Bruce Wilson's strike diary is an honest and action packed account of what it was like for five young men on picket duty during the longest most bitterest dispute in modern times. This complete unedited account with images taken on the day to compliment the day's events help to paint a better picture of what was happening. The diary contains mixed emotions throughout. It's a tragedy. heartbreaking at times & hilarious all at the same time. It's so funny even in the face of adversity, it shows real human emotions and endurance, some of the humour is off the scale. Not many diaries can portray that. The government was out to break us, "They wanted a war, they got one" We were fighting not just for our jobs and communities but for our mates down the road jobs and communities. The story of five young striking miners' who became Yorkshire flying pickets determined to stop working miners' crossing the picket lines up and down the Country. Nottinghamshire became a police state. No entry for Yorkshire striking miners' and others from other coalfields. Read about a Yorkshire miner and his wife losing a baby, "The NUM paid to bury his child" It never entered his head once to break the strike. The battles in South Yorkshire mining communities, Silverwood, Maltby, Brodsworth collieries and many more, including many entries for Orgreave from May 1984 upto and including June the 18th 1984.

Bruce Wilson's diary is an honest and action-packed account of what life was like for five young men on picket duty during the longest and most bitter industrial dispute in modern times: the 1984-85 miners' strike. Bruce and, younger brother Bob, along with mates Shaun, Darren and 'Captain' Bob crammed themselves into an old car or 'battlebus' and, despite police barriers and blockades, journeyed into Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and elsewhere in order to express their views and support their union in a country which they thought was free. We are able to experience at first-hand and day by day events, which were often frightening, occasionally humorous but never dull; and also gain insight into major conflicts at Orgreave, Brodsworth, Rossington and Maltby as well as at locations further afield. Towards the end of the strike our flying pickets found themselves on home ground, demonstrating at Silverwood and nearby collieries, including Cortonwood where many observers consider the great strike began. Any former striking miner will find the book compulsive reading and despite the passage of twenty years the journey will seem like yesterday. But there is a great deal for us all to appreciate from this remarkably frank and moving testimony.

Facing probable redundancy in his mid-fifties, South Elmsall miner Arthur Wakefield, fought for jobs and communities throughout the great strike of 1984/85. He also kept a marvellous diary, recording his experiences, impressions and events in considerable detail. The diary is a unique personal day by day account of the most bitter industrial dispute of the 20th century. Armed with nothing more than determination and a camera, he by-passed countless blockades and in the early hours of the morning he would join his colleagues at picket lines at pits, ports, power stations and works in many parts of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and the Midlands. He also attended many rallies and marches, and was a regular 'support the miners' collector in London. Arthur Wakefield was a key witness at the 'Battle of Orgreave', on 18 June 1984, which he describes as 'Monday, Bloody Monday', the 100th day of the strike. His descriptions of the 'Battle' contained here in this book have also helped produce an historical live re-enactment to be shown on Channel 4 in April.

Bruce Wilson's diary is an honest and action-packed account of what life was like for five young men on picket duty during the longest and most bitter industrial dispute in modern times: the 1984-85 miners' strike. Bruce and, younger brother Bob, along with mates Shaun, Darren and 'Captain' Bob crammed themselves into an old car or 'battlebus' and, despite police barriers and blockades, journeyed into Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and elsewhere in order to express their views and support their union in a country which they thought was free. We are able to experience at first-hand and day by day events, which were often frightening, occasionally humorous but never dull; and also gain insight into major conflicts at Orgreave, Brodsworth, Rossington and Maltby as well as at locations further afield. Towards the end of the strike our flying pickets found themselves on home ground, demonstrating at Silverwood and nearby collieries, including Cortonwood where many observers consider the great strike began. Any former striking miner will find the book compulsive reading and despite the passage of twenty years the journey will seem like yesterday. But there is a great deal for us all to appreciate from this remarkably frank and moving testimony. Selling Points * Foreword by NUM official * 20th Anniversary of 1984-85 Strike * Ist published diary of a young Yorkshire Flying Picket * Highly Illustrated, many never before published Author Details Brian Elliott comes from a Barnsley area mining family. His father was a miner, so were his uncles, paternal grandfather and great grandfather. After a teaching and lecturing career in Royston and Dinnington, Brian now works as a freelance writer and editor with a special interest in former coal mining communities. Other books published by Brian on the subject of mining include Barnsley Pits and Pitmen, The Miners' Strike Day by Day, Yorkshire Miners, and (forthcoming) Voices from the Dark: Yorkshire Mining Veterans (based on recorded interviews). Brian Elliott is married, has two children and lives in Warmsworth, near Doncaster. Brian has made many live local history contributions to BBC Radio Sheffield and has assisted with several television documentaries.