Durham Miners Gala



When we were Young we'd go and March with the band from the pit to the bus then follow them to durham. The only thing I remember is the big fairground nothing else. Then after we would watch all the bands and the banners marching thru Durham then go home on the bus. Never realised it's just a political gathering at all.

Serious question is there any point to it now ??? There aren't any pits and times have moved on since the union days back then.
 
When we were Young we'd go and March with the band from the pit to the bus then follow them to durham. The only thing I remember is the big fairground nothing else. Then after we would watch all the bands and the banners marching thru Durham then go home on the bus. Never realised it's just a political gathering at all.

Serious question is there any point to it now ??? There aren't any pits and times have moved on since the union days back then.

Its called tradition. Lest we forget.

Iwent to my first one around 1956 and there could be as many as 250k people in Durham on the day. Mostly working class unionists.
 
When we were Young we'd go and March with the band from the pit to the bus then follow them to durham. The only thing I remember is the big fairground nothing else. Then after we would watch all the bands and the banners marching thru Durham then go home on the bus. Never realised it's just a political gathering at all.

Serious question is there any point to it now ??? There aren't any pits and times have moved on since the union days back then.

It isn't exactly. Granted the phrases 'labour movement' and 'socialism' will be mentioned loads, but it in essence can be anything you want it to be.

If your town/village have a banner then it can be just about your community. Even if the pits have long since closed you can still celebrate the tradition and heritage of it all.

Decent article here, in the FT (of all places) about it - https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/a804d2f0-478c-11e7-8d27-59b4dd6296b8 - note the bit where it says that the event is growing in interest despite the fact the miners are slowly dwindling in number.
 
It's lost it's real purpose which was community spirit and togethness

Back in the day was a outing of real purpose and community spirit, dont thing that is the case now.

Don't mean to be disrepectful, but there is simply no point to it now
 
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