Claire in NYC
Region: US
Saturday 27 June 2026 09:25:45 GMT
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cutewithoutthee :
the first million pound cheque was signed in the coal exchange cardiff - people do not realise how big the industry in wales was
2026-06-27 13:35:36
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Annie :
Watch "Brassed Off" - it's such a good portrayal of the 1984 strike. xx
2026-06-27 12:09:53
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Helen_uk :
My grandfather was a miner in Abetgwynfi a tiny village and when my mother married and moved to Swansea she was scared to move to the city because it was referred to as the big smoke at that time it’s so funny because Swansea is a tiny city 😂
2026-06-27 10:31:24
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Lucinda :
I remember this happening when I was a child, it was heartbreaking for the community.
2026-06-27 09:47:38
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Callum :
Closing the mines was 100% correct, what was wrong was the lack of ideas on how to regenerate the areas left behind.
2026-07-04 12:47:55
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debbieamorgs :
the films Pride and Billy Elliot are good to watch as they look at the experiences of striking miners (Billy Elliot isn't set in S Wales but the experiences are the same). Valleys girl here too.
2026-06-27 10:26:39
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Jo 🌙✨ :
I’m from Durham in the north east of England. My family were miners, I actually live in an old miners cottage now. Love hearing about the history of it from another part of the country.
2026-06-27 16:26:40
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RaeW :
So interesting, thanks for sharing.
2026-06-29 12:03:08
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RJL :
If you’re referring to Ocean Colliery in the Garw it was located at Blaengarw, near Pontycymer. It was originally known as Garw Colliery before becoming part of the Ocean Coal Company. Later, in 1975, it merged with Ffaldau Colliery to form Garw/Ffaldau Colliery. The mine finally closed in 1985.
2026-06-28 12:43:22
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Trishybeer :
I teach in a south Wales primary school, we did a whole inquiry about politics and protests and studied the miners’ strike. We also ended up visiting Aberfan and had one of the survivors from the school come and talk to us. My year 5 children were amazing and asked such empathetic questions due to the fact that we had done so much research.
2026-06-27 13:27:23
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Carina Make Up Techniques 50+ :
theres a great documentary on Netflix called STRIKE and all aspects of the mining history and what happened
2026-06-28 06:32:58
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Mia :
The first time I ever went to New York was on a school trip when I was 17. I went into this small bakery in the Meatpacking District and got chatting to the owner. He liked my accent and asked where I was from. I said Wales and he said oh I know that but where in Wales. I said the Rhondda Valley and he said the famous Rhondda Valley and their coal! Being 17 I had no idea of the impact and was amazed he knew. He said of course I know – the Rhondda’s coal is famous around the world! It was amazing. I went back to find the bakery when I moved there in 2016 but it had long gone!
2026-06-28 06:21:54
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Cara Wynne 💛💙🇮🇪 :
Born in 81 in London and one of my earliest memories was collecting for the miners every Saturday morning in our local area with my parents. Monetary donations, food etc.
2026-06-27 13:19:27
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Frankie :
I’m from Yorkshire my dad was a miner , I was 5 years old during strike! I remember having to go and queue up for free meals that looked like TV diners .
2026-06-27 09:45:58
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Vici Cadwallader-Webb :
My father was a policeman in south wales during the miners strike and he stood opposite my grandfather on the picket line …. It wasn’t easy but at least he was earning money to support my grandfather who wasn’t.
2026-06-27 12:36:50
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Terrie R-N :
Thank you’ve found your new tick tock niche! You’re a great historian and teller of tales. Really interesting. I remember the miners strike and at the time it was heartbreaking when they closed. Loss of community was huge.
2026-06-27 15:45:07
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Tracey Brown :
I’m from the Yorkshire mining villages, my dad wasn’t a miner , I didn’t understand but agreed we didn’t have Christmas as usual to support the miners families ! Pride film depicts the time so well
2026-06-27 13:13:17
4
Lel :
Hi Claire, that was really interesting to hear! I'm Welsh and don't have any ties to mining so I don't know a great deal about the 80s strikes (I was born in 84 too). Thanks for sharing 🏴
2026-06-27 11:21:14
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Carolyn Bayliss :
My grand father was a Welsh coalminer. Moved his family over to Brum in the 1930s or 40s.
2026-06-27 17:59:45
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Beryltheperil72🇬🇧 :
I remember the miners strike. it was my first year of senior school on Scotland and the school had to close during the winter. We were told it was due to the janitor refusing to take coal from a pit that wasn't local. The local mine closed in the late 80s.
2026-06-27 09:39:15
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spikespike626 :
the damage was done in the 70s strike. blame the union leaders, but good thing as horrible industry. my dad finished in the late 70s due to mine closing in our town
2026-06-27 10:57:12
1
Jam Master Kay :
My grandfather retired out of Maerdy pit. I dont think my uncle ever worked again. It destroyed him. My other grandfather went to the Royal Mint.
2026-07-25 11:36:09
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charlie :
How was it ever the ‘best’ thing to happen to mining communities?…. It decimated the South Wales valleys, creating a void in employment that was never back filled with rejuvenation and new enterprises or opportunities … although some of what you say is true .. it is also a a very one dimensional take on a topic which is far more complex and multi faceted than a 3 minute TikTok
2026-07-26 20:55:30
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Goonergirl26 :
They must suffer with PTSD 🥲🫶🏼
2026-08-01 22:17:02
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housepanther123 :
Like you say it financially devastated communities, but the health problems it caused, you wouldn’t want any of your relatives to be going down there to work. It was right that they closed, it was just so harsh on the people where mining was the only option to work. Can you imagine today’s school leavers going down the mines to do work that strenuous and hard 😂they simply wouldn’t do it. I’m a recruiter and I see cv’s from people who decided to take a 6 month career break at 22 after doing a few jobs that didn’t quite live up to their expectations.
2026-07-24 20:04:31
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