Durham University rugby club plans party mocking miners' strike

'A few working-class-beating-bobbies wouldn't go amiss', says Facebook invitation

Guests were told to 'expect a confrontation bigger than the Battle of Orgreave' (PA/PA Archive/PA Images)

A miners' strike-themed party planned by a student rugby club has been cancelled after being condemned as "deplorable".

Members of the Trevelyan college rugby team at Durham University were asked to dress as miners or members of Margaret Thatcher's 1984 government.

The Facebook invitation said: "We want flat caps, filth ... a few working-class-beating-bobbies wouldn't go amiss."

Players were also asked to dress as "Falkland War heroes", while one player in the team was expected to dress as "the Iron Lady herself".

Students were told to "think pickaxes. Think headlamps. Think 12 per cent unemployment in 1984".

But complaints from the Durham Miners' Association led to the cancellation of the event, which was due to take place on Wednesday.

Guests were told to “expect a confrontation bigger than the Battle of Orgreave”.

Durham University authorities said the event was "wholly unacceptable" and that they were considering what further measures were needed.

Owen Adams, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Durham University, said: "Durham University and Trevelyan College utterly deplore this event which is wholly unacceptable.

"The event has been cancelled by the students concerned. We are speaking to those students and we are considering what further action to take in due course.

"We know that most students are active and positive residents of their communities.

"Regrettably, there are occasions where student behaviour falls short of the standards we expect.

"We have a very active education programme that explains our code of conduct for those living in the local community and aims to enhance students' sense of belonging.

"This code of conduct highlights that the University reserves the right to take appropriate action against those who fall short of these standards."

A statement by Trevelyan College said it was "dismayed and appalled" at the event.

"The college immediately began investigative action prior to the disciplinary proceedings that must now follow, and the rugby club and all its events and activities both on and off the field have been indefinitely suspended, effective from Sunday 26th November, pending the outcome of those proceedings," it said.

A statement on the Durham Miners' Association Facebook page said the planned event had "caused a great deal of hurt and anger for many in the local community".

The party had been "deeply offensive to many current Durham University students who are from mining and other working-class backgrounds", it added.

The association invited Durham students to attend an open days at the Durham Miners’ Hall "where they can learn more about County Durham’s mining heritage".

This has been updated to include a statement from Trevelyan College, which said the rugby club had been suspended