The events to commemorate the centenary of the Tonypandy riots have now started and you can find the full details on the website set up by RCT Council here.
At the weekend, I chaired the opening initial session of the Llafur seminar on the riots at Coleg Morgannwg in Llwynypia, which featured Son of Tonypandy Professor Dai Smith not only revisiting his well-known Past and Present article (reprinted in at least one of his books) but also giving us a taster of his new book In the Frame, but also singing an adapted music hall song of the period.
On Sunday evening, Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan gave a powerful sermon on the Riots and their relevance to today, at a special service in St Andrew's Church. Barry made the case that the solidarity of mining communities meant the big society existed decades ago - and warned of the dangers of the UK government's welfare cuts and the divisive rhetoric surrounding them. Half the congregation seemed to be members of the Mid-Rhondda Labour branches! I hope Barry's sermon gets the public attention it deserves.
It was interesting to see the way yourself and others will celebrate street violence against capitalist exploitation in the distant past.
What if such events should happen again today? Would support be as forthcoming?
Posted by: Radical Wales | Monday, 01 November 2010 at 11:50 AM