One of the oldest community touring theatre groups in Britain will be the star attraction at the first ever Fenland Trade Union Festival in Wisbech.

Cambs Times: 1 st. of May Band.Photo shoot.Hockley.Birmingham.England ..Fred Wisdom, Dave Rogers and Vince Pryce.1 st. of May Band.Photo shoot.Hockley.Birmingham.England ..Fred Wisdom, Dave Rogers and Vince Pryce. (Image: Kevin Hayes.NUJ recommended terms & conditions apply. Moral rights asserted under Copyright Designs & Patents Act 1988. Credi...)

People from across Fenland will come together on June 28 to celebrate the achievements of trade unionism.

Members of Banner Theatre will perform their 40th anniversary production Burning Issues in which they re-visit the striking mining communities they supported in 1984 to commemorate in theatre, song, music and video their historic struggle to protect jobs and communities and its enduring significance today.

Banner Theatre is regularly called in to inspire and entertain at trade union conferences, festivals and community across the UK over the past forty years. Norfolk folk group the Hoolahans with their popular mix of protest and well known folk songs will be adding to the entertainment.

The free entry festival, organised by Wisbech, March and District Trades Union Council, will recreate the atmosphere of a trade union social club between 12 & 5pm within the Rosmini Centre in Queens Road, Wisbech.

A bar and light refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon.

The festival will be opened by Megan Dobney, regional secretary at the TUC for the South and East of England.

Paul Winter from Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign will explain why former miners are seeking justice over the handling by South Yorkshire Police, of Hillsborough fame, of the picketing at Orgreave Coke Works during May and June 1984.

There will also be a number of campaign stalls and a photographic exhibition of the strike.

The festival will conclude with a Question Time style discussion on the future for the trade unions with a panel composed of leading regional trade union activists and full time officers.

This promises to be a lively session discussing many of the key issues facing trade unions in the Fenland area today.