Banner of Maerdy Women’s Support Group
Made in 1984 in Oxford by Anne-Marie Sweeney with Gynnis Evans, Maureen Tibbles and Beryl Sutton of the Maerdy Women’s Support Group. They were assisted by Glan Webster, Mike Richards and Phil Benz from Maerdy Lodge. Winnie Murphy from the National Union of Tailor and Garment Workers in Cheshire, together with Ann McKinley of the Oxford Communication Workers Union helped dye the backing sheets and assemble the banner.
It was delivered to the support group at the Women Against pit Closures demonstration in London on August 11th 1984. At the Rally at Burgess Park in Camberwell, London, the banner was placed on the stage and signed by Arthur Scargill, President of the NUM.
On the day of the return to work the miners parted at the gates to let the women and their banner move through to the front shouting “Let’s hear it for the women!”.
The banner is now on display at the Rhondda Heritage Park. http://www.rhonddaheritagepark.com/
Thanks to Mike Richards, Barbara Williams, Anne-Marie Sweeney, Wayne Thomas and the staff at the Rhondda Heritage Park.
Any further information about this banner would be appreciated.
Banner image copyright South Wales Area N.U.M.
A minimum of 10p of the price of this card is donated to the South Wales Area Miners’ Benevolent Fund, Registered Charity number 500118.
Photography Martin Shakeshaft. www.strike84.co.uk
