PIG abatoir to close today

[charliejoejohn2]

They don’t know the half Rod. It completely ruined where I live. Still dislike her and her party for what they did to my community. On the football side of it. There are now no sat football teams round our district. Most grounds were owned and maintained by the pits. Our area was a hotbed of football with the likes of Salmons Barlow Warboys Wagstaffe brothers Mick Speight all playing for United. Prendergast for the other lot. John Dungworth also with United now.

[Carpe_diem]

Nice use of the decimal point there CD..!

Actually after doing a few minutes ceaseless searching, it appears that the problem is in the ballast more than the rails. If we, in the UK used fixed concrete bases for the rails, then it wouldn't be a problem (a la TGV, or the Supertram), but we don't. We still use ballast and that moves in the heat, and allows the rails and sleepers to move in the heat, and that is why we have to slow down. It is a cheaper method, but ultimately isn't as reliable in the extremes as fixed concrete rail beds. Learn something new every day!

Thanks, Pops I like to be at least semi-accurate.

I'm sure that someone must have done a cost benefit analysis and decreed that using fixed concrete would cost more than delays and cancellations for the few days that ballast causes, on average.

I do appreciate the lesson though - genuinely interesting!

[Holden_C]

Can’t compare them Holden. One told the truth about what was happening the other just told lie after lie. I was what you’d call ITK with being involved.

Did you know Arthur was still getting his full salary? I did. All run through a small solicitors in Nottinghamshire ( believe it or not) where one of the partners related the story one drunken evening. ( l was driving so sober) .
He was on the phone the next morning begging us to say nothing, saying the consequences would be violent. After hearing stories from a lad I went to school with who was a copper at the time, and their behaviour, , both sides sickened me so we kept schtum.

He might have been itk - he was of course - but a great leader he wasn't . McGahey would have won that battle. More pragmatic, less egotistical.

[rodcurrie]

Did you know Arthur was still getting his full salary? I did. All run through a small solicitors in Nottinghamshire ( believe it or not) where one of the partners related the story one drunken evening. ( l was driving so sober) .
He was on the phone the next morning begging us to say nothing, saying the consequences would be violent. After hearing stories from a lad I went to school with who was a copper at the time, and their behaviour, , both sides sickened me so we kept schtum.

He might have been itk - he was of course - but a great leader he wasn't . McGahey would have won that battle. More pragmatic, less egotistical.

Tha gets abart thee Marvin,did ya have to do wi Trump's meetin wi the Korean fella? UTCB

[Holden_C]

Met AS a number of times through work. Also played football in many of the mining tournaments over the years as had relatives who worked in the industry. The standard of football was very high. AS attended these and I found him to be affable and nothing like the carricature that appeared on the television screens. A principled man much like Corbyn but surrounded by more sinister people who were determined to bring the state down. For Momentum substitute Socialist workers party.

I heard some British Coal management knew about AS salary but didn't let on because they wanted to negotiate an early settlement to the 84 strike. McGregor apparently moved on all the management sympathisers under instruction from Thatcher. One in particular who I knew was asked to resign for suggesting maybe we should sit down and talk to the NUM like we normally do.

AS could have legitimised the strike 4 weeks into the dispute by asking the delegate conference to ballot the membership. All he needed to do was to get the Conference to reduce the winning post margin from 2/3rd majority to 50% plus 1. His extremist advisors were scared they wouldn't win so they bottled it. That opened the door for Lynk to form the UDM and from that moment on he wasn't going to win.

Thatcher was determined to smash the NUM and for years had been stockpiling coal. Everyone could see it but the blinkered extremists thought the whole of the UK workforce would back them and the country would grind to a halt. They didn't and one of the reasons given was the NUM membership had not been balloted.

By October both sides were keen to bring the matter to a conclusion. AS told a story years after that they had reached agreement for a return to work and had taken a break. He saw Macgregor on the phone and when they reconvened all deals were off. AS was convinced Macgegor had been on the phone to Thatcher.

Gormley and McGahey were a good team but even they would not have prevented Thatchers blue print to reduce the mining industry to next to nothing. They may have gained a more streamlined approach but that would only have delayed the inevitable.

Friends, relatives, work colleagues all lost jobs as a result of the mining industry decline. It needed to change but not be decimated in the way it was.

Great post.

I agree no one would have defeated Thatchers blueprint but McGahey would have saved months of hardship. He wouldn't have let his ego override the welfare of his members as AS did.

After saying that, the NUM building in Sheffield was opposite one of the local tax offices. Parking in the courtyard to go there, a gentleman - Rod will be wanting my autograph after this - said "are you coming to see me?" It was Arthur himself, because if you aren't , you can't park there". I explained I was just delivering something and he said be quick and I'll watch you car. Came out and had a brief chat. He was extremely affable, not bombastic at all. As he waited in the sun for his chauffeur to pick him up

Also met McGahey on a train with a clients very middle class lawyer. They started discussing politics and the law, very interesting.McGahey kept his light under a bushel, highly intelligent man. The brief said he was the most interesting man he'd ever met.

[Holden_C]

Tha gets abart thee Marvin,did ya have to do wi Trump's meetin wi the Korean fella? UTCB

Met Tony Benn, great man, Clive Betts, Richard Caborn, both gormless, especially RC, Blunkett, loves himself, Hattersley, snob, Derek Hatton, huge persona, interesting, Prescott, no manners whatsoever. Oaf. John Osborn, incredibly arrogant snob, Irvine Patnick, odd and as a child Hugh Gaitskill.

Oh and one of the Union men in "The Black Stuff"

[rodcurrie]

Great post.

I agree no one would have defeated Thatchers blueprint but McGahey would have saved months of hardship. He wouldn't have let his ego override the welfare of his members as AS did.

After saying that, the NUM building in Sheffield was opposite one of the local tax offices. Parking in the courtyard to go there, a gentleman - Rod will be wanting my autograph after this - said "are you coming to see me?" It was Arthur himself, because if you aren't , you can't park there". I explained I was just delivering something and he said be quick and I'll watch you car. Came out and had a brief chat. He was extremely affable, not bombastic at all. As he waited in the sun for his chauffeur to pick him up

Also met McGahey on a train with a clients very middle class lawyer. They started discussing politics and the law, very interesting.McGahey kept his light under a bushel, highly intelligent man. The brief said he was the most interesting man he'd ever met.

Wantin thi autograph Marvin? I think you're thinkin i'm some sort of leftie(or just bein silly) i aint as i've said numerous times mi politics consist of hatin the Tories,don't ger as daft as thi chuckle bro that's a good lad.I was on strike for a year to try and save our jobs/Industry not to back any leader. UTCB

[charliejoejohn2]

whether he gets a salary or not is nothing to do with what went off. He consistently told the nation she was going to close most coal mines which she just as consistently said he was scaremongering. You’ve only to look what did happen and the proof is in the pudding. No mines left out of 86 pre strike. 185,000 miners lost their job plus of course others associated with supplies etc to the industry.

[Ayamonteblade]

Met Tony Benn, great man, Clive Betts, Richard Caborn, both gormless, especially RC, Blunkett, loves himself, Hattersley, snob, Derek Hatton, huge persona, interesting, Prescott, no manners whatsoever. Oaf. John Osborn, incredibly arrogant snob, Irvine Patnick, odd and as a child Hugh Gaitskill.

Oh and one of the Union men in "The Black Stuff"

hmmm are you a journo H?

[Ayamonteblade]

Met AS a number of times through work. Also played football in many of the mining tournaments over the years as had relatives who worked in the industry. The standard of football was very high. AS attended these and I found him to be affable and nothing like the carricature that appeared on the television screens. A principled man much like Corbyn but surrounded by more sinister people who were determined to bring the state down. For Momentum substitute Socialist workers party.

I heard some British Coal management knew about AS salary but didn't let on because they wanted to negotiate an early settlement to the 84 strike. McGregor apparently moved on all the management sympathisers under instruction from Thatcher. One in particular who I knew was asked to resign for suggesting maybe we should sit down and talk to the NUM like we normally do.

AS could have legitimised the strike 4 weeks into the dispute by asking the delegate conference to ballot the membership. All he needed to do was to get the Conference to reduce the winning post margin from 2/3rd majority to 50% plus 1. His extremist advisors were scared they wouldn't win so they bottled it. That opened the door for Lynk to form the UDM and from that moment on he wasn't going to win.

Thatcher was determined to smash the NUM and for years had been stockpiling coal. Everyone could see it but the blinkered extremists thought the whole of the UK workforce would back them and the country would grind to a halt. They didn't and one of the reasons given was the NUM membership had not been balloted.

By October both sides were keen to bring the matter to a conclusion. AS told a story years after that they had reached agreement for a return to work and had taken a break. He saw Macgregor on the phone and when they reconvened all deals were off. AS was convinced Macgegor had been on the phone to Thatcher.

Gormley and McGahey were a good team but even they would not have prevented Thatchers blue print to reduce the mining industry to next to nothing. They may have gained a more streamlined approach but that would only have delayed the inevitable.

Friends, relatives, work colleagues all lost jobs as a result of the mining industry decline. It needed to change but not be decimated in the way it was.

Fascinating post - thanks LST