The first of a four-part biographical programme produced by Trade Films, about the Lawther family of Chopwell in what was then County Durham. Marxist historian Ray Challinor sits down with surviving brothers Andy and Jack Lowther to discuss the families background, their early involvement in political movements, the characters of their parents and siblings, the life of women in a pit village, politics in Chopwell before the Great War and the formation of an Anarchists Club and a Socialist...

The first of a four-part biographical programme produced by Trade Films, about the Lawther family of Chopwell in what was then County Durham. Marxist historian Ray Challinor sits down with surviving brothers Andy and Jack Lowther to discuss the families background, their early involvement in political movements, the characters of their parents and siblings, the life of women in a pit village, politics in Chopwell before the Great War and the formation of an Anarchists Club and a Socialist Sunday School. Discussion by Andy and Jack Lawther of their family background, the early involvement of the Lawther’s in political movements, the characters of their parents and brothers, the life of women in a pit village, politics in Chopwell before the Great War, the formation of an Anarchists Club and of a Socialist Sunday School. This film includes archive footage from "A Day in the life of a Coalminer" (1911). Title: The Northern Film and T.V. Archive Andy and Jack Lawther speak with Ray Challinor about their recollections of various aspects of life and work in the Durham coalfield. Framed in reclining in easy chairs in their living room, Andy and Jack begin the interview with answers regarding the origins of working-class struggle and its links to today’s government of Margaret Thatcher and Norman Tebbitt. Title: Lessons of the Class Struggle Credit: Andy and Jack Lawther interviewed by Ray Challinor Title: Part One. “… a remarkable family in a remarkable village… “ A photograph of Andy and Jack’s parents is followed by them remembering both along with uncles Andrew and Joe as well as their six brothers and two sisters. Some discussion was had about their domestic life at that time and the hardships endured during their early life. The interview is intercut with various still images featuring their Uncle’s Andrew and Joe as well as their mother plus archive footage of miners with lamps. Standing outside the terrace house in Chopwell where he was born, Jack Lawther reminisces about growing up in the house alongside so many siblings. Sitting on a bench overlooking allotment near Trent Street where the family moved, Jack talks about his boyhood, family life and comments on the availability of housing being determined by the colliery management. Discussions back in the living room on the subject of brother Eddie who was a conscientious objector during World War One. Again, related photographs are intercut including one featuring Eddie and his wife. Andy and Jack discuss Chopwell as an important intellectual community leading to their involvement in left-wing societies such and the Anarchists Club which was based in the village on Derwent Street. The building that was purchased for the club, later to be known as the Communist Club, is now the Chopwell R.A.O.B. Club. From across the road the building itself with a lorry delivering beer parked outside. Andy and Jack recall the experiences of the club which gave the access to radical literature and ideas. Andy and Jack go onto speak about the formation of a Socialist Sunday School and about how it was run. Jack and Ray walk into a bar which Jack says was once the Socialist Sunday School back in 1913. Taking a seat at a table with their drinks, Jack recalls the dynamic of the meetings, the first outing to Whitley Bay and recites the school declaration. Credits: Camera Peter Roberts Sound Graham Denman V.T.R Recordist Peter Woodhouse Title: We would like to thank Beamish Museum, Durham Miners’ Association, Gateshead Central Library, Newcastle Central Library, Northumberland County Records Office, Sarah Shaw Title: Made under the terms of the A.C.T.T. Workshop Declaration, and with the financial assistance of Channel Four and the British Film Institute. End title: A Trade Film Production © 1984