HUNDREDS of thousands of people will converge on Durham today (July 9) for what promises to be the biggest Miners' Gala of modern times.

More banners and brass bands will be taking part than at any time since before the Miners’ Strike as The Big Meeting returns today after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid 19 pandemic.  

More than 50 Durham miners’ banners and more than 50 brass bands are now confirmed as attending.  Hosted by the Durham Miners Association (DMA), the Gala was established in 1871.

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There is no formal start time but people usually begin arriving to make their way into the Market Place of Durham City at around 8.30am.

DMA Chairman Stephen Guy said: “We are seeing an extraordinary response from the extraordinary people of County Durham.

“Just as they were after the closure of the collieries, our communities are determined that the Gala must continue. The Gala is not just be back – it will be bigger than it has been in decades.

“The Gala is the people’s day. There is nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world and it happens right here on the second Saturday in July. We should all be very proud. This is Durham.”

A bumper turnout of trade unions and their members is expected to swell the crowds even further.

The 2022 Gala is dedicated to all key workers – those who risked their lives to keep society functioning during the pandemic.

The Northern Echo:

The guests of honour will take pride of place on the famous balcony of the County Hotel and on the speakers’ platform on the Racecourse Ground.

Two rank and file key workers will speak from the platform alongside the leaders of trade unions representing key workers.

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The speeches start on the platform at the racecourse at 1pm with keynote address from Durham Miners’ Association General Secretary Alan Mardghum.

There will also be addresses from:

  • Mick Lynch, RMT
  • Christina McAnea, Unison
  • Sharon Graham, Unite
  • Patrick Roach, from teaching union NASUWT
  • Jo Grady, from further and higher education union UCU

 

The Northern Echo:

Holly Johnston, a nurse and member of the GMB union, and Rohan Kon a postal worker and member of the CWU will also address the gathering. 

Speeches are expected finish at around 3pm and people start to make their way back through city over the next few hours. Festivities in Durham however continue into the evening.

 

The Northern Echo:

 

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