Durham miners mark 150 years of the Gala

Banners, brass band music, and poetry marked the 150 years to the day since the first Durham Miners Gala.

The first Gala was held in the amphitheatre at Wharton Park on 12 August 1871. Today, the Durham Miners Association (DMA) returned to the site a century and half later to honour the anniversary.

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New film celebrates 150 years of the Durham Miners Gala

2021 is the 150th anniversary year of the Durham Miners' Gala.

First held in 1871, the Gala has been cancelled for the second year running due to the Covid-19 pandemic. To mark the anniversary, the Friends of Durham Miners' Gala release a new short film about the world's greatest celebration of community, solidarity and working-class life.

The Gala is due to return on Saturday 9 July 2022. Help ensure it returns bigger and better than ever before. Join our band of Marras here.

 

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GALA DEDICATED TO KEY WORKERS

 

 

The Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) has announced that next year’s Gala will be dedicated to all our key workers.

The Gala was due to be held today (Saturday 10 July) but was cancelled for the second year running due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year is the 150th anniversary of the first Gala.

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COMMUNITIES ACROSS DURHAM TO CELEBRATE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF MINERS GALA

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Communities across County Durham will come together this summer to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Durham Miners’ Gala.

First held in 1871, the Gala has been cancelled for the second year running due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2021 Gala was due to take place on Saturday 10 July.

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136th Durham Miners' Gala rescheduled for 2022

Following the cancellation of the 2021 Durham Miners' Gala due to the Covid–19 pandemic, the 136th Big Meeting will now take place on Saturday 9 July 2022.

Durham Miners Association (DMA) Secretary Alan Mardghum set out the reasons for this year's cancellation in a letter to Gala partners and stakeholders. The text of the letter is published below.

Following the closure of Durham's collieries, the Gala has been funded by Marras - Friends of Durham Miners' Gala. Without the support of the Marras, the Gala could not happen in any year. Show your support for the Gala and ensure this great event returns bigger and better than ever in 2022.

Join the Marras here.

 

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When Romano Cagnoni photographed the Durham Miners' Gala

In the summer of 1963, the internationally renowned photographer Romano Cagnoni travelled to Durham to capture the Miners' Gala.

Regarded as one of the greatest photographers of the twentieth century, Cagnoni accompanied Harold Wilson as the new Labour leader travelled the country for his “People Matter” campaign.

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A million see online Gala celebrations

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This year’s online celebrations of the Durham Miners’ Gala reached more than one million people.

The 136th Gala was due to take place on Saturday 11 July but was cancelled in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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A Gala Frozen in Time – Michael Chaplin

In the 1950s, the great writer Sid Chaplin flew home to Durham to cover Gala day for Coal magazine. He was accompanied by photographer Harry Smead.

Sid's son, the writer and broadcaster Michael Chaplin, discovered a series of photographs that document Sid and Harry's day in Durham.

Here, Michael writes about that Gala, frozen in time, and asks for your help in solving the mysteries that remain about that day...

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Online celebration of the Durham Miners' Gala

The Durham Miners’ Gala will be celebrated online next month.

The 136th Gala was due to take place in Durham on Saturday 11 July but was cancelled in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The day will now be marked online with a series of new content celebrating the spirit and values of the event.

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Gala 2020 cancelled

The 2020 Durham Miners’ Gala has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis. The Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) took the decision today despite the Gala not being until July.

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