Durham Miners' Gala: Northern Echo reporter shares experience

The Big Meeting is the perfect litmus test for public opinion as political ideas are shared and socialist fervour is re-energised on the Old Racecourse in Durham.

Often sun-soaked, on Saturday it was just soaked, not that it dampened the enthusiasm of the faithful.

The sounds of brass band music fills the air (Image: Northern Echo) The atmosphere in Durham was buzzing (Image: Northern Echo) The gala attracts people from all over the country (Image: Northern Echo) Numbers are hard to pin down, it didn’t ‘feel like’ 200,000, but was certainly tens of thousands, the spirit of comradeship and solidarity as strong as ever.

As a reporter, covering the event has always been one of my favourite jobs of the year, but you cannot just turn up with a notebook and pen.

Detailed preparations have to be made the night before the Durham Miners’ Gala.

Phone storage cleared, batteries charged, waterproofs and an umbrella packed, sun cream, just in case, tripod and power pack to hand, spare pads, pens and a dictaphone in my kit bag, sarnies and semi-frozen bottles of water and juice ready to go.

This wasn’t my first rodeo.

Walking down Claypath I passed the former Northern Echo office where I worked over 15 years ago, the thumping sound of drum beats from the Market Place giving the Gala its steady pulse.

The unrelenting spray of drizzle continued but the brass bands in their clear ponchos did not seem phased as they played a ‘Holding Out For a Hero’ – a tune that could well reflect popular political feelings in spite of Labour’s recent general election success.

There is no getting away from how awful the weather was, but the crowds were indefatigable with smiles on their faces that said: “We’re not made of sugar man.”

'A little bit of water never hurt anyone' (Image: Northern Echo) Cheers ladies! (Image: Northern Echo) Rain did not stop the bands playing throughout the day (Image: Northern Echo) I stopped to take some pictures and videos of a few of the bands for the Echo’s live blog, Whats App-ing them back to the news editor who was pulling together our coverage online.  

Then I made my way to the Royal County Hotel where hospitality is laid on for dignitaries and Durham Miners’ Association co-ordinates media interviews.

I had arranged for a round table discussion to be broadcast live over Facebook with Stephen Guy and Alan Mardghum from the DMA, Paul Nowak from the TUC as well as Fire Brigades Union leader Matt Wrack and Heather Wood, a former councillor from Easington who helped women organise during the Miners’ Strike of 1984/85.

The Gala was dedicated to commemorating the 40th anniversary of the bitter and divisive industrial action that marked the beginning of the end of mining in the County Durham Coalfield.

It formed part of our online discussion, along with views about what Keir Starmer needs to deliver to satisfy the left wing of his party and the enduring appeal and relevance of the Gala.

Stephen Guy, chairman of the DMA, said: “In the past, the Gala was about protest but now we have a change in Government we are starting to make demands and we expect those demands to be delivered.”

Recurring themes discussed include the end of the two-child benefit cap, investment in public services, calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and a public inquiry and potential prosecutions of policemen and policymakers over the notorious Battle of Orgreave.

Out on New Elvet, the street was packed with people, swilling lager from plastic pint pots, clapping and nodding their heads to the tunes from brass bands playing their party pieces for those gathered on the balcony.

I took some more pictures and videos before spotting a familiar face and Gala favourite watching the bands from above.

Chants of ‘Oh Jeremy Corbyn’ can be heard every so often, confirming the continuing popularity of the former Labour leader booted out of the party by Keir Starmer during the row over antisemitism.

I dashed back inside to see I could catch him for a picture and a word and managed to get a pass to allow me up to the balcony where I could resist not taking a ‘selfie’.

A picture from the iconic balcony (Image: Northern Echo) The now independent member for Islington North was happy to oblige and posed for a picture before we discussed what he would like to see from the new Labour Government which chimed with sentiments expressed at the discussion held earlier with union leaders.  

Speaking about the Gala Mr Corbyn said: “It is a place of hope and inspiration.

“This is the labour movement in its widest sense giving support to each other.

“Durham should be very proud of the gala and I wish the national media would understand how important the gala is and cover it the way they cover other events.”

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the gala on Saturday (Image: Northern Echo)

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At 12.40pm the rain started coming down in earnest and the waterproof trousers came out ahead of the speeches.

I made my way to the racecourse and found a perch in the centre of the cordon alongside other media but setting up my phone on a tripod, I realised it would be mere minutes before the lens was soaked.

The only thing for it was standing holding an umbrella over the tripod for two hours.

I’m not going to lie, this was a low point as I felt my joints seizing up and arms stiffening with the persistent damp and cold but the thought of a tray of chips I promised myself afterwards kept me focussed.

The signal occasionally threatened to drop out but mercifully for those watching from the warmth of their homes it kept going and the full round of speeches is still available for anyone who missed it.

DMA secretary Alan Mardghum addresses the crowds on the racecourse (Image: Northern Echo) The scene from the stage (Image: Northern Echo) Crowds watching the speeches got a bit soggy (Image: Northern Echo) The tenor of the speeches was consistent: joy at defeating the Tories, high expectations and demands from Labour, the need for peace in the Middle East, and above all, solidarity.

Reflecting on this afterwards, as crowds very quickly dispersed, I walked around the Racecourse, chips and curry sauce in hand, drinking in what a warm and wonderful event this is.

My great-grandfather was a coalminer from Sacriston but whether he used to come here, 100 or so years ago, I'll never know for sure but I imagine he probably did.

And although the pits have long gone, notions that bind us together as people remain as strong now as they were when the first gala was held in 1871, the year after the first Northern Echo was published.

I walked past crowds of people, some with memories of working in colliery communities and some so young the closest thing they will get to a pit is a trip to Beamish Museum.

But the Big Meeting is more than that and, like coal dust in the blood, is an integral part of the working class culture of County Durham.

I left the field as singer-songwriter Joe Solo performed to The Last Miner, a hauntingly fitting folk number about a trip to the gala, and what it means to so many.

“When the last miner is gone, we will carry, we’ll carry it on.”

Watch the video below to hear The Last Miner by Joe Solo and see our gallery of pictures from the day.