Gearing up for the Gala
BARBARA HODGSON HAS NEWS ON THIS YEAR’S DURHAM MINERS’ GALA
THE countdown is on to Durham Miners’ Gala which will see colourful banners unfurled and colliery bands at the ready for the annual celebration of our mining history.
The hugely popular event, which takes over the streets of Durham, will be back on Saturday, July 14.
Crowds always pack out the city centre to celebrate the Big Meeting which includes the usual processions, traditions and family activities.
And Durham Miners’ Association is urging as many people as possible to turn out this year in support of what is the 134th event.
Each year it is out to be bigger and better and this time visitors can extend the celebration by camping out.
Official Gala camping will be available at Houghal college just a short walk from all the action – and it will provide all the home comforts too.
Hosted by East Durham College, camping will be on offer from July 12-14 and there will be toilets on site as well as free luxury showers.
It’s all about encouraging families to make the most of the event which will be showcasing a packed day of entertainment.
The Gala – unlike a normal trade union march – does not have a start or finish time or even one central location, say organisers.
Instead, it plays out – quite literally – with colliery bands marching though their own Durham villages early in the morning and then arriving in the city from all directions.
The city centre will close to traffic around 7am and the colourful march, with bands and banners, will congregate around the Market Place before setting off for the racecourse about 8.30am.
Other meeting points are the miners’ headquarter at Red Hill, near the railway station, and the New Inn in Church Street Head.
The processions always converge at
the County Hotel at Old Elvet where union leaders, guests and dignitaries are on the balcony to greet them. There’s music then the march carries on to the racecourse where, against a backdrop of banners, speakers take to the platform after the chairman opens the meeting around 1pm.
Spectators will be able to soak up the atmosphere as well as enjoy street theatre during the procession which can take up to three, even four, hours as it passes the County Hotel.
The banners – tapestries capturing the area’s proud working class history – are always the main focal point.
Around five selected bands and banners will then march on, after the speeches, to Durham Cathedral for the traditional Miners’ Service.
Visitors also will be able to enjoy exhibitions and refreshments in marquees as well as a variety of stalls on the riverside where there will be children’s rides too.
A fun fair will be set up in the field overlooking the racecourse and the family-friendly day always takes on a festive air as it progresses. Durham Miners’ Association said on its website: “On the Racecourse, the banners are lifted when the various miners’ lodges decide it is time to go and march back to the County Hotel where they play another tune exuberantly but, sometimes, a little less professionally due to the intoxicating effects of the day’s celebratory atmosphere.” Those keen to join in the fun can park (if they arrive early enough) in the multi-storey car park near the Market Square or at Houghall campus or else make use of three large park-andride car parks. There will be a Gala Day brochure on sale on the day. Those hoping to camp – which costs £20 an evening for adults and £10 for under-16s – can buy tickets at durham-gala-camping.wescantickets.com Supporters are asked to join Friends of Durham Miners’ Gala to help ensure the future of the event. See www.friendsofdurhamminersgala.org/join_us
The banners are lifted when the various miners’ lodges decide it is time to march back Durham Miners’ Association