Salford will celebrate mining activist Anne Scargill later this month with a special evening at the Working Class Movement Library.
An event taking place on Thursday, October 30, at 6.30pm, will honour Scargill’s life and legacy as one of Britain’s best-known campaigners for miners’ rights and women’s activism.
It will feature a drinks reception, displays from the library’s archives and a live reading by actor and writer Maxine Peake from her play Queens of the Coal Age. The highlight of the night will be the handover of Anne Scargill’s pit jacket and helmet, donated by her family to become part of the library’s permanent collection.
Hazel Roberts, a trustee at the library, said: “Anne Scargill’s legacy reaches far beyond the mining communities she championed. We’re proud to preserve her pit jacket and helmet here, not just as artefacts, but as symbols of courage, community and struggle.”
Actor and writer Maxine Peake added: “Anne was a force of nature, fierce, funny and utterly devoted to her community. Her story is woven into the history of this country. It’s an honour to see her jacket and helmet cared for and displayed so others can understand the strength and heart she brought to the fight for justice.”
Mining activist Anne Scargill rose to prominence during the 1984-85 miners’ strike and co-founded Women Against Pit Closures. She dedicated her life to social justice, equality and working-class solidarity, inspiring women nationwide to join the fight for fair treatment and community rights.
The private event will also include a fundraising raffle to help purchase a display cabinet for Scargill’s jacket and helmet, ensuring her contribution to mining activism remains visible to future generations. Entry is free, with a suggested £5 donation.
Located on Crescent, Salford, the Working Class Movement Library preserves the history of Britain’s labour and social movements through books, archives and exhibitions. The venue regularly hosts events celebrating working-class heritage, equality and activism.
For more information or interview requests, contact Belinda.scarlett@wcml.org.uk or trustees@wcml.org.
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