Dr Jude Murphy

Jude grew up in a pit village and remembers childhood adventures playing in a borderline dangerous wreck of an old miners’ welfare hall. The pit was gone, but the people had not lost their sense of community and collective culture. She believes this upbringing shaped her understanding of the world.  Living through the 1984 to ‘85 strike and the subsequent destruction of an entire industry felt like a seismic shift to her. “I’ve always since been drawn back to working with topics related to coalfield communities”.

Her work as a musician brings Jude “a constant source of joy and solidarity”. Her academic research has focused on the music of the coalfield communities, particularly the songs of Tommy Armstrong, the Tanfield poet. Highlights of performing with the choir through Women’s Health in South Tyneside (WHIST) include singing “We Are Women, We Are Strong” alongside Anne Scargill and Betty Cook at the Durham Miners Gala, and the sense of sisterhood when performing at the Women Against Pit Closures event in 2024.

Jude regularly leads mining-related activities in schools and community settings as Heritage and Culture Development Coordinator for Washington Heritage Partnership. She recalls moments when children haven’t recognised a piece of coal, and an answer of ‘sourdough’ to the question ‘what’s the name of the round flat Geordie bread’. It’s important to retain a sense of connection to our past and traditions. Jude has worked on many community based heritage projects with adult groups too. Most recently, a Washington based podcast series called “The Ballad of the Crocodile and the Underpass” highlighting local stories, memories, and achievements such as the founding of The Bridge Project which provides women’s adult education.

Her hope for young women growing up in coalfield communities today is that they are afforded proper life chances.  That they don’t feel bound by a sense of class, gender, cultural background, or opportunity restrictions. That can be a challenge of course. Jude has seen the impact of educational cuts to arts and creative subjects. “I’d like to see every school, adult education organisation, and community centre supported to provide access to these activities”.

Washington Oral Histories:

https://balladofthecroc.captivate.fm/

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAF76RKVACqidyDilbBa0OImt7QTUJNSx&si=gm5okE67PFpE_Oa7

WHIST choir performance: https://youtu.be/vgaJeR3TT1M?si=J_pxkjga3Atl44IV