Dear Ed, THE 25th anniversary of the start of the year-long miners strike is on March 12. We are commemorating the 25th anniversary of the strike with activities including a stage play, Maggie’s End, at the Shaw Theatre in Euston April 7 to 18

Dear Ed,

THE 25th anniversary of the start of the year-long miners strike is on March 12. The devastating economic and social problems resulting from the pit closures are still to be seen a-quarter-of-a-century on in areas throughout Britain where mining was the principal industry.

Economically viable pits could have been saved at a cost of �1 billion at today’s money. The banks have been bailed out to a tune of �120bn.

Britain today depends on coal for half of its energy. We now import 45 million tonnes a year, enough to have kept 45 pits open. The money needed for the pits in the 1980s would by now have been repaid manifold.

We will never forget the tremendous support from groups in London. These included five in East London, Poplar, Hackney, Newham, Leyton and Walthamstow. They raised money and food for our families and offered accommodation when we were in the area.

Others in London included Barnet, Brentford, Camden, Chiswick, Crouch End, Croydon, Enfield, Forest Hill, Greenwich, Hampstead, Hammersmith, Hendon, Highgate, Hounslow, Islington, Kingston, Lewisham, Muswell Hill, Pimlico, Richmond, Southwark, Sydenham, Twickenham, Wandsworth, Wimbledon and Wood Green.

We are commemorating the 25th anniversary of the strike with activities including a stage play, Maggie’s End, which runs at the Shaw Theatre in the Euston Road from April 7 to 18.

We’d love to see anyone who was involved in the miners’ support groups at the show.

Davey Hopper

NUM North East Area secretary

Miners’ Hall, Redhills, Durham DH1 4BD

019-1384 3515