Coal, Dole and Dinnerladies
The North London Tavern

THE miners’ strike of 1984 seems like a distant memory … until you show up at the North London Tavern, or later at the Library at Willesden Green, where Brent Museum and Archives combine with Useful Productions CIC to take us back in time.

First, an immaculately turned out dinnerlady in the shape of producer Matilda Velevitch, greets you as you enter and offers you tea or coffee in true ’80s style.

You then proceed to the performance space which takes your breath away with its vivid display of original posters, placards, banners, stickers and a genuine loud-hailer.

And then you find yourself listening, as participants, to a passionate and urgent appeal from Keith Taylor, a miner from Kent.

It’s a genuinely authentic, immersive experience and you can almost smell the coal.  

Recreating a proud moment in the history of the London Borough of Brent, the event recalls how a group of Kent miners, on their way to Nottinghamshire to support the national action, broke their journey there.

Brent residents rallied round, not least the dinnerladies and caretakers of the then Aylestone School, who provided hot meals as well as practical and moral support.

The recreation of this meeting gives voice to the passion of the time and both Taylor and dinnerlady Pat Thomas charm, persuade and argue us into vehement backing for a cause which, almost more than any other, epitomises the struggle of the labour movement and the impact of trade unions.

Colin Uttley as Keith and Abigail Halley as Pat are both excellent in capturing not only the fervent urgency of their appeal but also the humanity and integrity of two people who really tell it as it is.

And there’s even school dinner-style chocolate sponge and custard to follow.

The audience on the day were an interesting mixture of adults and children. For the adults it was time travel; for the children who had never even seen a piece of coal, an epiphany which left us crying out for more.

The many physical items of memorabilia were loaned by kind permission of the Brent Trades Council who actively supported the miners’ strike in 1984-85.

The items alone were a wonder, reflecting the zeal of collectivism that spread through this country long before the internet and in friendlier times.

Mary Conway

Ends October 3 2021. Nearest tube Kilburn or Brondesbury Overground. Tickets £3 are by donation, with the money going to Mutual Aid Food Willesden. Box office: mstar.link/CoalNotDole