Northumberland housewife Ann Lilburn discusses her involvement in 1984-85 Miners' Strike as well as her opinion of the media and police during the dispute.

Police during the 1984-85 Miners' Strike were heard to call women who fought alongside the men 'Scargill's Slags' after National Union of Mineworkers President Arthur Scargill. Meant as an insult, this soon became a badge of honour for many who worked just as hard as the men to fight pit closures by raising money and running soup kitchens, as well as fighting on the picket lines. Like many women, Ann Lilburn, a housewife and mother from Whittle Colliery in Northumberland, never imagined herself becoming involved in the trade union movement. However, with both her husband and two sons on strike, she soon became actively involved in her local community as well as campaigning on a national level which eventually saw her elected chairwoman of the National Women Against Pit Closures Organisation. Her trade union activism didn't stop when the strike ended. She went on to fight for those miners sacked during the strike and later fought on the picket lines of the 1986 Wapping dispute.

Ann Lilburn, chairwoman of the National Women against Pit Closures Organisation, discussing the role of women in the 1984-85 Pit strike.