This week marks the anniversary of key events in the Cambrian Combine Dispute of 1910 Here’s the second of three special articles about the ‘Tonypandy Riots’ by John Geraint and one of Wales’s most experienced documentary-makers ‘John On The Rhondda’ is based on his popular Rhondda Radio talks and podcasts. You can read part one here….. After a night of disturbances at the Scotch Colliery the Chief Constable of Glamorgan has sent for armed soldiers to restore order Thomas’s Cambrian Combine are trying to force the coal-owners back to the negotiating table by picketing the colliery’s Engine House or Power House What happens next has been a matter of fierce debate ever since – in the House of Commons in the minds of historians and in the cafes and pubs of Tonypandy: did Home Secretary Winston Churchill send in the troops against unarmed British citizens who’d been locked out of their place of work It marked the centenary of the Cambrian Combine Dispute We filmed schoolchildren gathering at the Mid-Rhondda Athletic Ground on the morning after those disturbances at the Scotch Colliery thousands of miners came together for a mass meeting to decide on their next move a telegram from Churchill in London which seems to bear out what he and his family always claimed – that rather than sending in the troops “You may give the following message from me to the miners Their best friends here are greatly distressed at the trouble which has broken out and will do their best to help them meet fair treatment… “But rioting must cease at once so that the inquiry shall not be prejudiced and to prevent the credit of the Rhondda Valley being injured Confiding in the good sense of the Cambrian Combine workmen we are holding back the soldiers for the present and sending police instead There was a precedent for sending armed troops to confront striking miners a shameful one: the ‘Featherstone Massacre’ It ended with soldiers shooting Yorkshire miners dead The police refuse to let them speak to the blackleg workers who’re keeping the pumps operating preventing the Scotch colliery from being flooded; preventing D Thomas from suffering damage to one of his valuable assets The Power House windows that face the roadway are shattered The Chief Constable gives the order for mounted police to charge to clear the road Wooden palings are ripped down for weapons The police make good use of their truncheons A panicked local magistrate sends again for troops: ‘Police cannot cope with rioters at Llwynypia… Troops… absolutely necessary for further protection.’ less than 24 hours after the promise he’s telegrammed to the miners He messages the military commander Major General Nevil Macready: “As the situation appears to have become more serious you should if the Chief Constable or Local Authority desire it move all the cavalry into the district without delay.” the retail paradise that’s been built for them The damage is estimated in the tens of thousands of pounds – probably millions at today’s values One of the few shops left undamaged was the chemist’s owned by local rugby hero Willie Llewellyn: his exploits in helping Wales beat the All Blacks aren’t forgotten even in the heat of Riot a brief but deliberate act of defiance by downtrodden people: a Rising against their masters the coal-owners who would deny them a living wage; a Rising against the class of shopkeepers who – with exceptions – want to define the Rhondda their way preside over and control; a Rising against the State which – despite the assurances of the Home Secretary – seems willing to use all its might on one side of the argument the troops arrive – the 18th Hussars wearing khaki service dress and carrying carbine swords the Lancashire Fusiliers who take their rifles and bayonets to their billets in Llwynypia There will be troops in Tonypandy well into the next year But their commander General Macready is less willing to go along with the demands of the coal-owners and the panicking local magistrates than they may have anticipated His calm assessment of the stand-off at the Power House confirms what historians say – that the miners were never trying to occupy the colliery they were responding to what they saw as the owners and police colluding to make a symbolic stand against them: “Investigations on the spot convinced me that the original reports regarding the attacks on the mines on November 8th had been exaggerated What were described as ‘desperate attempts’ to sack the power-house at Llwynypia proved to have been an attempt to force the gateway against which an ample force of police under the Chief Constable was available on the spot… had the mob been as numerous or so determined as the reports implied there was nothing to have prevented them from overrunning the whole premises That they did not was due less to the action of the police than to the want of leading or inclination to proceed to extremities on the part of the strikers.” Macready’s troops are effectively an army of occupation They ensure that mass demonstrations against blackleg labour will be ineffective They nullify the picketing which the leaders of the strike had seen as their only hope of victory And they do come into direct contact with the strikers Bayonets are used for what’s described as ‘a little gentle persuasion’ The miners and their families can do little but eke out their meagre strike pay and stand firm together The troops are out in massive force in December when thirteen miners are summoned to Pontypridd Magistrates Court to stand trial Bugle calls echo through mid-Rhondda once again marching down to Ponty to support those who the authorities are determined to make an example of It’s a remarkable demonstration of solidarity a banner proclaims the defiance of the miners – ‘Hungry as L’ it seems to say the children of Tonypandy are being fed in soup kitchens A London newspaper reporter writes that the brooding sullen atmosphere up and down the streets of the Rhondda is like something he’s experienced in Russia in those years that led up to the overthrow of the Tsar The next installment will be published tomorrow You can listen to much more Valleys history in the Rhondda Heritage Hour every Wednesday afternoon at 3pm on Rhondda Radio: https://www.rhonddaradio.com/ The latest edition of the Rhondda Heritage Hour – including John Geraint’s account of the Tonypandy Riots – is available to listen to on demand here: https://www.mixcloud.com/RhonddaRadio123/rhondda-heritage-hour-6112024/ ‘Up The Rhondda!’, John Geraint’s collection of exuberant and evocative essays, is available here: https://www.ylolfa.com/products/9781800994874/up-the-rhondda And John’s coming-of-age novel set in the 1970s has recently been reissued as ‘A Rhondda Romance’: https://www.cambriabooks.co.uk/product/a-rhondda-romance/ Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Connect with Nation.Cymru on Facebook and Twitter If you would like to donate to help keep Nation.Cymru running then you just need to click on the box below it will open a pop up window that will allow you to pay using your credit / debit card or paypal Enter your email address to receive instant notifications of new articles All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018 In 2017 Nation.Cymru was launched after raising £5000 from a crowdfunding campaign Today it is one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK attracting over 1.5 million visitors a month We are not backed by billionaire owners or hidden behind a paywall but we depend on our readers' support to continue our work If everyone who visited the site over the course of a month donated at least £1 we would have enough funding for the next eight years To guarantee our future please consider making a donation today. The owner of Nicholas James Salon in Tonypandy has claimed the title of Wales & South West Hairdresser of the Year at HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards 2024 sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the prestigious event, which recognises the most exciting creative talents in UK hairdressing. Held at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane, London, over 1,400 guests walked the red carpet to celebrate, with ten regional categories, eight specialist awards, and the ultimate accolade of the evening – the British Hairdresser of the Year title. Nicholas James Tucker beat competition from six other finalists – honed down from scores – to win the Wales & South West title, having wowed a 100-plus-strong judging panel with a photographic collection showcasing the breadth of his hairdressing expertise. Images are judged anonymously over two stages and must adhere to strict guidelines to ensure authenticity. “I am absolutely gobsmacked—this has been a dream of mine since the age of 16. The support, the drive, and the incredible mentors I've had along the way have been amazing. To my team, I can’t believe we’ve done it—thank you so much to everyone who’s been part of this journey.” Our wide-ranging menu of platforms, communication services, and highly targeted distribution networks offers our clients a proven, strategically connected one-stop-shop solution for all regions and business sectors in Wales and beyond. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Irish Government took a dim view of several proposed candidates to lead key negotiations on North-South co-operation according to newly unsealed documents from the National Archives in Dublin A briefing note from the Department of Foreign Affairs described some of the high-profile figures put forward by Unionists and the British Government as ineffective politicians It came as Irish officials in June 1991 were making considerations of their own candidates as well as individuals put forward by the UK Government and Unionists to chair Strand Two talks leading into the Good Friday Agreement Strand Two referred to the parts of the agreement which established North-South bodies and encouraged co-operation between the Republic and Northern Ireland Among nine names proposed by Unionists, the Irish side determined that George Thomas, Lord Tonypandy, is “widely disliked” at the House of Commons, where he had previously held the role as Speaker. The briefing document says: “He has a petulant and ‘bitchy’ temperament and does not forgive slights, alleged or real.” Expanding on what the commentary describes as a “large streak of sycophancy” towards prime minister Margaret Thatcher, the author of the briefing says that a senior journalist described him as a “kind of Welsh Uncle Tom”. Lord Michael Havers, another candidate put forward by Unionists, is “regarded with affection more than respect” in British legal and political circles. The former lord chancellor and ex-attorney general is noted as having a number of “blemishes on his legal reputation”. In particular, the Irish side says that many feel he is a “bad lawyer” over his leadership of prosecution teams in the Guildford Four and the Maguire Seven cases – individuals wrongly convicted over bombings. It says that Lord Havers “lacks much of the pomposity associated with his profession in this country” and adds: “He is relaxed, urbane, good-humoured and (after a few drinks) frequently indiscreet.” Former lord chief justice of Northern Ireland, Robert Lowry, is said to have been held in “deep suspicion” over many years, having been associated, the briefing document alleges, with some of the “worst excesses of legal practice” including the admission of supergrass evidence. Former home secretary and Northern Ireland secretary Merlyn Rees is noted as being warm and likeable, as well as having a wife of “Irish origin”. However, the commentary on Mr Rees says that he is “often muddle-headed” and prone to offering “usually wide of the mark” advice to his successors. In addition, much is noted on his “unmistakable” Unionist sympathies. Elsewhere, “moderate Unionist” Sir Fred Catherwood was noted as being acquainted with SDLP leader John Hume and DUP leader Ian Paisley. However, notes in the margins say that he “doesn’t enjoy confidence of Hume”. The briefing document added: “He comes across as a well-intentioned but somewhat naive individual whose political judgment and understanding leave much to be desired”. The Lord Colnbrook, former Northern Ireland secretary of state Humphrey Atkins, is noted as a “Tory traditionalist in the Whitelaw/Carrington mould – though without the charisma of either”. More positively, the document says that he is regarded as a decent, honourable and self-sacrificing politician. Lord Colnbrook was appointed as secretary of state having been regarded as a “safe pair of hands” by Margaret Thatcher, the document adds, but his credibility among nationalists was eroded during the Maze hunger strikes. After an apparent delay in responding to the initial nine names put forward to the Unionist side, 10 additional nominees were put forward by then UUP leader Jim Molyneaux. He cautioned that inclusion on the list did not mean the individuals were “prepared or able to act”. These included Sir Philip Foreman, the former chairman of Short Brothers, who could not be countenanced by the Department because of a “record of discrimination” at that company at the time. David Owen, former British foreign secretary, was seen to be “very unlikely to be sympathetic” and was further ruled out on personality grounds – the author saying he was “widely known as arrogant, impatient and difficult to work with”. Elsewhere Gordon Beveridge, then pro-vice-chancellor of Queen’s University, is listed as being “perceived as part of Unionist clique that has dominated Queen’s for many years”. While there are at least brief background blurbs for most of the list, the proposal of Conor Cruise O’Brien, a former Irish minister known for pro-Unionist views, is noted simply as “hardly a serious suggestion”. On a British list of candidates, Lord George Thomson of Monifieth was found to have had a position of “moderate Unionism” but further believed to be open to envisaging a “solution to the Irish problem emerging within the broader European context”. The commentary on Sir Patrick Neill, then warden of All Souls College Oxford, said he was known sometimes to take “somewhat quirky positions” and to “go a little over the top about subjects which he may not be totally familiar”. A source for the document also described him as being one of the “great and the good within the constraints of being one of the major figures within the Establishment”. Former home secretary Lord Robert Carr was described by the Irish as a “classic Heathman or Tory ‘wet’”, while his work as a “natural conciliator” during the 1970 docks strike was also noted favourably. On the other side of Tory divides, the Irish side noted that Lord Robert Blake, another possible candidate, had given “sycophantic loyalty” to Margaret Thatcher. For Ireland’s part, several candidates were put on its shortlist including former deputy Labour leader Denis Healey (noted as being of Irish descent), and former Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam (noted as having a “very benevolent interest in Ireland”). The documents also suggest that high commissioner of Canada to the UK Roy McMurtry had been approached informally for the position but was ruled out by Mr Paisley as not acceptable. This came after Mr McMurtry disclosed that he had said in a speech 15 years earlier that Mr Paisley was not a proper person to visit Canada. This batch of Strand Two talks was ultimately chaired by former governor-general of Australia Sir Ninian Stephen, who was not among the candidates discussed in the document. – This article is based on files in 2024/130/2. This is the first of three special articles about the ‘Tonypandy Riots’ by John Geraint ‘John On The Rhondda’ is based on his popular Rhondda Radio talks and podcasts Negotiations with the coal owners have broken down There’s no knowing when or if they’ll resume And then something happens that turns this industrial dispute into something else again Not just a battle for who controls the conditions under which the miners labour to dig up the Black Diamond – and the power and wealth it represents this is also a battle for the kind of place that the kind of lives that Rhondda people will lead those 12,000 mid-Rhondda miners and their families a BBC documentary which I produced and directed The film looked back from 2010 through the eyes of four local people – singing star Sophie Evans; Penygraig rugby player Derwyn Nicholas; Tonypandy College community manager Julie Atkins; and ambulance controller David Gwilym Jones We had expert help from other Rhondda people – historian David Maddox miner Ivor England and the Chief Constable of South Wales The whole programme was built on the foundations of a lifetime’s academic research and thinking about what happened in 1910 by another son of the Rhondda a friend and colleague of mine for many years We thought of our project as ‘A New History’ We closed the streets of Tonypandy for a few hours so that hundreds of 21st-century schoolchildren could be filmed marching in the footsteps of their great-grandparents We showed them and the watching viewers exactly what happened in 1910 Why has it echoed down the long decades since important questions for what the Rhondda has been 1910: a retail paradise built to trade on the wealth that Rhondda coal has generated: milliners Tonypandy has a whole class of shopkeepers – they’re big cheeses Willie Llewellyn the chemist played for Wales in the legendary win over the 1905 All Blacks Some of them own the terraced houses where the miners and their families live – and they lease them on condition that the miners spend their wages in (you’ve guessed it) the very shops they own How they’re paid is crucial to what happens They’re paid according to the weight of sell-able coal they can cut useless rock laid down millions of years ago the miners have to go to places where the bands of rock have faults where there’s stone mixed in with the coal The crunch comes at the Ely pit in Penygraig over the price per ton that’s going to be paid for work on a new seam – the Upper Five Foot Everybody knows it’s going to cause problems It’s about a young generation of miners’ leaders about their vision of a better way to run their industry – indeed their whole world They’re impatient with the old-style miners’ agent ‘Mabon’ to give him the bardic name he liked to use Mabon believes in co-operating with the mine-owners But there’s a new breed of mine-owner – tough Thomas merges mid-Rhondda’s pits into a single company He’s determined to flex its industrial muscle to drive down costs deadlock: the miners in the Ely pit won’t accept the new rates Thomas shuts the colliery gates against them Miners in the other mid-Rhondda pits come out in solidarity but Mabon scolds them back to work: they’ve no legal basis for striking without notice So the union lodges serve that notice – a strike on November 1st Thomas to get him to cough up a little more: “My friend D.A Thomas has been suffering from poor health; and I feel sure that on his holiday in France he will not benefit… if he were to hear of a strike such as this.” Mabon’s compromise is resoundingly rejected by the men all of mid-Rhondda’s miners come out on strike Thomas isn’t worried: he’s made a deal with the other coal-owners across South Wales They’ll indemnify the Cambrian Combine against its operating losses Thomas can sit and wait until the starving miners have had enough When word gets back to the Strike Committee they realise that their only chance of winning is to hit the Cambrian Combine hard and fast where it hurts – in its assets A Thomas’s pits will be at risk of damage by flood and rockfall miners and their families – thousands of them – tramp from pithead to pithead stopping the machinery that keeps the collieries ticking over There’s little opposition until they arrive at what we used to call the Scotch Colliery Here stands the citadel the owners have chosen to defend a symbol of their property-owning rights – the colliery’s Engine House deliberately left down there by the owners though there’s been no work since the strike began Thomas reckons that public opinion will turn against the miners the miners demand to speak to the maintenance crews inside claiming their rights of peaceful picketing there’s a change of shift inside the Power House Youths try to rush the police guard at the gateway appeals for calm from what’s now a huge crowd The miners are driven back to Tonypandy Square terrified that he’ll lose control completely An historic former South Wales police station dating from the nineteenth century sold at auction for £98,000 Former Tonypandy Police Station on Dunraven Street and comes complete with cells was listed with a guide price of £90,000 and sold by South Wales-based Paul Fosh Auctions. A date carved into the front of the Rhondda Valley building, 1876, shows the former police station was operating at the time of the ‘Tonypandy Riots' of 1910. At that time local and drafted in police together with troops called up by Winston Churchill, clashed with miners in a bitter dispute over mine workers wages. Debra Bisley, of Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “The property consists of a two storey former Police Station constructed of a stone build under a pitched slate covered roof. “Internally, the building provides a mixture of offices, mess room, kitchens and other ancillary areas as to be expected within a police station including cells, which are all configured over two floors. “Access to the building is elevated above Dunraven Street to the front and is accessed via a stone stairway. “The current condition of the building, which occupies a prominent position on Dunraven Street, in Tonypandy town centre and which has not been an active Police Station for some time, reflects its inactivity and vacancy. “In the immediate proximity is a mixture of retail and commercial premises which includes notable national retailer occupiers such as Home Bargains, Dominos and Iceland. “Tonypandy is a thriving South Wales Valleys town, located within Rhondda Cynon Taff, which is situated approximately 20 miles to the North of Cardiff. The town has an established road network linking South to the M4 along A4119 and A4058 onto A470. Major employers in the town include Leekes. “The property was sold with vacant possession.” and highly targeted distribution networks offers our clients a proven strategically connected one-stop-shop solution for all regions and business sectors in Wales and beyond Anthony Lewis – Local democracy reporter The site of a historic powerhouse which was a focal point of the Tonypandy riots of 1910 will be turned into almost 70 flats with a councillor warning: “If we do nothing this is going to fall down” A planning application and listed building consent were approved by Rhondda Cynon Taf planning committee on Thursday which will convert the Grade II-listed engine house into 44 apartments and build two apartment blocks with 24 apartments in Llwynypia Road The planning report said the building had long been abandoned and as such was derelict and in a poor state of repair The existing Powerhouse building will be kept with only minor refurbishment works which are needed to improve its current appearance and to ensure the building is brought up to the current relevant safety regulations But it said that significant alterations would be needed inside to provide for the 44 apartments proposed All the flats will be ‘open market’ with no affordable housing provision proposed as the applicant claims the inclusion of affordable housing would mean the redevelopment scheme would not be viable There was one public letter of objection which said The Rhondda Powerhouse was of national significance and arguably the most significant industrial building in south Wales It said it should be developed as a resource for the whole community and its heritage preserved through meaningful regeneration The objector added that the area was already saturated with flats and there was no need for any more The report said a petition asking people to sign “if you believe the Powerhouse should be purchased by RCT and developed as a resource for regeneration for the wider community” had 562 signatures Councillor Wendy Lewis said: “This is a beautiful historical building that has gone into disrepair and as the local member I would like nothing more than this building to be saved and to be used as a community building “But all previous owners and the current owner have found that it’s going to be millions of pounds to actually renovate this building.” She said there was a group that tried to save the building that raised £200,000 which was “just a drop in the ocean.” She said she was pleased that the housing would be DQR (development quality requirements) compliant but that it was disappointing there was no social housing although should there be any fall in sales she said they could be offered to local housing associations Councillor Mike Powell said it was a “marvellous opportunity” for a building which had been a bit of an eyesore for many Councillor Loretta Tomkinson said: “If we do nothing this is going to fall down.” She said it was a positive thing it would boost the local economy and help with the demand for housing Councillor Danny Grehan said: “I feel like the plan that’s in front of us for this building is going to bring back a lot of the building and it’s just a shame that the extra flats on the side have to be a part of it.” He said the people who bought the flats were probably all going to have a car and that was going to be a problem in time planning officers said in their report: “The existing Grade II-listed Powerhouse building is of historical importance to the Rhondda being at the centre of an important cultural event “Without significant repair/refurbishment works the building will likely be lost to the elements in the near future The redevelopment scheme proposed would bring the former industrial site back into beneficial use through an appropriate conservation-sensitive conversion that will preserve the existing building for future generations “It would also greatly improve the public realm in this prominent gateway location The listed building consent report said that their design and location had been revised and were now considered acceptable in visual terms and in terms of their potential impact upon the setting of the listed building Another concern mentioned in the listed building consent is the impact of the sub-division on the interior of the property But the report said it was clear that if the building was to remain then compromises needed to be made in order to provide a reasonable The planning officers said there was also some concern with the proposal to exclude the provision of any affordable housing But they said that the viability study provided by the applicant appeared appropriate and that there had been little or no interest in redevelopment of this site since the past industrial use ended adding that policy did allow for deviation in exceptional circumstances while the lack of any affordable housing provision is regrettable it is considered that this current proposal is the best option at this time if the building is to survive long-term given the individual circumstances of redeveloping this site considered the redevelopment of the site and the preservation of the important historical building outweighs the affordable housing need in this individual circumstance it is not considered there would be any undue impact to the amenity levels currently enjoyed by the closest neighbouring residents and there are no highway safety concerns It has also been demonstrated that the impact of the scheme upon ecology and land drainage can be properly mitigated “It is therefore considered the application generally complies with the relevant local and national planning policies and is recommended for approval.” The listed building consent also requires approval from Cadw CloseBingo clubs and pubs are flourishing in Tonypandy A Methodist minister shares his views on the sacred and the profane BBC Archive: Originally broadcast 29 October 1966. Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore more1966: Bingo: Tonypandy's new religion 00:09:191966: Bingo: Tonypandy's new religion 9:19 Up Next 9:37 1979: Life of Brian debate 5:28 1964: The Welsh village famous for its name 00:05:071964: The Welsh village famous for its name 5:07 1968: Meet Tiger Bay's Salaman family 00:06:311968: Meet Tiger Bay's Salaman family Carmarthenshire News Online Local and National News for Carmarthenshire Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email THREE men have been jailed for their part in an organised crime gang supplying class A drugs to Aberystwyth from… CEREDIGION County Council have issued a statement addressing the concerns that RAAC (or reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) may have been… the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has released its operational figures for 2022 revealing its lifeboat crews and lifeguards… Here’s the final part of three special articles about the ‘Tonypandy Riots’ by John Geraint Tonypandy 1910: armed soldiers are patrolling the streets They’ve been sent in by Home Secretary Winston Churchill despite his assurances that he’d hold them back Churchill has intervened in a dispute between 12,000 mid-Rhondda miners and D the coal magnate who owns the Cambrian Combine Alongside a detachment of Metropolitan Police the soldiers’ presence is preventing picketing allowing blackleg labour to keep the Combine’s assets – their pits – in working order the miners are losing the battle – but who will win the war so that local children could be filmed processing in their great-grandparents’ footsteps and holding their own mass meeting in the middle of Dunraven Street to pay tribute to them “to remember the Rhondda’s coal industry on the centenary of the Cambrian Combine Dispute of 1910 We think of all those who were affected by that dispute and of everyone associated with our long and proud history of mining.” “We are mindful that the true price of coal was the sacrifice made and the hardship endured by the miners so that others could enjoy warmth and power We are grateful for their vision and determination that the riches of the world we live in should be shared fairly by all of us.” Dunraven Street is where the colliers vented their anger against the coal-owners Thomas using blackleg labour to keep his pits ticking over indemnified against his losses by other coal-owners until the toll on the miners’ families becomes too much to bear Those going back to toil in the Ely pit’s difficult Upper Five Foot Seam won’t earn a ha’penny more for each ton of sellable coal they cut than D in the compromise brokered back then by his ‘friend’ the old-style miners’ agent William Abraham And for a quarter of the mid-Rhondda workforce the owners say their labour isn’t needed any longer It’s a bitter defeat but ‘Tonypandy’ sparks a national debate The iniquity of colliers struggling to dig out enough coal to keep their families fed – from seams that are fractured and full of stone – triggers widespread demands for an earnings safety net A year after the mid-Rhondda miners return to work the Government brings in a Minimum Wage Act It may be the most valuable legacy of the Tonypandy Riots – a principle as relevant and as debated today as was back in 1912 something that shows that all of this has been about more than pounds the new generation of union leaders publish The Miners’ Next Step ‘hands-on’ expertise in how to work a coalmine Unless they’re in change of their own working lives the industry’s problems will never be solved But the answer they put forward in this visionary manifesto isn’t nationalisation – state ownership that would just bring colliers into conflict with the forces of the state And Tonypandy knows from painful experience what that means The Miners’ Next Step wants mines controlled by the miners themselves – not by the coal-owners not even by full-time union officials like Mabon It could only have come from a working class who’d lived through the Cambrian Combine Dispute when the nationalised coal industry was convulsed by the disputes of the 1970s and 80s its warning about the forces of the State being used against the miners took on a prophetic aura His name was never revered in South Wales like it was elsewhere his appearances in newsreels were routinely booed His defeat in the General Election after the Second World War was cheered loudly – it paved the way for the creation of the Welfare State and the National Health Service ‘Tonypandy’ still irks Churchill so much that he uses a speech in Cardiff to preach what he calls ‘the true story’ and sent in the Metropolitan Police with the sole object of preventing loss of life they were key to the outcome of the strike when Churchill says the troops were kept in the background that all contact with the miners was by London Police armed with nothing but rolled-up mackintoshes he’s doing more than being economical with the truth So who did ‘win’ the Cambrian Combine Dispute The Metropolitan Police and the British Army He was soon to be ennobled as Lord Rhondda; but in the long run it wasn’t coal magnates like him who got to define what the Rhondda was And it wasn’t the shopkeepers of Tonypandy – as noble as some of them were – who got to decide what kind of community they could do business in Rhondda’s social ambitions weren’t limited even by Mabon that ‘half a loaf was better than no loaf at all’ it was the miners themselves and their families who used the lessons of 1910 to re-define the Rhondda the Rhondda was a community built on solidarity on looking out for each other in tough times on what my father used to call ‘stickability’ – sticking it out and sticking together Now you might say I’m being starry-eyed about all of this – about what the Rhondda was and is We all know of times when Rhondda people haven’t lived up to those ideals But I bet we can think of occasions when we have – when we’ve stood up for each other binmen and many others in the pandemic is just one example you’ll find small stories that shout one big message – this is a place where people put people before profit where what matters to ‘us’ matters more than what matters to ‘me’ the events of 1910 passed out of living memory children take their lessons in Nantgwyn School But in their vision that the riches of the world we live in should be shared fairly and in their determination to face up to forces that seemed much more powerful than they were the miners of mid-Rhondda proclaimed that the labour of working people should never again be taken for granted and showed that they were capable of imagining a world that works in the interests of us all ‘John On The Rhondda’ is broadcast at about 3.15pm as part of David Arthur’s Wednesday Afternoon Show on Rhondda Radio All episodes of the ‘John On The Rhondda’ podcast are available here John Geraint’s debut in fiction, ‘The Great Welsh Auntie Novel’, is available from all good bookshops, or directly from Cambria Books many years of Rhondda residents reading their staple news diet from The Sun Daily Express and Daily Mail has resulted in the gradual erosion of the Miners values It’s part of Welsh history and should be taught as such Continuing our series written by John Geraint ‘John On The Rhondda’ is based on John Geraint’s popular Rhondda Radio talks and podcasts the regard I have for the Central Hall is that the Central Hall was built at a time when Rhondda was in a very poor state indeed when our young people had to sing their songs in a strange land And the part that Central Hall played during that period is worthy of remembrance forevermore.” you’d have a fair guess about the story that might follow But Rhondda has faced economic crises before was talking about happened in the 1920s and 1930s thousands and thousands so desperate that they left the Rhondda for good – young people going into exile having to ‘sing their songs in a strange land’ Rhondda’s response to the Depression was energetic and imaginative and forward-thinking it helped to change the world and bring into being the Welfare State and the National Health Service we rely on today One of the most energetic and inspirational responses came from the Methodist Central Hall in Tonypandy And it was in a BBC documentary I made about Central Hall in the 1980s that Annie Powell made the comments that lead this chapter She is often said to have been Britain’s first Communist Mayor and she regularly topped the poll for the Party in the Council elections for my home ward of Penygraig and I’ve often wondered if I’ve been on an MI5 watch-list ever since Mrs Powell’s journey – brought up as a Welsh Baptist then becoming a prominent member of the Methodist Central Hall before joining the Communists – is a remarkable one she was willing to broadcast such fulsome public praise for a religious institution Central Hall was the most distinctive landmark in the whole of Tonypandy It dominated the crossroads just along from the Plaza cinema Central Hall boasted an imposing clocktower and facades of white Portland stone and red brick It looked so different to the dozens of other nonconformist chapels up and down the Valley: more like a social centre than a place of worship Its main meeting space could seat a thousand people There was a lesser hall and a warren of classrooms libraries and workshops spread over floor after floor The huge building arched over the lane behind it And every square foot of it was put to good use and it fed the hungry in its Community Kitchen the unemployed themselves made toys for destitute children It was the cultural centre of the community too with its concerts and plays and high-class recitals There was table tennis and darts and billiards and summer camps for young people – all of this a good decade before the rest of the country began to take the youth club movement seriously Central Hall was a forum for debating the burning issues of the day The resolutions it passed were prophetic – on the death penalty on unemployment and the dreaded Means Test on the lack of a proper health service at a time when people couldn’t afford to go to hospital or even see the doctor These things we take for granted now had to be fought for back then Central Hall equipped a whole generation of bright Rhondda people – Annie Powell amongst them – to fight that fight A succession of brilliant ministers there proclaimed a social gospel one that said you shouldn’t – you couldn’t – divorce religion from what was going in the wider society that no-one should be left in need while others had more than enough ‘The differences of humanity go deep,’ wrote one of those ministers “They are not the differences of those who accept the same principles between those who accept the values of a competitive system and those who accept the values of a communal one.” What would those who preached that message A world where individuals can be worth billions whilst millions of people struggle to make ends meet that we’d settled for a system that was even more extreme in its inequalities than the one they knew So when I turn the corner at the bottom of Tylacelyn Road these days the upkeep for that huge building proved too much It was demolished in the 1980s to make way for a supermarket Buildings are important – and buildings where people can get together to think and plan and get a grip on the world That’s why it’s great to see the use that’s being made nowadays of another venerable place of worship just up the road in Penygraig – Soar Chapel Valleys Kids have adapted it to meet the needs of our youngsters and to feed the imagination of the community young lives starting to build their own futures Annie Powell was right to say Central Hall should be remembered forevermore Not because it stood as a Rhondda landmark – though it did – but because of all it stood for The bricks and mortar may have been scattered You can find the rest of John’s writing on Nation.Cymru by following his link on this map Party leader Leanne Wood has set-up a petition demanding The Lord Tonypandy Carvery lose its name a Labour MP who retired in 1983 and became Lord Tonypandy played a "scandalous" part in the aftermath of the Aberfan disaster In a petition she says as Secretary of State for Wales he used the disaster appeal fund money to clean up the Aberfan tips The Lord Tonypandy is owned by Crown Carveries and advertises itself as as place for the whole family to enjoy its "traditional roast dinners and lunches exactly how you like them "With every plateful offering cracking value it's no wonder locals in and around Porth Tonyrefail and Pentre can't get enough." George Thomas was born in Port Talbot and became a Labour MP for Cardiff and later Secretary of State for Wales He was one of the first people on the scene of the Aberfan disaster in 1966 and was later involved in the controversial decision to use some of the money from Aberfan Charity Fund to clear the waste tips from around the village 50th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster There have been more than 500 comments left on Leanne Wood's website In light of the disgraceful acts that Lord Tonypandy carried out in the aftermath of the Aberfan disaster it is only right and proper that his name be removed from any community buildings I think it should be called Tommys Tavern after the late boxer Tommy Farr Giving it a Welsh name would seem more appropriate but definitely not after a specific person A hospice in Cardiff named after George Thomas which also runs six charity shops in and around the city says it has also considered renaming itself However the charity says it would be to connect with younger generation who no longer know who George Thomas is Crown Carveries told ITV Cymru Wales they "understood local feeling": We’ve been seen the reaction to the anniversary of the Aberfan Disaster and understand the wealth of local feeling around the Lord Tonypandy name XFASTINDEX The £13m mixed-use development has been brought forward by Rhondda housing association RHA Wales supported by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council RHA Wales has appointed Bridgend-based contractor Jehu Group to complete the construction The Big Shed scheme will bring the site at Dunraven Street back into use after it has been empty since the closure of the Co-op store in 2012 RHA Wales acquired the derelict property in 2019 and has since been putting plans in place for its regeneration RHA Wales received full planning permission for the development in February 2022 from the council’s planning and development committee. The permission covers two main elements of the project – the first is a partial demolition of the Co-op store to build three new retail units These will accommodate a convenience store The second element is the construction of a five-storey block containing 51 apartments of which eight are dedicated for adults with learning disabilities The residential areas will be accessed via Bridge Street The planning permission also covers associated works including drainage and landscaping improvements while the development will include 52 off-street parking spaces for the use of residents living within the new housing block Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s cabinet member for development and prosperity said: “I’m very pleased that the Council is supporting this RHA Housing scheme to revitalise a prominent site that is in great need of investment The development is sustainable and includes a mix of retail use and high-quality affordable housing benefitting from multi-million pound contributions from both RHA Housing and Welsh government.” director of development and regeneration at RHA Wales added: “Our proposals for the site are deliberate rather than to compete with existing businesses and offerings within the locality because of this our proposed commercial areas will provide spaces that are presently not available within Tonypandy “The Big Shed is just one of our regeneration projects within the town and we are absolutely committed to supporting and sustaining regeneration in the long term As an anchor organisation we are in this for the long haul and it’s important to us that the work we do now provides the platform for our future generations to build from and create a thriving town once again.” Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk 2 hours Ebbsfleet Development Corporation is undertaking early market engagement for infrastructure works. 19 hours Following a recent expansion into North America, Murphy Group has now entered Australia. 1 hour Innovative tracked carrier manufacturer among 2025 King’s Award for Enterprise recipients 2 hours Modular construction business Integra Buildings has received royal recognition for its approach to sustainability. 3 hours MTX Contracts has been selected as the preferred bidder to build a diagnostic centre in Pitsea, Essex. 3 hours House-builder Springfield Properties has promoted Darren Thomson to construction director for its north of Scotland operations. © 2025 The Construction Index [Company No ' + response[i].created_nice + ' ' + response[i].description + ' CloseTrainee GPs are to be offered a £20,000 bonus to work in parts of Wales where it is proving hard to attract and keep family doctors The deal would tie in the trainees to a placement and working in an area for one year A one-off £2,000 payment will also be offered to help trainee GPs cover the cost of their final exams told BBC Wales health correspondent Owain Clarke he worried for the long-term future of general practice Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore moreGP's long-term recruitment worries 00:01:02GP's long-term recruitment worries 1:02 Up Next 00:00:56GPs launch website to showcase Rhondda 0:56 GP 'close to burn-out' over workload 00:02:57GP 'close to burn-out' over workload 2:57 GP surgeries reach 'breaking point' Video 00:02:07GP surgeries reach 'breaking point' 2:07 Ex-BMA chief says no current GP crisis 00:01:09Ex-BMA chief says no current GP crisis 1:09Editor's recommendations Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 00:01:44Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 1:44 Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 00:01:25Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 1:25 Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster Video 00:01:21Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster 1:21 'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 00:01:20'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 1:20 Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 00:02:54Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 2:54 Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 00:01:32Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 1:32 Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 00:01:11Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 1:11 Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 00:00:50Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 0:50 Ros Atkins on.. What's in the US-Ukraine resources deal 1:23 Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 00:01:18Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 1:18 Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released 00:00:46Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released Transport for Wales (TfW) is working in partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Stagecoach in South Wales to extend the ‘fflecsi’ pilot scheme to the Tonypandy and Tonyrefail areas of Rhondda Cynon Taf Cynllun peilot bysiau Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn ymestyn i Rondda Cynon Taf Fflecsi allows people to request a demand-responsive bus to pick them up near home rather than following a set timetable at fixed bus stops fflecsi was first launched by TfW and Newport Bus in May replacing a number of scheduled local bus services in Newport and has received positive feedback in its first month of operation It has also since been rolled out by TfW and NAT Group in north Cardiff Riders will be able to book a seat through the fflecsi mobile app riders select a desired pick-up and drop-off location and will be matched with a seat in a high-capacity bus that is fully compliant with public health guidelines for social distancing ViaVan’s technology will direct passengers to a nearby “virtual bus stop” for pick-up allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours After the initial success in Newport and north Cardiff the pilot scheme is now being rolled out in the Tonypandy and Tonyrefail areas of Rhondda Cynon Taf as the next stage in its development which will become a fflecsi service on 20 July Service areas have been designed for essential journeys and will include key destinations such as Tonypandy railway and bus stations Tonyrefail Leisure Centre and supermarkets As part of the pilot scheme in the Tonypandy and Tonyrefail areas of Rhondda Cynon Taf fflecsi services will run between 07:30 and 17:30 “fflecsi is a very exciting trial for us as we continue to transform public transport in Wales. The ongoing covid-19 pandemic has had a direct impact on public transport and as we move forward the safety of our colleagues and customers continues to be our top priority “This new pilot scheme offers us the opportunity to look at a new way of operating public transport and in these current circumstances it will allow bus companies to move people while maintaining a social distance “I’m delighted that fflecsi has been positively received in Newport and north Cardiff and I’d like to thank everyone involved for their hard work in achieving this I look forward to finding out what we can learn from the next stage of the pilot scheme in the Tonypandy and Tonyrefail areas of Rhondda Cynon Taf and how we can potentially apply this in other areas in the future.” Managing Director for Stagecoach in South Wales “We are delighted to work with TfW and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council on this flexible bus project for the Rhondda Fawr By repurposing the funding provided by Rhondda Cynon Taf to run the Service 152 working together with TfW we are able to offer customers a new product that is flexible and potentially more efficient than a fixed route and timed service We are looking forward to starting this new service and learning from the customer and operational feedback”. Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways and Transportation “Encouraging people to use public transport once again - now travel and other restrictions are being relaxed - has many benefits for individuals and the wider community reduced journey times and fewer carbon emissions “The fflecsi initiative is a very innovative way of putting the customer in control of their journey and therefore making travelling by bus more appealing and accessible to a greater number of people and having been already successfully piloted in Newport and areas of Cardiff it will provide the communities of Tonypandy Tonyrefail and Hendreforgan with public transport once again.” Not a Journalist? Please visit our contact page The club secured funding to take over the building By InYourArea Community · 7 March 2022 A local rugby club has opened its new clubhouse Cambrian Coltz RFC has taken over The Bush Hotel in Tonypandy, Mid Glamorgan The team had to secure £25,000 of funding to transform the derelict building The clubhouse will act as a hub for players said: "We are absolutely thrilled to turn around this derelict building and bring it to life so that all the community can enjoy it."Due to the position of our playing fields but have been keen for some time to have a community building that suits the needs of the club and local people we jumped at the chance but knew it would take a lot of work to turn it around."We simply can’t express how thankful we are to everyone that has helped bring this building to life." The clubhouse now houses a private bar which will be used for presentation evenings and private functions It will also be a place for the youth team to go after games Cambrian Coltz RFC approached local energy company provided substantial support to kickstart the project – without them we wouldn’t be in this position and to express our gratitude we have named our room the Pennant Suite said: "Seeing how this building has been turned around by the committed team at Cambrian Coltz RFC is just fantastic "We all know the role clubhouses play in communities right across Wales and this one is no different "Knowing the doors to the clubhouse are now wide open I’m sure it will become a favourite community hub for many years to come." Get all the latest news, updates, things to do and more from your local InYourArea feed LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} Rhondda Cynon Taf’s planning committee voted that they were minded to refuse the application despite officers recommending approval Members raised concerns in respect of off-street parking provision the alleged prematurity of the development and claims the scheme would constitute an overdevelopment of the site It was decided to defer deciding the application for a further report to highlight the potential strengths and weaknesses of taking a decision contrary to officer recommendation This application has since been revised down from 22 flats to 20 since the October meeting and the top floor has been removed entirely so that the development would be arranged over five floors READ MORE: Everything we know about fatal Treforest explosion and fire as police issue update READ MORE: 'Our house flooded and now the council says we owe them £60,000' It would be made up of a basement with 13 parking spaces plant room and a vehicle entrance to the car park a ground floor with two one-bed and three two-bed flats cycle store and main pedestrian entrances from Court Street a first floor with three one-bed and two two-bed flats a second floor with three one-bed and two two-bed flats and a third floor with three one-bed and two two-bed flats A further public consultation was done and responses were received raising concern over parking It was noted that the proposal would still be very close to the boundary with claims it would be an invasive form of development A further email was received from another resident reiterating the numerous objections submitted in their original consultation response The planning report said that if members considered the changes were insufficient to allay concerns regarding off-street parking provision on-site amenity space for future residents and that the scale of the scheme would still constitute an overdevelopment these reasons for refusal were suggested: “By virtue of its scale and location the proposed scheme is considered to represent an overdevelopment of the site which would be harmful to the form and appearance of the surrounding built environment and local character the development would provide insufficient off-street parking provision resulting in overspill to neighbouring streets where there is already high on-street parking demand to the detriment of highway safety and free flow of traffic the development would not be considered to provide adequate onsite amenity space for the benefit and well-being of future applicants whilst that located closest to the site would not be conveniently located.” “The development is therefore considered to align with the relevant policies of the Local Development Plan, would be acceptable in respect of its visual impact and any impact upon the amenity and privacy of the neighbouring residential properties, and would not be harmful to highway safety.” Local councillor and committee member Gareth Hughes said he had previously supported the development for 12 units as a positive use of vacant land with new housing supply and a diversity of housing. But he said: “For me it is still an overdevelopment of this site. This site is very very small. I am amazed that that development could fit in the site.” He also said the concerns were about issues that come with the development, mentioning the fact that the number of car parking spaces is short of the guidance. He said: “Just because you live in a flat in a town centre, doesn’t mean you don’t or won’t require a car.” He said it’s a shame that the site isn’t being developed as one with Mitchell Court and added that it would be nice to see it be developed with one development rather than as a piecemeal one. He also highlighted the lack of consistency in determining applications around amenity space and said that he is not convinced the development is viable. But fellow committee member Councillor Ross Williams said it looks good and he couldn’t see any reason to refuse the application. Next month sees a number events to mark the centenary of the Tonypandy Riots Fictionalizing Tonypandy: The Riots in Literature 'I depict a riot': the Cambrian Combine dispute in the cartoons of J - 12.45 - 2.15pm Lunch (There will be no lunch provided at this event as there is a café in the venue) Parthian Books will host a special preview of Dai Smith's forthcoming book 'In The Frame: Wales 1910-2010' 'Beyond Tonypandy: the other face of the "Coal War" of 1910' Llafur Secretary,c/o South Wales Miners' Library Historian John Davies looks at the strike action and riots at the beginning of the 20th century in Wales. Read his article To find out about other Tonypandy Riot centenary events visit www.tonypandy2010.com Feel free to comment! If you want to have your say, on this or any other BBC blog, you will need to sign in to your BBC iD account. If you don't have a BBC iD account, you can register here - it'll allow you to contribute to a range of BBC sites and services using a single login Need some assistance? Read about BBC iD, or get some help with registering Behind the scenes on our biggest shows and the stories you won't see on TV Stay updated with the latest posts from the blog BBC Wales homepage Hafan BBC Cymru Radio Wales: listen live BBC iPlayer: Wales television South Wales police confirmed they were looking into the claims now reported to be aged 55 and living in Australia officers had incorrect contact information for him and their investigation was delayed The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is now assessing the matter following a referral from South Wales police A spokesman for South Wales police confirmed: "We are investigating allegations of a sexual assault involving the late George Thomas which is reported to have occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s "It is important that victims have the confidence to come forward and speak to us We take any allegation involving sexual assault or rape extremely seriously." still known as George Thomas at the time of the alleged incident was a long-standing Speaker of the House of Commons who worked as a teacher before becoming an MP South Wales police Asst Ch Con Nikki Holland said: "We were made aware of these allegations in April 2013 and have attempted to get in touch with the victim incorrect contact information was used and as a result we failed to make contact with him apologised for the delay and are investigating his claims "This delay was clearly unacceptable and we have referred the matter to the IPCC It is important that victims have the confidence to come forward and speak to us We take any allegations regarding sexual assault or rape extremely seriously and urge anyone who has been a victim of this type of crime to make contact with us." The alleged victim told the Mirror newspaper he was abused by the late MP at his home and another address in Cardiff "I was raped by George Thomas in Cardiff I was about nine," he told the Mirror "He spent a lot of time at my house as my parents were good friends with him "Things started small but then got a lot worse A spokesman for the IPCC confirmed it was assessing the referral by South Wales police about the delay "We have received a referral but we have not made a decision on it It is still being assessed," the IPCC spokesman said He added that the referral was made on 16 July We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We also use cookies to ensure we show you advertising that is relevant to you. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the BBC website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookie settings at any time British Broadcasting CorporationHome This November sees the 100th anniversary of the Tonypandy Riots. These short-lived but seminal series of events have always held a special place in the memories of most Welshmen, attracting legends and stories, truths and half-truths in equal number - Churchill sent in the troops Willie Llewellyn's chemist shop was deliberately spared by the rioters the shop was off the main street and so the rioters missed it the truth probably lies somewhere in between all the various stories and reports The riots took place on the evenings of 7 and 8 November 1910, and involved violent clashes between striking miners and members of the Glamorganshire Constabulary - backed up by both the Bristol and the Metropolitan police In 1910 the Cambrian Collective opened a new seam at their Naval Colliery in Penygraig It was decided that a test period to determine the rate of production or extraction should take place an investigation involving a small corps of just 70 miners When they saw the results the company promptly declared that the men had worked far too slowly - a strange allegation considering that miners at that time were paid by the tonnage of coal they produced rather than an hourly rate the mine owners now instituted a lock out and closed the mine not just to the 70 'test men' but to all 950 workers at the colliery The miners responded by calling a strike and when the Cambrian Collective duly brought in strike breakers from outside the area it was clear that serious trouble lay ahead The South Wales Miners Federation (the Fed as it was universally known) balloted workers on 1 November and within days 12,000 men from all the Cambrian pits were out on strike Lionel Lindsay, Chief Constable of Glamorganshire, knew that his resources were stretched as there was already a month old strike at pits in the nearby Cynon Valley As soon as the Fed announced the strike he appealed to the War Office for troops to help with the crisis None were sent but by Sunday 6 November extra policemen from forces such as Bristol's had been brought to the Rhondda Valley By now the only pit left working was Llwynypia Colliery where strike breakers were maintaining the pumps and other machinery On the evening of 7 November striking miners surrounded the colliery and Fierce hand-to-hand fighting with the police took place and after several baton charges the miners were pushed back into the square at Tonypandy There they were charged by mounted police from Cardiff and there were several injuries on both sides Lionel Lindsay again asked for military backup was not desperately keen to send in troops feeling that people on the spot were perhaps over reacting despatched by the War Office from barracks at Tidworth to send in an extra 270 mounted and foot officers from the Metropolitan police force more like an army of occupation than regular detachments of police Their attitude served only to infuriate the striking miners Further rioting occurred on the evening of 8 November This time the windows of many shops in the town were smashed and a large number of the shops were looted by men at the end of their tethers were parading around Tonypandy in clothes taken from the shops and that a general air of festivity seemed to abound Detachments of the Metropolitan Police arrived in the town square just before 11pm several hours after the rioting began - they had been busy protecting the homes and property of the mine owners - and by then the disturbances had Whether or not their presence in the town centre could have prevented the rioting is something that remains unknown that soldiers eventually arrived on the scene patrolling without serious incident in the Tonypandy and Llwynypia areas There were clashes in Porth and Pontypridd but at least - more welcome than the policemen from outside the valley The strike ground on for several months although the violence of the initial riots in Tonypandy was rarely repeated - even though one miner died from injuries inflicted by a police baton during an altercation 12 months after the lock out that had begun it It left bitter scars on the community of the Rhondda particularly as the miners were forced to return to work after agreeing to a paltry figure of just two shillings and three pence per ton of coal extracted reviled by many as the man who sent in the troops - even though he had The fact that he and other members of the government were even prepared to consider their use was Unlike so many of the businesses in Tonypandy it was left untouched by the rioters as a Welsh rugby international and a member of the famous 1905 side that had beaten the All Blacks was a much-loved son of the town - and nobody was going to damage his business or register to comment Jump to more content from this blog a place to explore both celebrated and lesser-known incidents in Welsh history watch rare clips from BBC Wales' own archive find out about history events in Wales and get tips to help you delve into your family history Phil Carradice is a broadcaster, writer and poet. His blog posts provide a distinctly Welsh perspective on major events in world history, as well as revealing some little-known events from the Welsh past.