Just my honest opinion about a very sad time in recent history Dave. To simply blame all of it on Magaret Thatcher and her government dismisses the point that the NUM had made it their aim to bring the government down ( quote from Arther Scargill). The DUM, however realised at the time that the industry had to change and being militant wasn't going to save jobs, but just the opposite, a fact told to me by a guy who moved here from Notts who also worked in the mines. I was stopped from going to a job over the Trent by "flying pickets" during the strike and they scared the crap out of me threatening me with violence. I was not connected to mining in any way, shape or form but those bullies stopped me going out to earn my families living. At that point I lost any sympathy for them.
Just my opinion, and that's all I will say about it.
Tony.