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On Saturday 16^th August the South Yorkshire Festival took place at Wortley Hall, the workers stately home. This event, first held in 1992 was started when fewer May Day Celebrations were being held. The idea was to have a family day of celebrations bringing Trade Unions, the labor movement Political Organizations and the Co-op together with a strong political theme each year having a focal point, this year being the 30^th Anniversary of the Miners’ Strike.

Unite the Union was there in strength with their gazebo with full time officers and volunteers from Unite Community speaking with the public, answering questions and offering advice and giving away some Unite gifts. The Unite Brass band was the main musical entertainment for the day.  The speakers this year at the event were Betty Cook from the Women against Pit Closures, a woman speaking on behalf of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, Bridget Bell was on the programme to speak but for whatever reason she did not speak and finally Ray Riley a former miner and activist. The speeches were well received by the visitors.

Granville Williams (Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom) and Nick Jones (former BBC Industrial Correspondent) held a meeting inside the Hall, giving an illustrated analysis of the 1985 Cabinet Papers and how Thatcher’s Government manipulated the “return to work” figures in the final months of the 1984-85 dispute. Granville also spoke and sold copies of his book “Settling Scores”. The meeting attracted about 80 people.  There were about 30 stalls covering trades unions, solicitors, campaigning groups such as Cuba Solidarity, National Assembly of Women, Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, Morning Star and others.

The weather was kind, a bit cool but the rain held off. All in all a very enjoyable day where old friends and comrades got together for a chinwag and continued promoting the case for Socialism, we will all be there again next year.