The General Strike of 1926 was the biggest rupture in society since the English Civil War (1662). A million miners were told to take a 40% cut in wages to "improve productivity" ie maintain the profits of the small number of pit owners. Huge wage cuts were also imposed on other sections of the workforce. The workers said no and Britain's only General Strike followed. It lasted a mere nine days (from a minute to midnight on May 3 to May 12, 1926) before being unconditionally called off by the TUC leadership.
On May 10, 1926 (day 7 of Britain's only General Strike General Strike) miners accidentally derailed the Flying Scotsman at Cramlington. Eight Northumberland pitment were imprisoned for a total of 48 years.
Almost a century later, their fascinating story is - finally - about to be told!
CRAMLINGTON LEARNING VILLAGE THEATRE SHOWS @ 4pm & 7pm (Thursday, November 7)
SUPPORTED BY ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
