Corona Virus Concerns

I wonder what the attitude will be to police action or likely now no action when the thousands venture out tomorrow or the week end and we see a peak in infections say 3 weeks on. Enjoy your visits to say Dovedale.

Oh the pit baths! Before Silverwood closed for good, we used to stable our horse in a lovely village a few miles away from Silverwood Colliery. One particular day, riding out, friend and I decided to try a new route home. It took us through some lovely woodlands, but we ended up coming out on a small road that actually went right through the Colliery, shafts one side, baths the other. It must have been shift change because all of a sudden as we were riding along, puthers of steam started erupting out of all the manhole covers all along the road......bath time😂 Didn’t half spook the beasties, a very active journey back home😂

If you look at this photo, the clouds to the right are where Silverwood used to be. It’s all lush green countryside now.

There'll be quite a few of us who won't be rushing out tomorrow. Although I was in contact with one friend who I know will be going out for a "drive." Not sure what that will entail, no facilities open except those in large food shops etc. I'm all for taking things slowly. And my Welsh neighbours can't go home to see their family in Wales for a bit longer I think?! 

February 1985

Mr. Loyden Does the Minister agree that it is patently clear from the answers given this afternoon that the Government are prepared to absorb the high cost of imported coal and all other elements that contribute towards the cost of the dispute because, as the Institute of Directors said at the weekend—it has been far more forthcoming than the Government — before the Government can carry out their economic and other policies, it is necessary to crush the trade union movement?
§Mr. Hunt When the Government came to office the United Kingdom was a net importer of 2 million tonnes of coal a year. By 1983 the position had been reversed, and the nation had become a net exporter of 2 million tonnes. Sadly, that position has now been reversed because of the dispute, and again the country is a net importer. That is yet another example of the enormous damage that the dispute has done.
§Mr. Hannam Will my hon. Friend confirm that the Central Electicity Generating Board has not imported any coal during the dispute? Is that not a further tribute to the flexibility that is built into our electricity generating system?
§Mr. Hunt My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The CEGB has not imported any foreign coal since the strike began, because it has not needed to do so. The best way for our great coal industry to proceed and to preserve markets is to return to full production at competitive prices.
§Mr. Ashdown Is the Minister aware that much of the imported coal that is being sold for heating domestic appliances will not burn in them and that that therefore adds considerably to the problems of old-age pensioners, 720especially those in my area? Will he undertake to look at the calorific value of that coal to ensure that it does the job that it is supposed to do?
§Mr. Hunt Yes, deliberate disruption of supply has caused and inevitably leads to hardship for many customers. I pay tribute to the coal distributive trades for having done their best to care for those who need looking after in our society. That is yet another example of the damage caused by the dispute.

It’s sensible to stay home while others get it out of their systems, rajohno. Like us, you’re probably used to staying at home during the bun fight of the silly season. We can only hope for the best now but I fear the monster has been unleashed.

Don’t forget, they'll probably have to queue to get in the supermarkets. I foresee a lot of folk with crossed legs. 😳

For those caught up in it, both local communities, and the police in South Yorkshire, it remains to this day a very emotive subject. Outside of a War, it’s difficult to imagine how the two combined events of losing so much of the Coal Industry, and hot on its heels, the iron and steel industry, could decimate a relatively small area of the countryside in such a short space of time. Hundreds of thousands of jobs, gone with nothing to replace them, in less than a decade. It wasn't just the actual pits and steelworks themselves, but all the associated businesses that served and supported them as well. The Collieries owned a lot of the housing, the Mines Rescue Service was located in our town. For a vast percentage of the male population in South Yorkshire, those that didn’t choose an alternative career, they went into the pits and the steelworks, often on apprenticeships, and had jobs that would buy them a small house, raise a family, work hard, play hard. All gone. Knock on effect for towns as a whole was never going to be anything other than depression and hardship, for years to come.

I try not to take sides, partly because there’s never been a full enquiry, and it tends to be condensed solely around the more headline happenings and the two quite frankly appalling individuals who are remembered mainly at the centre of events. But trust me, it was about so much more than the skirmishes between Miners, steelworkers and Police. Most involved were good honest hardworking folks, trying to defend their livelihoods and families, or following orders.

Yes, just read as well, very sad. They are talking of selling off some of their none historic assets as well. I think stock market has implications as well from what I have read. Sounds like a hard hitting telling it like it is appeal for help.