Dennis Skinner, the 'Beast of Bolsover MP', declared in a speech in 2015 that "The miners had a wonderful spirit. That's why there's been more books, there's been more films, there's been more everything about miners and their families than any other group of workers."
The Flame Still Burns: The creative power of coal, is a new book edited by renowned coal industry author Granville Williams that explores this legacy as shown in film, drama, music, poetry photography and painting.
On Thursday 15th June, Granville will be giving a free talk on the subject at Working Class Movement Library and introducing a selection of films produced by the versatile and creative National Coal Board Film Unit between 1947 and 1984.
"Noel Newsome shaped the public face of the National Coal Board when it was set up seventy years ago" he explains "He was appointed Director of Public Relations for the NCB and immediately launched the magazine Coal and the cine-magazine Mining Review. Both provide a rich record of coal mining communities and I will be talking about this at the WCLM event.
"During the Second World War, Noel Newsome ran the BBC European News operation" he adds "He fought tenaciously to ensure that the service provided news, not propaganda. He was very clear about his role. 'Would you risk your life to listen to that?' he scrawled on one script - demanding that people listening secretly to broadcasts around Europe deserved the straight-talking truth."
Lessons could well be learned from the past for today's media.
The Flame Still Burns: The creative power of coal
Thursday 15th June 7pm-9pm free
Working Class Movement Library
51 The Crescent, M5 4WX
For further details see the Facebook event page The Flame Still Burns – click here
The Flame Still Burns: The creative power of coal
The book explores 'The sheer power of an industry, which over two centuries has witnessed bitter industrial struggles, disasters and the creation of rich, diverse cultures in the different coal mining communities, and continues to inspire, with new films,
painting, photographs, books, plays, dance and music being created'.
The book also has full colour illustrations of NUM Banners and striking paintings by miners. Another section in the book explores conflicts and controversies associated with the miners' strikes.
The book will be available at the talk or from Waterstones £9.99 – click here
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