JennyOwen

By JennyOwen

Orgreave memories

For some time I've wanted to find this sculpture, made by Andrew Vickers in memory of the miners of Orgreave colliery,  on Sheffield's eastern edge. Orgreave became famous/infamous during the year-long UK miners' strike, in 1984-5. It was the site of some of the most vicious and violent policing experienced during that strike.  I took part in some civil liberties observation work there, and still have some vivid memories of how frightening it was.  As ever, Wikipedia provides a useful overview:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Orgreave
Anyway, back to today. I  needed some shots of this sculpture for the local visual arts website project, and this afternoon's sunshine offered good opportunities for the walk required.
There really are almost no traces left of the colliery and the coking works that used to occupy this large site. Now it's a mix of new housing developments and a network of shallow lakes, which are gradually attracting a range of waterfowl.  Cowslips are colonising the sunny slopes above the lakes, and larks were singing overhead. People were out walking dogs, strolling, cycling. I got talking to two passing cyclists who looked a bit intrigued by the sculpture. They turned out to be a gay couple, one from Estonia and one from Hungary, now settled in the UK and working in catering.  I resisted the temptation to launch into a long history lecture about Orgreave - at least I hope I did.  

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