Fig 1: NUM pickets at the Nottingham Area NUM HQ during the sit in of 9th / 10th July 1984. Photo Credit – Chad newspaper

Berry Hill sit-in

The June 1984 branch elections in the Nottingham Area of the NUM produced a Delegate Conference (Area Council) almost all of whom were working miners. When they arrived for their first meeting on 9th July 1984 they found the Nottingham Area NUM HQ at Berry Hill, Mansfield, occupied by 100 striking miners with around 300 more outside.

Fig 2: NUM pickets outside the sit in at the Nottingham Area on 9th July 1984. Photo Credit – Reg Packer

The picket was designed to prevent the Nottingham Area of the NUM from discussing matters on the agenda for the impending two day NUM Extraordinary National Conference at Sheffield on 11th and 12thJuly 1984. This conference was due to consider the introduction of a NUM Disciplinary Rule (Rule 51) which it was feared would be used against working NUM members. Rule 51 was eventually introduced at a specially convened NUM Delegates Conference on 10th August 1984 which the Nottingham Area NUM did not attend after seeking legal action.

Fig 3: Minutes Nottingham Area NUM Council meeting, 23rd July 1984, regarding the Berry Hill sit-in. Source – Nottingham Area NUM Minutes 1984, p228-229.

Fig 4: NUM pickets on the roof of the Nottingham Area NUM HQ during the sit in of 9th / 10th July 1984. Photo Credit – Chad newspaper

The sit in protest turned violent on 10th July 1984 and there was a clash between the NUM pickets and riot police.

Fig 5: Police and NUM pickets at the Nottingham Area NUM HQ during the sit in on 9th  /10th July 1984. Photo Credit – Chad newspaper