Monday 7th December: “The 1926 General Strike and Miners’ Lockout in the Somerset Coalfield” – Speaker: Dave Chapple.
Following the unconditional surrender of the TUC General Council in calling off the nine‑day General Strike on 12th May 1926, 5,000 Somerset coal miners, including those at Pensford and Bromley pits, were left locked out and abandoned for the next seven months, until imminent starvation forced them back to work at the end of November. Dave’s talk will cover this epic struggle of the men’s union, the Somerset Miners’ Association, the role of the Radstock Co‑Operative Society, the Clutton Board of Guardians and the Somerset Miners’ Wives and Children’s Distress Fund, all of which played vital roles in this hitherto largely untold story.
A bit about Dave: Dave is a life-long trades unionist, an oral historian and author of many books of west country working class history, biography and autobiography. His latest book, ‘Resistance and Resilience’ is his tribute to the Somerset Miners Association, and copies will be available to purchase after his talk.
Cost: It’s £3.00 per person including refreshments – please bring cash. Everyone is welcome and there is no need to book.
BS39 4HW, Bristol, Bath And North East Somerset, England, United Kingdom
