Memories of the Durham Miners Gala

Education4Action

The Durham Miners’ Gala began in 1871. It has been described as part union rally, part political rally, part spiritual commemoration, part community get-together, and part family picnic. Barring strikes and World Wars, the Gala has been an annual event on the second Saturday in July since that time. It has a rich cultural, visual, social and musical heritage. For a century and a half, mining people of all ages, and their supporters, have followed their colliery banner and accompanying brass band through the streets of Durham City to the Race Course to hear speeches by political and union leaders, and to enjoy picnics and fun fair rides. Despite the closure of the last deep coal mine in the North East of England in 1994, the Gala has survived and in recent years numbers attending have increased significantly. An estimated 160,000 people attended the Gala in 2016.

Mining Galas were once common in mining regions; they represented a celebration of the industry and its way of life. Banners are symbolic of the common purpose of coal mining and trade unionism and at the same time signify differences in terms of collieries and place. Most Galas have died out but the Durham Miners’ Gala flourishes, due in no small part to the determination of the Friends of Durham Miners Gala, the Durham Miners Association and those who seek to preserve a sense of their industrial heritage and who organise around banners in former mining communities.Beyond that, the Gala is primarily about participation and can only be fully understood with reference to the meaning and memories it holds for people.

Curiosity Creative worked with Education 4 Action to deliver workshops with people who had a diverse range of memories of Durham Big Meeting over a 12 month period. Stories came from across the decades and focused on a range of memories which were important to the storytellers who told them.

The stories collected have been used as an educational resource for schools and have been screened at public events. They have also been archived for future generations. 

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Memories of the Durham Miners Gala

Education4Action

What the Big Meeting Means to Me

What the Big Meeting Means to Me

Sunshine After Rain

Sunshine After Rain

Togetherness

Togetherness

The Times they are a Changing

The Times they are a Changing

The Next Generation

The Next Generation

Staying at home on gala day

Staying at home on gala day

Rice Filled Balloons

Rice Filled Balloons

Proud of my heritage

Proud of my heritage

People, Pitmen and Politicians

People, Pitmen and Politicians

My Memories of the Big Meeting

My Memories of the Big Meeting

Everyone should go

Everyone should go

I hate Pek

I hate Pek

Durham Brass Memories

Durham Brass Memories

Club Stage to Gala Platform

Club Stage to Gala Platform

Brass, Boxers and Unforgettable Days

Brass, Boxers and Unforgettable Days

Belonging

Belonging

Banners, Tongue Sandwiches and the Daily Worker

Banners, Tongue Sandwiches and the Daily Worker

Banners Since the Strike

Banners Since the Strike

Banners Old and New

Banners Old and New

Banners After the Strike Easington

Banners After the Strike Easington

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