Miners Strike Recreated: Ex-Miners, Schoolchildren Mark Historic March

Folks in Rhondda remembered a big miners’ strike anniversary. Maerdy Primary School pupils joined the event, along with other schools and community members. Even ex-miners from the 1985 Maerdy March were there, marking a key event in the town’s story.

On March 6th, pupils reenacted the famous march where local miners walked to the pit together after being on strike for a whole year. Pupils followed ex-miners, carrying old banners as they marched to the Maerdy Wheel Pit that day. Young and old came together, making history real.

Maerdy Primary’s headteacher, Helen Gregory, said Nicola Jones, a teacher with a love for history, plans a local history project yearly. This year, pupils studied the 1984/85 miners’ strike. She noted the walk back to work was a large part of it.

Gregory stated it was a big moment for Maerdy because people remember that event well; so, they reenacted it with the kids. They did not just want to tell them about it. The march, which started small, grew fast, and hundreds joined on Thursday, with people cheering from windows.

Gregory says they want kids proud of Maerdy and wanted the children to value the mining history. It showed how people stood together in the strike.

She also said that the entire day was great; children were happy seeing former miners. They showed a great interest in their town and explored the community’s past.