |
1979-1982 |
| AUD/36 | Interview of Price, Verdun. Recorded memoirs of Verdun Price concerning his life and career, mostly regarding Coegnant Colliery. Included are the relations between collieries, both politically and socially; leadership in the coalfield, especially during strikes; comments on the involvement of the National Union of Mineworkers and it's Executive Council in the area, and it's structure. Covers period : 1953-1981 (c). Running time : 3hrs 13mins. |
1982 (c) |
| AUD/61 | Interview of Lawrence, Raymond
Arthur. Recorded memoirs of Ray Lawrence, Celynen South. Included are attitudes to local leadership; strikes and picketing; militancy; wage schemes; investment in the coalfield; and closures. Covers period : 1960-1981 (c). Running time : 1hr 14mins 51secs. |
4.6.1981 |
| AUD/62 | Interview of Goode, William Thomas.
Recorded memoirs of Bill Goode, Rose Heyworth. Included are pit relations; the effect of nationalisation and mechanisation; community and social activities; his political beliefs; closures and internal coalfield mobility; working experiences and techniques; his injury in the pit and compensation; his lodge activities; working as a labourer outside the mining industry; union and political interests and activities; wage agreements, incentive bonus and power loading; strikes and picketing. Covers period : 1945-1980 (c). Running time : 2hrs 38mins 47secs. |
28.3.1980 |
| AUD/101 | Interview of Harrison, Haydn Morgan.
Recorded memoirs of Haydn Harrison, NUM Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Inspector. Includes the community and social life in Gilfach Goch; training at Treforest College; description of various collieries; description of the role of an National Union of Mineworkers inspector; improvements of underground conditions; impact of National Power Loading Agreements in terms of safety and conditions; geological difficulties when mining in South Wales; and the success of the nationalisation policy. Covers period : 1930-1981 (c). Running time : 1hr 23mins 3secs. |
3.6.1981 |
| AUD/112 | Interview of Woolf, Gary. Recorded memoirs of Gary Woolf, Oakdale. Includes the beginning of his career in the mines; the closure of Ty-Trist Colliery; the integration of Ty-Trist and Oakdale Lodges; relationship between men and management at Oakdale; organisation during the strikes of 1972 and 1974; opinion of the incentive bonus scheme; proceedings of the Executive Council, and GW's involvement as representative of the Rhymney area; steel industry and dockers' strikes; future of the coal industry; and the reorganisation of the Rhymney area. Covers period : 1945-1982 (c). Running time : 1hr 8mins 10secs. |
1979-1982 |
| AUD/134 | Interview of Matthews, Haydn. Recorded memoirs of Haydn Matthews, Maerdy and Area Compensation Secretary. Includes his childhood; the relationship between workers and management; integration of Bwllfa and Maerdy Collieries; closures meetings in Cambrian Club; attitude of National Union of Mineworkers leadership to closures; disillusionment of the miners; attitude to the Labour Party during the run-down of the coal industry; support from other lodges; organisation during the 1972 strike; relationship between police and pickets; unity of the union; and the future of the coal industry. Covers period : 1936-1980 (c). Running time : 1hr 13mins 15secs. |
22.10.1980 |
| AUD/144 | Interview of Davies, Clifford Eric
James. Recorded memoirs of Eric Davies, Brynlliw. Includes his first impressions of going underground; closure of Garngoch Colliery; differences between Garngoch and Brynlliw Collieries; attitude of Lodge leadership; impact of the National Power Loading Agreement; transferral of workforce from between pits to Brynlliw Colliery; run-down of the coalfield and the effect on the workforce; organisation during the 1972 and 1974 strikes; relationship between workers and management after the strikes; investment required at Brynlliw Colliery in order to keep the Colliery open; economic issues of the coal industry; the political self-education of miners; need for trade union education; and Lodge involvement. Covers period : 1945-1980 (c). Running time : 1hr 55mins 46secs. |
7.5.1980 |
| AUD/150 | Interview of Pritchard, Edward
George. Recorded memoirs of George Pritchard, Celynen North. Includes Graig Fawr Colliery; differences of Celynen North and South Collieries; working practices when first worked underground; local leaders of the union in the area during the war; opposition to mechanisation; Lodge district meetings; effect of power loading; his appointment as Lodge Secretary and its effect on his life; organisation during the 1972 strike; relationship between workers and management after strikes; integration of men from closed collieries; future of the coal industry; and the decline in trade union consciousness. Covers period : 1940-1980 (c). Running time : 1hr 24mins 13secs. |
10.3.1980 |
| AUD/151 | Interview of Davies, Clifford Eric
James. Recorded memoirs of Eric Davies, Brynlliw. Includes the closure of Garngoch Colliery; National Coal Board program of closures; opposition and campaigns against closures, especially regarding Brynlliw Colliery; managements attitude to closure; effect on the community of the closure of Brynlliw Colliery; transfer of the workforce. Covers period : 1959-1980 (c). Running time : 21mins 37secs. |
7.5.1980 |
| Archivist: Elisabeth Bennett |
Web development: Martin Price |
Enquiries: library@swansea.ac.uk |
Last updated on: 31 January 1997 |
