Following the worldwide success of the BAFTA Award winning British film ‘Pride’, a special ‘Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners’ group (LGSM) re-union was recently held in the small Welsh valley town of Onllwyn near Neath.
Pride event
At the event, the band met up once again with Mike Jackson, one of the original founders of the support group (and who is unmistakably featured in the film), who not only helped to raise thousands of pounds for the local community during the 1984 Strike, but also launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to get the Welsh band to take part in 2015 London Pride event on 27th June.
Huge public
The huge public parade which attracts over 1 million revellers and visitors is one of the capital’s most colourful, exciting and friendly public occasions, and commemorates the historic trials and tribulations of the global lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community while celebrating equality rights, sexual diversity, and gender variance.
The ‘Pride’ film itself recalls the real troubles and comic misunderstandings of the friendship and support that emerges between a small Welsh mining community and the founders of the London based ‘Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners’ group (LGSM) at the height of the 1984 Miners Strike,
No one better
“It’s been great to meet up with the band again,” Mike (above — pictured right with glasses) told 4BR. “The response to the film has been huge and it was wonderful news that Tredegar agreed to take part.
The campaign was a huge success to raise the funds to get them to be part of London Pride in June. We couldn’t think of anyone better help us celebrate on the day.”
The response to the film has been huge and it was wonderful news that Tredegar agreed to take partMike Jackson, LGSM
Honoured
Tredegar Band Secretary Alwyn Powell told 4BR: “We are delighted to be a part of the London Pride event — and it was wonderful to meet up with so many people from the film and the support group once again.
It’s a real honour to be able to lead the LGSM once again in what is such a wonderful celebration of support, understanding and solidarity.”
London Pride:
