1984-85 Miner's Strike Commemorative Badge Listing

As we are all aware 2004 and 2005 saw the twentieth anniversary of the year long national coal miners strike of 1984-85.

For years up until this anniversary mining badge collectors had been in the "doldrums" having no new badges to add to their collections. However, during the anniversary things were markedly different!

The time of the strike plus the years immediately following it cradled the birth of mining badge collecting as we know it today. There had been Trade Union badge collectors on the scene for many years before the advent of the strike but the miners' strike created a "super-nova" of purely mining related badges which number into the 800s at least in total.

The original badge issues of the 1984-85 bequeathed us with both a unique testament to the strike itself plus an important legacy of British social history. Now twenty years later, with the British Coal Industry on the verge of disappearing, the strike is being commemorated nationally an a scale not seen previously. To mark the anniversary collectors can expect to see several new anniversary badge issues which I'm sure will be welcomed into their collections.

Over the coming months we hope to keep collectors up to date on all the new commemorative badge issues and give details (where known) of how to get hold of them. Many of the badge issues we know about will be limited to only 200 or 300 and so will probably sell out very quickly.

Several badges are in the planning stage at the moment and at least one if not two have which have already come on to the market have already sold out!

1) Twentieth Anniversary - Miners Strike - Lest We Forget (Type I).

Badge Type: High Quality hard enamel. Size: 32 mm; Colour: Blue, Black, Gold & Cream. Engraved on the reverse "Forget Not The Lessons Of Our Past" plus a unique stamped issue number out of a stated total of 300. Number Issued: 300. Launch Date: Late February 2004. Issued By: Linda & Mark Smith (NMMA Member). Contact Details: e-mail linda.smith64@virgin.net or telephone 01740 630014. Price: £4 - SOLD OUT.

2) N.U.M. - Twenty Years On - Notts. -1984.

Badge Type: High Quality hard enamel. Size: 32.5 mm; Colour: Blue, Red, Gold & Green. Number Issued: 600. Launch Date: March 2004. Issued By: Nottinghamshire N.U.M.. Price: £2 plus P&P. Contact Details: These badges may be purchased by sending payment (in the form of postal orders only) to N.U.M. Nottinghamshire Area, c/o 42 St. Johns Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG18 1 QJ. A stamped and self addressed envelope would be appreciated with any order sent in. For availability and more details telephone 01623 621 611.

Postal order only. no postage charge but SAE is appreciated

3) Twentieth Anniversary - Miners Strike - Lest We Forget (Type II).

Badge Type: High Quality hard enamel. Size: 33 mm by 28 mm; Colour: Blue, Black, Gold & Cream. Engraved on the reverse "1984 -170 Pits & 181,000 Miners / 2004 - 12 Pits & 8,000 Miners" plus a unique stamped issue number out of a stated total of 300.  Number Issued: 300. Launch Date: 22 April 2004 but taking orders now. Issued By: Linda & Mark Smith (NMMA Member). Contact Details: e-mail linda.smith64@virgin.net or telephone 01740 630014. Price: £4.15 plus P&P.- SOLD OUT.

4) 20th Anniversary - A County Built On Coal - Durham Miners.

Badge Type: Enamel. Size: 30mm; Colour: Colour: Green, Black, Yellow & Green. Number Issued: 300. Issued Date: 1 May 2004. Issued By: John Kitching (NMMA Member). Contact Details:  e-mail streetmason@yahoo.co.uk or telephone 0191 3780241. Price: £3 plus £1 for P&P.

5) Durham Miners - Orgreave Veterans.

Badge Type: High Quality hard enamel. Size: 32 mm dia.; Colour: Green, Black, Gold. Reverse carries a unique stamped issue number.  Number Issued: 220. Launch Date: 22 April 2004. Issued By: NMMA Member John Soppitt. Contact Details: e-mail: danni_gerrard@hotmail.com Tel.: 0191 5260553. Price: £4-50 each plus P&P at; First Class £0.80 or Recorded Delivery £1-30 per order. Although not issued by the N.U.M. John has official approval for these commemorative badges from the Durham Area N.U.M. For those not familiar with this badge's central design it is a representation of the famous Sanctuary Door Knocker from Durham Cathedral. This is symbol is synonymous with County Durham.

6) 20th Anniversary of The Miners Strike - Orgreave - 18 June 1984 (Two colour variations)

Badge Type: High quality hard enamel. Size: 25 mm by 20 mm.; Colour: Type "A" - Black/white/chrome; Type "B"- Black/white/gilt. Each badge will be individually numbered on its reverse.  Number Issued:200 of which 150 will be in a highly polished chrome finish & 50 in a highly polished gilt finish. Issue Date: Early April 2004. Issued By: NMMA Member Matty Kitchen. Contact Details: e-mail kitchenmal@aol.com or telephone 01977 510049. Price: The chrome and gilt badges are £4 and £5 each respectively plus P&P. The first 50 badges will be sold as matching numbered pairs of chrome and gilt types at £9 the pair plus P&P. Postage (via Recorded Delivery only) will be £1 extra on the above stated prices.

7) Miners Strike - 20th Anniversary - Cortonwood.

Badge Type: High Quality hard enamel. Size: 28 mm.; Colour: Peach, Gold, Black & White. Number Issued: 300 individually numbered on the reverse together with the legend "IN MEMORY OF MICK CARTER" who was Cortonwood's N.U.M. delegate during the strike and who sadly died on the 20th Anniversary of the strike's start. Issue Date: Late April 2004 but with orders being taken now. Issued By: NMMA Member Bill Shaw. Contact Details: Tel.: 01226 757024 or e-mail:  bill_s@dsl.pipex.com . Price: £4 plus P&P (Recorded Delivery £1-25).

8) 20th Anniversary - Proud To Have Been A Striking Miner (Two colour variations)

Badge Type "B"

Badge Type: High quality hard enamel. Size: 25 mm by 28 mm. Colour: Type "A" - Blue/white/chrome; Type "B"- Black/white/gilt. Each badge will be individually numbered on its reverse.  Number Issued: 200 of which 150 are be in gilt finish & 50 in a chrome finish. Launch Date: Late April 2004. Issued By: NMMA Member Matty Kitchen. Contact Details: e-mail kitchenmal@aol.com or telephone 01977 510049. Price: The chrome and gilt badges are £4 and £4 each respectively plus P&P. Postage (via Recorded Delivery only) will be £1 extra on the above stated prices.

9) Miners Strike - 20th Anniversary - A.S.L.E.F. & N.U.M.

Click on the Artist Impression above for more details

Badge Type: High Quality hard enamel. Size: To be confirmed.; Colour: To be confirmed. Number Issued: 2,000 to 3,000 (?). To be confirmed. Launch Date: 16 April 2004. Issued By: A.S.L.E.F. Price: £4.5 including P&P to none A.S.L.E.F. members. Cheques are to be made payable to ‘ASLEF’ with the words ‘Miners Anniversary Strike’ written on their reverse. Contact Details: ASLEF, 9 Arkwright Road, Hampstead, London. NW3 6AB.

10) Durham Miners Association - 1984/85 Strike - 20th Anniversary.

Badge Type: High Quality hard enamel. Size: 32 mm dia.; Colour: Green, Black, Gold, Brown & Blue. Reverse carries a unique stamped issue number out of a stated total of 200.  Number Issued: 200. Launch Date: 25 May 2004. Issued By: NMMA Member John Soppitt. Contact Details: e-mail: danni_gerrard@hotmail.com Tel.: 0191 5260553. Price: £4-50 each plus P&P at; First Class £0.80 or Recorded Delivery £1-30 per order. Although not issued by the D.M.A./N.U.M. John has official approval for these commemorative badges from the Durham Area N.U.M.

11) N.U.M. Yorkshire Area - 1984/85 Strike - 20th Anniversary.

Badge Type: High Quality hard enamel. Size: 25 mm by 22 mm dia.; Colour: Black &Gold. Number Issued: 1000. Launch Date: May 1 2004. Issued By: Yorkshire Area N.U.M.. Price: £2 plus P&P. Contact Details: For further information about obtaining these badges contact the Rick Sumner c/o Justice For Sacked Mine Workers Campaign c/o103, Cliff Road, Horsea, East Riding of Yorkshire,HU18 1JB. Tel. 0196 4532954.

12) N.U.M.  - 1984/85 Strike - 20th Anniversary - National Issue.

Badge Type: High Quality hard enamel. Size: 29 mm; Colour: Dark Blue, Red & Gold. Number Issued: 1000. Launch Date: May 1 2004. Issued By: Yorkshire Area N.U.M.. Price: £2 plus P&P. Contact Details: For further information about obtaining these badges contact Rick Sumner c/o Justice For Sacked Mine Workers Campaign c/o103, Cliff Road, Horsea, East Riding of Yorkshire,HU18 1JB. Tel. 0196 4532954.

13) Women Against Pit Closures - 1984/2004 - 20 Years (Three colour variations)

Badge Type "B"

Badge Type: High quality hard enamel. Size: 26 mm by 31 mm.; Colour: Type "A" - Black & Gilt; Reverse carries the embossed legend "We are NOT defeated". Type "B"- Green/Purple/gilt. Type "C"- Red/Black/gilt. Number Issued: Type "A" - Limited edition of 500. Types "B" & "C" produced in two 500 plus each in first issues alone. Issue Date: Mid May 2004. Issued By: Women's Action Pit Closures Campaign. Contact Details: e-mail nwapc2003@yahoo.com Note: It appears to be the intention of the WAPC to sell these badges at the various national celebrations which are being held in 2004 to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Miners' Strike. It is possible that these badges will not generally be sold in response to postal or telephone enquiries. All you can do is try. Price: £2 each for the none limited edition and £5 each for the limited edition.

The first batch of Badge Type "A" were originally released and sold at the Welsh Miners' Gala at only £2 each. These first black badges did not carry the reverse legend or an issue number on them. As such there are two varieties of Badge Type "A" which makes the total number issued in excess of the 500 actually stated.

14) South Wales N.U.M. - 1984/85 Strike - 20th Anniversary (Two colour variations)

Badge Type "A"

Badge Type "A": High Quality hard enamel. Size: 22 mm; Colour: Pink & Gold. Number Issued: 1000 (?). Launch Date: 21 May 2004. Issued By: South Wales Area N.U.M.. Price: £1.50 plus P&P. Contact Details: For further information about obtaining these badges contact South Wales Area NUM Office c/o Woodland Terrace, Maesycoed, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales. Tel. 01443 404092.

It is understood that the first issue of this badge was produced in the wrong colour. The "pink" colour was meant to have been "red". To correct this a second issue of this badge is understood to have been ordered.

Badge Type "B" - High Quality hard enamel. Size: 22 mm; Colour: Red & Gold. Number Issued: 1000 (?). Launch Date: 7 June 2004. Issued By: South Wales Area N.U.M.. Price: £1.50 plus P&P. Contact Details: For further information about obtaining these badges contact South Wales Area NUM Office c/o Woodland Terrace, Maesycoed, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales. Tel. 01443 404092.

15) Durham & Northumberland Miners - 1984/85 Strike - 20th Anniversary Of Our Struggle

Badge Type: High Quality hard enamel. Size: 32mm by 28 mm oval; Colour: Dark Blue & Gold. Engraved on the reverse is the legend "In Memory of Tommy Hepburn" (i.e. the founder of the first union for both Durham and Northumberland miners in 1830) plus a unique stamped issue number out of a stated total of 275. Number Issued: 275. Launch Date: Mid June 2004. Issued By: NMMA member John Hancock. Price: £4.00 plus P&P. Contact Details: Tel. 0191 5260088.

16) Durham Miners Gala 2004 - 20 Years On - Miners Strike 84/85

Badge Type: Hard Enamel. Size: 38 mm; Colour: Colour: Blue, Grey, White, Black & Gold. Engraved on the reverse is a unique stamped issue number out of a stated total of 250. Number Issued: 250. Issued Date: 9 July 2004. Issued By: John Kitching (NMMA Member). Contact Details:  e-mail streetmason@yahoo.co.uk or telephone 0191 3780241. Price: £5 plus £1.5 for Recorded Delivery P&P. Half of these badges are being reserved for collectors while the other half will be sold to the general public at the Durham Miners' Gala on 10th July 2004.

17) Police Transit Van - 20 Years On (Two colour variations)

Badge Type "B"

Badge Type: Hard Enamel. Size: 25 mm wide by 23 mm; Colour: Type "A" - Light Blue (two shades) ,White, Black & Gold with a dark blue scroll. Type "B" - Light & dark Blue (three shades) ,White, Black & Gold with a black scroll. Number Issued: Type "A" - 50 & Type "B" - 250. Issued Date: June/July 2004. Issued By: A West Yorkshire Police Badge Collector primarily for police officers who had served on the picket lines during the strike. Contact Details:  waldo@wall40.freeserve.co.uk  Price: Believed to be in the order of £3 per badge inclusive of postage. Please confirm on ordering.

18) Scottish Area N.U.M. True & Bold - Twentieth Anniversary Of The Great Strike

Badge Type: Hard Enamel. Size: 35 mm tall by 35 mm wide; Colour: Black, White & Chrome. Number Issued: 100 (each badge is individually numbered out of 100 on the reverse). Issued Date: First week of September 2004. Issued By: NMMA Member John Soppitt. Contact Details: e-mail: danni_gerrard@hotmail.com Tel.: 0191 5260553. Price: £6-00 inclusive of first class proof of posting P&P.

19) Coal Preparation & Allied Surface Workers - Miners Strike 1984-1985

Badge Type: Hard Enamel. Size: 37 mm tall by 37 mm wide; Colour: Black, White, Gold, Blue, Orange, Grey, Red, Cream & Pink. Engraved on the reverse is the legend "2004-2005 Twentieth Anniversary of the year the Washeries fell silent". Number Issued: 100 (each badge is individually numbered out of 100 on the reverse). Issued Date: Mid October 2004. Issued By: Linda & Mark Smith (NMMA Member). Contact Details: e-mail linda.smith64@virgin.net or telephone 01740 630014. Price: £5.75 post free in the UK via first class mail with a senders proof of posting certificate.- SOLD OUT.

Approximately 20 of the 100 badges produced have been commissioned for a reunion later in 2004 of ex-coal preparation plant workers and design engineers.

20) Easington NUM Remembers - We Who Came In Earnest - 1984-85 Strike - 20th Anniversary

Badge Type: Hard Enamel. Size: 32 mm tall by 37 mm wide; Colour: Black, Blue, Gold, Brown & Orange Number Issued: 100 (each badge is individually numbered on the reverse out of a stated issue number of 100). Issue Date: Late October 2004. Issued By: NMMA member John Hancock. Price: £5.75 (to be confirmed) inclusive of first class P&P with a senders proof of posting certificate. Contact Details: Tel. 0191 5260088.

21) Wath NUM - We Stood Together- South Yorkshire Miners  - Remember 1984-85 (Three colour variations)

Badge Type: High quality hard enamel. Size: 28 mm Octagonal; Colour: Type "A" - Gilt & Red; Type "B"- Chrome & Black; Type "C"- Chrome & Very Dark Blue. Each badge is individually numbered on its reverse.  Number Issued: Type "A" - 50; Type "B" - 50 & Type "C" - 100. Issue Date: November  2004. Issued By: Mark Cahill. Contact Details: e-mail cahilly1@yahoo.co.uk Price: These badges have been endorsed by the Yorkshire area NUM with all proceeds going to the Justice for Mineworkers Campaign. The cost of a set is £26.20 inc P&P.

22)  Miners Strike 1984-1985 - United By The Struggle - 20th Anniversary (Two colour variations)

Badge Type: High quality hard enamel. Size: 30 mm by 30 mm.; Colour: Type "A" - Gilt/white/grey/blue/pink/black with red inner plus orange outer ribbons; Type "B"- Chrome/white/grey/blue/pink/black with with black inner plus orange outer ribbons. Each badge is individually numbered on its reverse.  Number Issued:200 of which 100 are of Type "A" and 100 of Type "B". Issue Date: Christmas  2004. Issued By: NMMA Member Matty Kitchen. Contact Details: e-mail kitchenmal@aol.com or telephone 01977 510049. Price: £10 per set inclusive of Recorded Deliver postage.

23)  Scottish Area N.U.M. -1984-1985 - 20th Strike Anniversary

Badge Type: Hard Enamel. Size: 28 mm diameter Colour: Black, White & Chrome. Number Issued: 500. Issued Date: Late December 2004. Issued By: Scottish Area N.U.M. but designed by NMMA Member John Soppitt. Contact Details: N.U.M. Scotland, 30 New Street, Mussleburgh, EH21 6JP: Price: Initially free but as of 1 February 2005 to be sold only. Price to be confirmed.

24) Eppleton Lodge Durham N.U.M.1825-1986 - 20th Strike Anniversary 84-85

Badge Type: Hard Enamel. Size: 25 mm diameter by 28 mm tall. Colour: Black, Chrome & Blue. Number Issued: 100 (each badge is individually numbered on the reverse out of a stated issue number of 100 ). Issued Date: 1 February 2005. Issued By: NMMA Member John Soppitt. Contact Details: e-mail: danni_gerrard@hotmail.com Tel.: 0191 5260553. Price: £5.80 inclusive of first class proof of posting P&P.

25) Herrington Lodge 1874-1985. Durham N.U.M. 20th Strike Anniversary 84-85

Badge Type: Hard Enamel. Size: 25 mm diameter by 28 mm tall. Colour: Black, Chrome & Blue. Number Issued: 100 (each badge is individually numbered on the reverse out of a stated issue number of 100 ). Issued Date: 15 March 2005. Issued By: NMMA Member John Soppitt. Contact Details: e-mail: danni_gerrard@hotmail.com Tel.: 0191 5260553. Price: In the order of £5.80 inclusive of first class proof of posting P&P. 

26) Murton Remembers. We Gave Our Best. 1984-85 Strike. Unity Is Strength. NUM 20 Years On 

Badge Type: Hard Enamel. Size: 28 mm diameter. Colour: Red, Green Black, Blue & Grey. Number Issued: 100 (each badge is individually numbered on the reverse out of a stated issue number of 100 ). Issued Date: 15 April 2005. Issued By: NMMA member John Hancock. Price: £5.50 inclusive of first class P&P with a senders proof of posting certificate. Contact Details: Tel. 0191 5260088.

27) Hatfield Main Colliery NUM 5th March. 1985 - 2005. 

Badge Type: Hard Enamel. Size: 25 mm wide by 30 mm tall Colour: Black, white, gold, green  & red. Number Issued: 65. Issued Date: March 2005. Issued By: Malcolm Standage. Contact Details: Telephone 01302 887121. Price: These badges are a variation on the Hatfield Colliery Closure Badge issued in 2004. These particular badges were made for the NUM Hatfield Lodge's "End of 20th Anniversary Strike & Pit Closure Reunion" meeting held in March 2005. These badges are not available for sale but Malcolm is understood to have retained a small number for swapping purposes with other badge collectors.

28) Littleton Striking Miners - 1984 N.U.M. 2004 20th Anniversary - Never Forget   (Two colour variations)

Badge Type: Hard Enamel. Size: 30 mm diameter Colour: Type "A" - Chrome, white and red. Type "B" - Gold, white and red. Number Issued: 75 sets of two. Issued Date: June 2005. Issued By: NMMA member Brian Witts. Contact Details: Gale Witts. 4 Balmoral Drive, Hendsford, Staffordshire. WS12 4LT or e-mail: Gailwitts@aol.com . Price: £16 per set inclusive of P&P. Proceeds from the sales of these badges will be donated to the "Justice Mineworkers Campaign".

29) Cannock Chase N.U.M. - Littleton And Lea Hall 1984 -1985 (Three colour variations)

Badge Type: Hard Enamel. Size: 30 mm diameter Colour: Type "A" - Red, gold and white; Type "B" - Black , gold and white; Type "C" - Dark blue, gold and white; Number Issued: 50 sets of three. Issued Date: July 2005. Issued By: NMMA member Brian Witts. Contact Details: Gale Witts. 4 Balmoral Drive, Hendsford, Staffordshire. WS12 4LT or e-mail: Gailwitts@aol.com . Price: £21 per set of three inclusive of P&P. Proceeds from the sales of these badges will be donated to the "Justice Mineworkers Campaign".

30) Rossington - NUM Yorks. Area - 20 Years - Unity Is Strength 84 -85

Badge Type: Hard Enamel. Size: 36 mm tall by 24 mm wide. Colour: Red, gold, black and white. Number Issued: Not known. Issued Date: Summer 2005. Issued By: NUM Rossington Branch. Contact Details: Chris Skidmore, c/o Rossington NUM, West End Land, Rossington, Doncaster, DN11 0PZ. Price: £2 plus a stamped addressed envelope. It is understood that only one badge per person can be ordered.

31) 1984/85 Strike - 20th Anniversary Tin Button Badges (Various)

Badge Type: Tin Button Badge Types. Size: 55mm; Number Issued: Not limited. Launch Date: March 2004. Issued By: John Kitching (NMMA Member). Types include the following;

A) As per Badge No.3 above.

B) Miners Strike 1984-1985 / 20th Anniversary / Durham

C) Miners Strike 1984-1985 / 20th Anniversary / Durham Miners Gala 2004

D) 20th Anniversary Miners 1984-1985 Strike / Browney Lodge Banner Group / Durham Area / 1st May 2004 Barnsley

Contact Details: e-mail streetmason@yahoo.co.uk or telephone 0191 3780241. Price: £1 each plus £0.50 for P&P per order.

In addition to the above a 58 mm diameter double sided commemorative medallion was also produced to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Miners Strike. This was produced as a limited issued of 52 by Steve Wyatt of Dodworth. Steve can be contacted on Tel: 01226 292184.


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