Ray Lawrence

The author, Ray Lawrence, was born in Cwmcarn and was the third generation of miner in his family. He worked for twenty-five years at the Celynen South Colliery, Abercarn until it closed in 1985. He was the National Union of Mineworkers, Lodge Secretary at that colliery for fourteen years, and also served on the NUM's South Wales Area Executive Council. He took an active part in the 1984/85 miners strike. He retired from the probation service in 2009, and, in the words of Hywel Francis, MP., turned from helping make history to recording it. His books have been used as presentations to such dignitaries as Prime Ministers and Presidents of the European Union, and are highly regarded by other authors, by universities, and by libraries, such as the South Wales Miners Library, as reference works. His BSc comes from part-time study with the Open University while he was in his 60's.