One of the key decisions East made was to address the problem of transporting coal from Llanwern to Port Talbot as a transport issue, running daily convoys of 140 trucks escorted by police cars and motorcycle outriders; none were stopped, and because East refused to use riot gear clothed police, none were attacked.
On 30 November 1984, a concrete block was dropped on the car of taxi driver and father of four David Wilkie, killing him instantly.
Political leaders united in condemning the killing: Labour's Neil Kinnock called it an "atrocity" and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said it was "an utterly despicable deed".
A court in Cardiff convicted 21-year-old miners Dean Hancock and Russell Shanklin of Wilkie's murder, later reduced on appeal to manslaughter.
[3] East became Secretary to the Welsh Rugby Union in the early 1990s, but only survived in the post for six months, resigning after the boards decision to let an invitational Wales team tour South Africa.