The third of four camera rolls filmed by Trade Films of miners from Wearmouth Colliery attempting to return to work following the end on the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike on the 5th of March 1985. The procession of men, families and banners make their way into the colliery where they are met by a large police presence. A National Coal Board (NCB) official attempt to stop filming as he speaks with union officials. The tape ends with an interview with Dave Hopper from the Wearmouth Lodge of the...

The third of four camera rolls filmed by Trade Films of miners from Wearmouth Colliery attempting to return to work following the end on the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike on the 5th of March 1985. The procession of men, families and banners make their way into the colliery where they are met by a large police presence. A National Coal Board (NCB) official attempt to stop filming as he speaks with union officials. The tape ends with an interview with Dave Hopper from the Wearmouth Lodge of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) who explains that they have all been refused admittance to the colliery, an action he sees as deplorable. On a road outside National Coal Board (NCB) Wearmouth Colliery a crowd with banners in the distance turn right along another road passing the Wearside Metal Co. Ltd Scrapyard. More people make their way along the road to join their comrades. Cheers and applause are heard from the crowd as they and the banner for the United Society of Boilermakers and Shipbuilders and Structural Workers is carried forward. As the men head inside the banner is placed against the wall outside while some of the younger members climb over the wall to get a better view of what’s happening inside the colliery yard. The cameraman follows the crowds into the colliery yard passing lines of policemen. The voices in the crowd become angry as they confront some of the police, they continue to march into the colliery. Several women scream ‘Scab!’ at a group of miners stand on the other side of a metal fence, they begin to sing a protest song as they continue the march. A young girl in the crowd carries a small sign that reads ‘My Dad Never Scabbed’ is followed by more women shouting ‘Scab!’ at another group of miners watching the procession pass them. There is a lot of camera-shaking as the cameraman finds positions from which to capture more shots of the miners standing watching the procession. A lot of camera movement again as the cameraman attempt to film an NCB official with a small megaphone speaking with some of the crowd. He sees the camera and asks the cameraman to stop filming and leave after which he attempts to block the camera which causes the crowd to begin to laugh and cheer. The camera leaves and wonders past the large crowds standing around nearby. In the distance discussion with the NCB official and some of those in the crowd continues. In the crowd is Dave Hopper from the Wearmouth Lodge of the National Union of Mineworkers. He talks about the unions plan for the day for an orderly return to work and having to deal with NCB management who have informed the police to refuse them entry.