Durham Miners' Gala

The Durham Miners Association (DMA) has welcomed the increase in pensions for coalminers announced in the budget.

After years of campaigning, the government announced it would hand over the investment reserve fund of the Mineworkers Pension Scheme (MPS) worth £1.5bn.

This means 112,000 former coalminers will receive an increase in their pension of 32 percent – and average increase of £29 per week, from November this year.

In 1994, the then Conservative government agreed to guarantee miners pensions, but in return would take 50 percent of its surplus. At the time it was estimated that this would total £1.5bn, but has to date resulted in more than £5bn being taken from the MPS. The investment reserve fund was created from these surpluses.

Campaigners have fought ever since to redress the balance, calling on successive governments to return a greater share of the fund to the miners.

Alan Mardghum, Secretary of the DMA, welcomed this week’s news, but called for more to be done.

He said: “We very much welcome the support the Labour government is giving to miners. It will result in a significant increase that will make a vital difference to many. At the end of the day, this is our money. The miners paid into this fund and this rise will not cost the taxpayer anything.

“There is still more to do. The MPS settlement has been a scandalous injustice dating back to 1994. More of the MPS fund should be paid to the beneficiaries. We will continue working through the NUM to redress the balance of the surplus sharing agreement."

For more information, see link in comments.

Very pleased to let you know that the Durham Miners' Gala has been shortlisted in the North East Culture Awards.

This is welcome recognition of the central role the Gala continues to play in the cultural life of the region, 40 years on from the Miners Strike.

Winners are announced on November 28.

Wonderful to see Durham Cathedral adorned with miners banners from across the coalfield.

The ‘Solidarity Forever’ exhibition of 40 Durham banners opened at the cathedral today to mark 40 years since the strike. Our thanks to everyone at the cathedral and to the banner groups association for this celebration of the continuing solidarity of our mining communities. It runs at the cathedral until November 7.

Here are a selection of the banners on display…

A major exhibition of miners’ banners gets underway at Durham Cathedral tomorrow.

It marks 40 years since the 1984-85 strike, and celebrates the continuing solidarity of the Durham mining communities.

The exhibition features 40 banners and is titled ‘Solidarity Forever’, a labour movement song and slogan popular during the strike. It runs until November 7.

Pictured is the blessing of the new banners for Deaf Hill and Wheatley in the cathedral during this year’s Durham Miners' Gala.

For more information, see comments.

Remembering John Pilger, who was born on this day in 1939.

The great campaigning journalist and filmmaker spoke at the Gala in 2000.

He said: "For me, the Durham Miners' Gala exemplifies the spirit both of a heroic past and a future of limitless possibilities - a spirit that will never be extinguished."

He died on December 30 last year aged 84.

Ellen Wilkinson was born on this day in 1891.

A journalist, activist, trade union organiser, and campaigner for women’s suffrage, she became Labour MP for Middlesbrough East in 1924 and then for Jarrow in 1935, playing a leading role in the Jarrow March. She became Minister of Education in the 1945 Labour Government, dying in office two years later.

Ellen spoke at the Durham Miners' Gala several times in the 1920s and 30s, and her portrait features on the Follonsby Lodge banner.

The extraordinary Annie Besant - writer, socialist, and women’s rights pioneer - was born on this day in 1847.

In 1884, she became the first woman to speak from the platform at the Durham Miners' Gala - six years after making an impromptu speech from the balcony of the County Hotel at the insistence of Durham miners marching below.

Besant was a supporter of the 1888 Matchgirls Strike, and was convicted in 1877 for publishing a book advocating birth control.

A supporter of self rule in the British Empire, she moved to India and was elected President of the Congress Party, which later took power upon independence in 1947. She died in Chennai in 1933.

“Better remain silent, better not even think,” she wrote, “if you are not prepared to act.”

The official Durham Miners' Association 40th anniversary strike badge is now back in stock.

Launched at this year's Big Meeting, the first run completely sold out.

The high quality, detailed pin badge in raised gold metal measures 33mm high, and commemorates the 1984-85 strike.

The cost is just £5 and all proceeds will go to help fund the 139th Durham Miners Gala in 2025.

To order, follow link in comments.

Redhills Durham is sharing some of the work they commissioned around the Gala this week.

Please give them a follow to keep updated on activities like these and also what will be happening at Durham Miners' Hall when it reopens.

A little bit of happy for your Facebook feed this week courtesy of The Live Sketcher

As part of our programming around the Durham Miners' Gala, we commissioned the brilliant Rach to capture some of the day's community and connection elements to share.

Here is - The steps!

The Magdalene Steps, named after a medieval hospice, are known to be the best seat in town to really get into the spirit of the Gala. Busy by 7.30am on Gala morning, you know you're in for a day of being entertained by the bands if you are early enough to get a space.

Have you ever sat there and how long did you stay?

Our platform speakers at the 138th Durham Miners Gala. The thanks of the DMA go to them all for their words of defiance, hope and inspiration.

• Christina McAnea, General Secretary, UNISON
• Ian Lavery MP
• Matt Wrack, General Secretary, FBU
•Mick Whelan, General Secretary, Aslef
• Daniel Kebede, General Secretary, National Education Union
• Adriana Pella, CGT, the national trade union federation in Argentina
• Alan Mardghum, General Secretary, Durham Miners' Association
• Heather Wood, Women Against Pit Closures
• Dr Hanan Ashrawi, via video from Ramallah, Occupied Palestine.
• Chaired by Stephen Guy of the DMA.

Solidarity Forever!

The official Durham Miners' Association 40th anniversary Miners Strike badge was a huge hit at the Big Meeting - we completed sold out on the Gala stall.

A new order has been placed and the badge is available online.

Order now so you don't miss out, but please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

The high quality, detailed pin badge in raised gold metal measures 33mm high, and commemorates the 1984-85 strike.

The cost is just £5 and all proceeds will go to help fund the 139th Durham Miners Gala in 2025.

Order now: www.tc-durhamminers.co.uk

“There are differences inside our movement and as long as they are stated democratically they will do more good than harm. This movement is going to survive as a democracy, not as a bureaucracy” – Nye Bevan, speaking at the Durham Miners' Gala.

He spoke from the Gala platform for the seventh and final time on this day in 1959.

He died ten days before the following year’s Gala, at the age of 62.

Waiting on a sunny day...

An incredible turnout for the speeches despite the awful weather on Saturday.

We thank you all for your support, solidarity, and endurance.

Massive thanks to our incomparable compere Alfie Joey for guiding us through another Gala day with great humour and great craic!

Much appreciated Marra.

What a turnout of Durham miners’ banners on Saturday, despite the rain.

In total, there were 64 DMA banners representing our coalfield communities. They were accompanied by 50 bands.

We were joined by a further 15 NUM banners, with communities travelling to Durham from the coalfields of Staffordshire, Kent, Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Lancashire, North Wales, South Wales, Nottinghamshire and Northumberland.

A wonderful turnout 40 years on from the strike and more than 30 years since the last shift was worked on the Durham coalfield.

It is testament to the strength and resilience of mining communities - and the collective determination that the Gala must keep marching on!

A canny day for a Gala in Durham today!

Massive thanks to the clean up team, who are working to return the Racecourse back to normal.

And thanks to everyone at Durham University for their help and suppprt - and for lending us the site, as they have now each summer for more than 150 years.

Our range of official Gala products were a big hit on the Racecourse on Saturday.

If you missed out on the day, you can still buy now in our online store. See link in comments.

Get your Solidarity Forever t shirts and posters, and the official DMA enamel badge marking 40 years since the strike.

All proceeds go back into funding the Gala.

Solidarity Forever!