Saturday 11 July 2009

125th Durham Miners Gala

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The Durham Miners' Gala is held on the second Saturday in July in Durham City.
The first Union in the Duram coalfield was formed in 1869 and the Durham Miners' Union organised the first Gala 1871.
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The highlights of the gala are the banners, made of silk, which represent Durham lodges of the National Union of Mineworkers. The banners are are usually accompanied by brass bands which march through the town to the old racecourse where political speeches are made. The Gala was cancelled during the two world wars and also during the 1984 miners strike .
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There are no longer any working collieries in County Durham ,but many of the former mining communities retain their banners and brass bands.
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1 comment:

  1. Great captures. I am glad this still goes on eben though the miners are no more. A real link to the past.

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