ScotlandsFest: Collier Laddie - Rab Wilson
Close a pit, kill a community. Forty years on, Scots poet Rab Wilson relives the events of the 1984-85 UK Miners' Strike.
About ScotlandsFest: Collier Laddie - Rab Wilson
His powerful poems seethe with rage, anger, passion and pity, a testament to the working-class struggle. Having toiled in Scotland’s mining industry for eight years, Rab emerges as an essential chronicler of a culture and way of life destroyed by Thatcherism.
Forty years on from the 1984–85 uk Miners’ Strike, the largest union-led industrial action in the 20th century, Rab Wilson – a former miner deeply entrenched in the strike – delivers a powerful narrative through his mining poems and strike diary, addressing contemporary social and economic issues in Scotland and the uk then and now.
Having toiled in Scotland’s mining industry for eight years, Rab provides an authentic voice that resonates with the struggles faced during the strike, vividly captured from his involvement between 12 March 1984 and 5 March 1985. This book serves as a testament to the working-class struggle, offering a unique perspective on the historical significance of Scotland’s mining industry, skillfully expressed by a poet intimately connected to it. Rab Wilson emerges as an essential chronicler, ensuring the legacy of the miners’ challenging strike endures in the pages of this evocative and timely work.
Collier Laddie is an ode to resilience, solidarity and the enduring legacy of those who fought for justice during a pivotal moment in industrial history.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Follow us on Facebook and join the What's On Scotland Group!Sponsored Links
Similar events you might like...
Knit & Natter
The knitting group at Care UK’s Cairdean House, on Redford Road in Colinton, brings together residents and local community members for a monthly morning of crafting and conversation.
READ MORE
Beneath the Surface: King’s Gallery Short Talks
Join our team at the Palace of Holyroodhouse for weekly gallery talks as part of the exhibition Drawing the Italian Renaissance!
READ MORE
Winter Wellbeing Challenge
As winter begins, the wonderful folk at SHBT are inviting you to take part in a monthly activity in the beautiful Historic Building Riddles Court, just off the Royal Mile.
READ MORE
Family Drawing Workshop
Take inspiration from drawings in our latest exhibition Drawing the Italian Renaissance and join us for a special family drawing workshop.
READ MORE
Drawing the Italian Renaissance: Curator’s Introduction
Join exhibition curator Lauren Porter at The King's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse as she discusses works from Drawing the Italian Renaissance!
READ MORE
Turner in January
Following the incredible success of last year's blockbuster exchange with the National Gallery of Ireland, Scotland's own much-loved Turners are back in Edinburgh for 2026!
READ MORE
Book Log Bookbinding Workshop
Join Cass on 8th January for a crafty evening making your own Book Log, mini pamphlet stitch book and a nifty ‘library book inspired’ pocket!
READ MORE
Vibrant Viki’s Messy Art Club
Vibrant Viki’s Messy Art Club is a lively, hands-on creative experience designed especially for children under five who love to explore, play, and get wonderfully messy.
READ MORE
Novel Ideas
Join host Janis Mackay along with students from her 2025 Novel Writing Course as they read from their works in progress at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 10th January!
READ MORESponsored Links
Find other events in Edinburgh
Sponsored Links