Valleys Boys

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In 1973 my family moved from Pembroke Dock to Risca in Gwent, south Wales. My new school was in Newbridge, 6 miles up the Ebbw valley and, as luck would have it, I was seated next to Phil John who was to become my bosom buddy. Simon Smith, who would later make up the Reptile Ranch trio was also in this class though he was so extrovert and sickeningly cool, I never made it into his social circle. He would sell photocopies of his artwork and cartoons and wow the school with his creative output.

The move to the valleys was a culture shock for me. I had been a pretty decent scrum half and regularly made the first team (rugby) in Pembroke but Newbridge was a whole different ball game. The PE teacher was 'Skipper' Chris Padfield who was also coach of Cardiff. As a result, the school team was full of players who had realistic prospects of playing for the national team at a time when Welsh rugby was at its peak. Many of them actually made it.

The school was nestled between two collieries, North and South Celynon with Newbridge rugby ground literally next door. A band called The Heads of the Valleys, later to evolve into Scritti Politti, played there in the mid 70s. It isn't possible to express how much of valleys culture was determined by our mining heritage. I, until a freak marking error, was destined for an apprenticeship as a 'spark' (electrician) 'down the pit'. Little did we know what terrible fate was to befall the proud british mining communities under Thatcher, although Arthur Scargill was issuing warnings as early as 1972.

The miners' strike of 1984/5 changed my life. From being a boisterous anrchist, I suddenly felt helpless as an individual and promptly joined the party (Workers Revolutionary Party), joined the picket lines and got attacked by the mounted constabulary and police whose ranks had been flooded with army recruits. This was civil war. Unlike the other Marxist groups, the WRP had a policy of education and training so I ended up studying philosophy, history and economics for the next 7 years (unfortunately, they did not issue certificates).

 

The Miners' Strike 1984/85

Been there, done that

Below, a scene typical from the strike

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