Newcastle Polytechnic, now Northumbria University, student Simon McKeown joins miners from Westoe Colliery at South Shields as they march back to work on the 5th March 1985 following the end of the 1984-85 Miners' Strike. Following a heated argument with the police who agree to leave, the Westoe Lodge banner is furled and marched proudly into the mine. Several busloads of ‘Scab’ miners also feature with those who stayed out till the end of the dispute letting their feelings known. The...

Newcastle Polytechnic, now Northumbria University, student Simon McKeown joins miners from Westoe Colliery at South Shields as they march back to work on the 5th March 1985 following the end of the 1984-85 Miners' Strike. Following a heated argument with the police who agree to leave, the Westoe Lodge banner is furled and marched proudly into the mine. Several busloads of ‘Scab’ miners also feature with those who stayed out till the end of the dispute letting their feelings known. The camera points at the ground, around it the feet men near a colliery entrance and rail track, voices can be heard shouting in the background. A man with a sound boom stands in front of the camera. A car pulls up and a man in the group comes over and speaks with the driver asking him what position he holds at the colliery. He is let through, the man looking for someone higher from the colliery. In the background a police sergeant speaks with one of the picketers, some of the others gathers around him and angrily explain they won’t be going into the colliery until the police have left. The men chat amongst themselves with many of them carrying bags. Two more cars enter the colliery yard passing the crowds of men standing around the entrance. The argument with the police sergeant continues, a second police sergeant appears and also speaks with some of the men. A man in a tie, believed to be a union official comes over and speaks with the one of policeman before both walk away back towards two parked police vans nearby. Several women join the men standing outside the colliery gate. Someone shouts, ‘Call Out!’ and everyone walks away out of the colliery past a large National Coal Board (NCB) sign on the entrance wall now covered with strike graffiti. A man wearing an NCB high-viz jacket and helmets stands smoking a cigarette beside a car which reverses slowly past the crowds of miners. The men continue to mill around the colliery entrance with some chatting while other smoke cigarettes. Another miner arrives and stands chatting with a colleague or friend at the back of the pack. A sign hanging over the entrance reads ‘Strengthen Support for the Miners’ Strike!’ Standing within the throng of miners gathers around a union official. He explains that the police have agreed to move away from the colliery entrance. They cheer as the two police vans drive past leaving by another exit. Some of the men slowly make their way into the colliery while other stand around near the entrance chatting, in the background the distinct colliery tower and outside along the rail track a coal wagon. A miner rests against the entrance wall tapping his helmet, above him the NCB sign seen earlier. The graffiti written on it can be clearly seen and reads ‘NUM No Go Area’. More men arrive at the colliery passing a television news crew standing in the street. A group of women stand chatting nearby as another woman makes her way into the colliery. A child in a wheelchair is with them. A coach pulls up outside the colliery and those onboard climb off standing in the street as a group. Some of the men shout at the driver of the bus as it is believed he had helped scab workers get to work during the dispute. They shout at him calling him a ‘Scab!’. The coach reverses and leaves. Standing in the street some of the miners work to unfurl and set up a the Westoe Lodge miners banner, a second coach approaches. As the banner is raised men gather round while those on the second bus walk past heading into the colliery. Many of the men standing around wear overalls, NCB jackets, and helmets. The banner is carried up the street past three parked coaches, as they pass some of the men onboard the call out ‘Scabs!’ or ‘join the union’ as they pass but are ignored. Some of the men gather around the door of the third coach watching the men climb off, there is no shouting. Some of the men on the bus remain seated, those outside begins shout ‘Scab!’ as they pass. At the top of the street the men stand behind the banner waiting to march into the colliery. Two women with their small children walk through the crowd speaking with one of the men. The crowd gathered around the banner grows, many wearing their work overalls, helmets and NCB jackets. The procession makes it way along the road towards the colliery marching behind their banner, a woman in the crowd shouts out ‘Howay the Lads’ as they pass. Others applaud as the procession makes its way into the colliery yard. Women sing ‘Here We Go’ as another coach drives into the colliery yard, the men scream ‘Scab!’ at those onboard. Standing across the road a group of women and children stand beside the banner for the ‘Westoe Miners Family Support Group.