One of the most violent clashes of the bitter 1984-85 miners’ strike will come under the spotlight in a debate staged at a special “pop-up” social club in Stoke-on-Trent.
The Battle of Orgreave is back in the news headlines following an announcement that the Independent Police Complaints Commission will not carry-out further investigations.
But the bitter confrontation between miners and the police will be aired at the Oasis Social Club on Thursday (18 June).
Special guests at the event will include Brenda Procter, formerly of the North Staffordshire Miners’ Wives group, and the makers of ”I Support My Dad”, a new documentary film exploring how the strike affected the children of miners working in the North Staffordshire coalfield.
The debate will be hosted by the Oasis Social Club – a groundbreaking project run as part of the Appetite arts programme in Stoke-on-Trent.
The Oasis Social Club is a new concept by artist Rebecca Davies who plays the role of club host Barb Foreshaw, a character created during workshops with community groups in Stoke-on-Trent.
The club is open for business between Thursday, 18 June and Saturday, 20 June.
Rebecca describes Oasis as a place to meet friends, debate issues and have a good laugh.
“There’s a tradition of social clubs in Stoke-on-Trent. Their role, along with local pubs, were important in providing a place to socialise and come together as a community,” said Rebecca.
Although Rebecca is a Londoner, her grandfather was a miner in Silverdale, North Staffordshire. “I was brought up on oatcakes,” said Rebecca.
Highlights of the Oasis Social Club programme include:
· Thursday, 18 June, 12.30pm to 1pm. Keep Fit – Work it Workers!
· Thursday, 18 June, 1.30pm to 2pm Say It Loud screen-printing workshop. Print your motif onto flyers or T-shirts
· Thursday, 18 June, 7pm to 10pm. Anniversary of the Battle of Orgreave
· Friday, 19 June, 1pm to 2pm. Do It Yourself, Duck! Karen, a Portland Street resident, shows how to grow your own veg and build a blooming garden, with hands-on demonstrations and a tour of local gardens
· Friday, 19 June, 8pm to 10.30pm. Northern Soul Night. Hosted by Portland Street locals, Dave and Sue, step back in time to Stoke-on-Trent’s Northern Soul heyday. With classic Northern Soul tunes and a dance demonstration
· Saturday, 20 June, 7.30pm to 8pm. Barbs Manifesto. Put together by the club’s committee the manifesto is a statement on what we want for our city and what our city already has that’s worth shouting about
· Friday, 19 June, 8pm to 10.30pm. Northern Soul Night. Hosted by Portland Street locals, Dave and Sue, step back in time to Stoke-on-Trent’s Northern Soul heyday. With classic Northern Soul tunes and a dance demonstration
· Saturday, 20 June, 7pm to 7.30pm, 3 C’s (Cobridge Community Choir). The first ever performance by a choir of Cobridge residents.
To check out all events, go online to http://www.appetitestoke.co.uk/whatson
ENDS

For media enquiries contact Nigel Howle by telephone on 0776 2043436 or email [email protected].