Nottingham Area NUM HQ at Berry Hill, Mansfield with the National sign taken down following the 1985 NUM Annual Conference. 

1985 NUM Annual Conference

The 1985 NUM Annual Conference and Special Rules Revision Conference took place at Sheffield City Hall over three days in early July 1985. Following the dismissal of Nottingham Area NUM Officials, Roy Lynk and David Prendergast, and the complete amendment of the NUM national rules, which the Nottingham Area had a ballot mandate to oppose, it resulted in the Nottingham Area leaving the national NUM after 40 years. 

1985 Preliminary Agenda of the Special Rules Revision Conference, p1-3. Source – D.Amos collection. 

Nottingham Area NUM delegation report for the 1985 NUM Annual Conference and Special Rules Revison Conference. Source: UDM Nottingham Section minutes 1985, p. 287-293. 

Notts men jeered. Source: Chad newspaper, 5th July 1985. 

Nottingham Area NUM, Meeting of Branch Officials and Committee members, 6th July 1985.  Source: UDM Nottingham Section minutes 1985, p255-256. 

Letter from Hopkins Solicitors to Nottingham Area NUM re legal information on the split from the national NUM, 8th July 1985. Source: D.Amos collection. 

Membership of national NUM, letter from Nottingham Area to branches, 9th July 1985. Source: David Amos collection.

Now the Notts Area have left the NUM, flyer July 1985. Source: D.Amos collection. 

Nottingham Area officies, Berry Hill, Mansfield, folowing the split from the national NUM. Photo Credit: Chad newspaper

Diary of a Breakaway. Source: Chad newspaper, 12th July 1985. 

Support for New Union. Source: Chad newspaper, 12th July 1985. 

Source: The Nottinghamshire Miner, July 1985 – D.Amos collection. 

“I might add that for all the sneers and jeers we had had all week, when we left the silence was deafening”.  Nottingham Area NUM delegation report on the 1985 NUM Annual Conference. 

“The rule changes give Scargill more dictatorial powers and on top of that with Roy Lynk and David Prendergast being sacked other local officials feel that it might happen to them”.  Bob Durrant, NUM Branch Secretary, Sutton Colliery.