DURHAM Miners’ GALA a celebration of trade unionism and community spirit Sponsored by the GMB Providing a positive antidote to hate and intolerance H PE Proud to support the Durham Miners’ Gala not hate www.hopenothate.org.uk Contents Introduction: Kevin Maguire, 3 Associate editor, The Mirror History of the Durham Miners’ Gala 4 Durham Miners’ Gala timeline 5 The Gala in pictures 6 Why we do the Gala 7 Communities under strain 8 What the Gala means to us 10 HOPE not hate and the Durham Miner’s Gala would like to thank the GMB for their support Durham Miners’ Gala special // page 3 Durham Miners’ Gala A time to celebrate, a time to remember Kevin Maguire, Associate Editor of the Daily Mirror and friend of HOPE not hate Every pit village in the Durham Lawther captured a spirit of mining At the Stadium of Light we cheer Benin’s coalfield has a tribute to the miners communities which endures long after Stephane Sessegnon. Up the road at who lost their lives fighting fascism. the mines have gone. It is a potent mix St James’ Park the roar is for Senegal’s Their names are on cenotaphs, listed of self-help and co-operation, extending Papiss Cisse. But we must beware those alongside all those other brave souls the hand of friendship to live and who would divide and destroy, the evil who fell saving Britain from Hitler and work together. As the son of a Durham racists who preach prejudice and plot Mussolini during the Second World War. miner – and my brother was working at to turn neighbour against neighbour. So many colliers put down picks and Westoe Colliery in South Shields when There’s nothing British about the shovels to pick up rifles, joining in their the Tories shut it in an unforgivable act intolerant BNP. The violent hooligans of droves the Durham Light Infantry in of industrial and social vandalism – I the misnamed English Defence League, particular, the government was forced to love how we in the hard-hit North East terrifying good people. The nasty wing of stop them leaving the Durham mines in still take great pride in our friendly UKIP bring shame on the nation. 1941 because coal was needed to fuel the reputation. The Durham Miners’ Association looks war effort. Maybe it’s because we’re a meld of so outwards not inwards. The honour of Then, at the end of 1943, mining many peoples. The Romans came and addressing the Gala includes guests from conscription was introduced to send were this side of Hadrian’s Wall. The as far away as Australia. Towards the end so-called Bevin Boys down the pits. Danes, Norsemen and Vikings left their of the abhorrent apartheid era in South The patriotism of the Durham miners heritage in family names and places. Africa, when the majority black population was legendary. For an entire year, each William the Conqueror’s lot from France was treated like slaves and denied the donated a penny a week from their built the magnificent Norman Cathedral vote, a delegation of South African miners wages to buy a couple of Spitfires to atop a hill in Durham City, a gift from were invited to spend three weeks with the shoot down Luftwaffe bombers. The Europe and a beacon to the world. The families of Durham pitmen. spirit of the time was captured at the Irish migrated to Durham in their tens It was the first time the black South final Durham Miners’ Gala before of thousands. My home town of South Africans had socialised with white the 1939-45 struggle against the Shields has a Yemeni community dating people. And the first time they had seen authoritarian nationalism of fascism, back to the late 19th century. white people doing manual labour. They an evil creed of racism at the end of a I was an excited schoolboy in 1977 were treated like brothers and sisters. In jackboot. Will Lawther, President of the when Muhammad Ali, heavyweight 2004, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, champion of the world, visited the local the end of apartheid, Lindiwe Mabuza, who’d briefly been Labour MP for mosque for his wedding to be blessed. South Africa’s High Commissioner in Barnard Castle, told the Big Meeting: The Poles who come to the area today London, spoke at the Big Meeting and “To us, fascism means the end of all our follow in the footsteps of Polish miners brought an Anglo Gold Choir which hopes and aspirations. Therefore, the who worked in the pits after the Second wowed the crowds on the racecourse miners call upon their brother miners World War. We’ve embraced the best and outside the County Hotel. the world over for unity in that fight to food and football the world has to offer. Macho men were reduced to tears. overcome the common foe.” Indian and Chinese takeaways and Let’s enjoy this July’s Gala together and The Hope not Hate expressed by restaurants are popular. make the future one of HOPE not hate. May-June 2013 // HOPE NOT HATE page 4 // Durham Miners’ Gala special Durham’s Big Meeting The Durham Miners’ Gala, affectionately been destroyed by the Thatcher government, none known as the ‘Durham Big Meeting’, is the UK’s remain. The Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) oldest (first held in 1871) and largest annual has, nevertheless, ensured the Gala is still a central demonstration of working class culture, rallying point for those wanting a better, more equal community and politics. society, Held every July in the heart of Durham, it is The event plays host to Labour and trade union attended by more than 100,000 people celebrating leaders as well as guests involved in workers’ Durham’s coal mining heritage and the historic struggles internationally. In 2012, two Spanish strength of trade unionism and community spirit in striking miners addressed the rally to a rapturous the Durham coalfield. reception. In 1945, there were over 100 collieries and 112,000 HOPE not hate fully supports the DMA’s ongoing miners in Durham but now, the industry having campaign to guarantee the Gala’s future. The Gala: historical highlights 12 AUGUST 1871 Early 1920s 1932 1937 First Gala. Miner’s banners Gala held in depressed times Professor Miners’ leader featuring Marx following financial crash and Harold Laski William Crawford, and Lenin Ramsay McDonald’s decision denounces Nazi addressed the appear in to desert the Labour Party. sympathiser and crowd, behind him the banner of the Durham 70,000 Durham miners now brutal Durham Thornley Colliery. coalfield. unemployed. coal owner Lord Londonderry. 1926 GENERAL STRIKE 1892 1912 No Gala as Year of the Durham First ever Durham miners Lockout. Wages slashed national hold out till by 10%. Durham miners’ strike November, having miners’ leaders seek for a national been on strike at mandate to fight for the minimum many pits for 14 eight-hour day. wage. months. Byers Green striking miners 1926 1905 1925 1938 First Independent Miners’ leader AJ Cook declares: DMA Labour MP “Not a penny off the pay, not a minute announces Keir Hardie on on the day” replying to government it has sent the speakers’ demands for wage cuts and extended £15,000 platform. working hours. The Dean of Durham (£840,000 1921 and 1922 almost thrown in the River Wear by in today’s No Gala after the 1921 angry miners 1934 terms!) to national dispute in which 1928 Jarrow MP help widows 1884 miners were locked Communist Ellen Wilkinson and children Women’s rights out for three months, MP Shapurji warns the of the 3,000 activist Annie fighting wage cuts, Saklatvala Gala of the Spanish Besant is the after being betrayed, on the first black fascist danger, colliers first woman to “Black Friday” by railway person to slamming it as slaughtered be invited to and transport workers’ grace the Gala “capitalism’s by Franco’s speak. union leaders. platform. last big trick”. fascist troops. HOPE NOT HATE // May-June 2013 Durham Miners’ Gala special // page 5 The Gala lives! 1959 1975 1984-1985 National Health Gala celebrates Great strike against pit Service founder victory of 1974 closures and for collieries, and ex-Welsh miner strike and jobs, communities and Aneurin Bevan return of Labour union – the most bitter speaks, terminally ill, Government. conflict in miners’ history. at the ‘Big Meeting’ for the last time. 1939 1968 Miners’s hymn Gresford – Labour PM Harold commemorating 1934 disaster Wilson greeted at Gresford Colliery in North with cries of 1993 Wales in which 265 men “Labour traitor” No more working were killed in underground after National Coal collieries in the explosion – played by Board shuts 60 once great Durham massed brass bands. Durham pits. coalfield. Photo: MuseumWales 1946 1961 1983 1994 to present 250,000 attend to hear Tanfield NUM Lodge New NUM DMA fights to keep Labour leader and PM brings US Air Force president Arthur Gala going. More Clement Attlee announce band to entertain Scargill warns revived banners nationalisation of the the Gala crowds of Tory plans every year. Now mines … but beer with American for savage pit regularly attended in short supply. razzamatazz. closures. by over 100,000 who have jubilantly 1986 greeted events from 1972 Gala takes place the dismantling Durham miners after strike defeat of apartheid to celebrate victory with new DMA the remarkable over Tory Heath leaders Dave Hopper 2010 rescue of government in bitter and Dave Guy and 32 Chilean copper seven-week strike opened up to other miners trapped for for higher wages.