Massive crowds at 125th meeting of North miners
Jul 13 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal
GLORIOUS sunshine brought tens of thousands of visitors to the 125th Durham Miners’ Gala on Saturday.
Last year’s Big Meeting attracted 50,000 people and early estimates put this year’s turnout at double that amount.
A Durham Police spokesman said: “The turnout appeared larger than normal, and this was most likely due to the excellent weather.”
He said officers had been busy with several call-outs during late Saturday afternoon and evening, but no major incidents of disorder were reported.
In total police made 13 arrests for minor public order offences.
This year’s gala was of particular significance, as it was the 25th anniversary of the miners’ strike and also the 100th Gala Durham Cathedral service.
Speakers included veteran MP Dennis Skinner, National Union of Mineworkers president Ian Lavery, from Ashington, Northumberland, Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, Ana Margareta Fuertes Elizarde, a Cuban teacher and trade unionist, and Durham MP Roberta Blackman Woods.
Brass bands and colliery banners took up to three hours to snake through the city’s narrow streets to the showground where the sound of the speakers mingled, as usual, with the noise from the funfair.
For the first time a French brass band broke tradition by leading a local banner in the parade.
Called Avenir Musical de Cheminots, from Longueau in the Department of the Somme which is partnered with County Durham, the band led the Shotton Colliery banner. Saturday also saw the 100th Gala service taking place in Durham Cathedral.
Three new banners, Westoe, Boldon, and South Hetton, joined the parade through the city’s streets, which also commemorated two of County Durham’s worst pit disasters; West Stanley in 1909 when 168 men and boys were killed and Easington in 1951, when 83 died. The banners were then blessed in the cathedral by the Bishop of Durham, The Rt Rev Dr Tom Wright.
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