1. Backbone of Britain

The miners’ strike of 1984-5 had a profound impact on Britain’s politics, economy and society. For those on strike, and their families, it felt like an existential struggle to save not only their jobs, but their communities, and the life they knew.

In this episode, Jonny Owen – who was just 13 and living in Merthyr Tydfil at the time – explores the extraordinary heritage that South Wales miners in particular were trying to hang onto. What happened underground helped to shape the society that developed above the surface. He finds that this rich history helps to explain why the South Wales miners were the most solid in support of the strike of any coalfield throughout the year-long dispute.

Jonny talks to former miners, some of them friends of his, about why they still see this difficult and dangerous work as “the best job ever”. And he tracks the root causes of the strike, and why it failed, through the politics of Britain, and the miners union, in the decades that went before.

Strike is a Bengo Media Production for BBC Sounds.

Presenter: Jonny Owen Series Producer: Clare Hudson Executive Producer: Steve Austins Assistant Producer: Ffion Clarke Development Producer: Branwen Davies Sound Designer: Meic Parry Sound Editor: Adam Whalley Composer: Richard Llewellyn Series Consultant: Dr Ben Curtis Commissioning Editor: Bridget Curnow