THE TRADITION and heritage of the Durham Miners' Gala is being kept alive through the brush of artist George Robson.

A former National Union of Mineworkers' finance officer in Durham, he has helped to organise the 'Big Meeting' for the last 27 years.Despite the demise of the North-East coalfield over the last decade, the annual July parade of bands and banners through the city, followed by speech-making on the racecourse, appears as strong as ever through the backing of the former mining communities.

Mr Robson, the son and grandson of miners in Boldon Colliery, South Tyneside, has combined love of the Gala with his passion for painting.

Working from a studio in part of the NUM's North-East headquarters' building, at Redhills, Durham, he has now produced around 30 works on a Gala theme.His latest took pride of place on Tuesday in Durham's appropriately-named new Gala Theatre.

The painting, a black and white oil of a Gala procession, was commissioned by the NUM.It was presented to Durham City Council to commemorate the naming of the new theatre, the centrepiece of its £14m Millennium City development.Hung in a prominent position on the approach to the theatre's soon-to-open restaurant, the 5ft by 4ft canvas reminds visitors of the reason behind the name.

Speaking at the recent launch of the theatre, city council leader Maurice Crathorne said:

What better word is there to get across the new spirit of the North-East than the Gala, which is rooted in the history of Durham and will always mean a special day to young and old alike.

Mr Robson said he is delighted to spread the message, through his work, that the Gala is alive and well.

It's a great passion of mine to ensure it continues. I work quite hard at it.

We are capitalising on the continuing interest in mining heritage, and there's hardly a fortnight seems to go by these days without a lodge banner being refurbished.

Mr Robson believes 95 per cent of his work is on show in public places, including a painting bought recently by the Government Art Collection for display in ministerial buildings.

He added that it was an 'honour' to have his work portrayed in the new theatre, therefore 'bringing the two galas together.'