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 4 History of the Durham Miners’ Gala 5 Durham Miners’ Gala timeline 6 The Gala in pictures 7 Why we do the Gala 8 Communities under strain 10 What the Gala means to us

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.

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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. trade unions. 69 days.

May-June 2013 // HOPE NOT HATE page 6 // Durham Miners’ Gala special The Gala: Why we organise it

DMA General Secretary, Dave Hopper writes:

‘We organise the Durham Durham miners especially the process of building and Miners Gala first and always considered their party, co-ordinating resistance foremost because it is an was hijacked by people who in the spirit of community, important part of the history took the country into wars which is central to the Big and heritage of the people which destroyed the lives of Meeting’s long history. of Durham, a yearly focus of more than 100,000 people, Thatcher and the Tories Durham life for 142 years. left services’ families in grief, may have destroyed our In 1871, the Durham and made the world a more industry but the people of Miners Association held the dangerous place. Durham show the world, in first Gala, or Big Meeting as Thatcher’s policies, which our colourful parade of bands it is known in Durham, as a encouraged the greed of and banners, that we still have show of strength and a drive bankers – and the continuation pride in our communities for union recruitment but of the same policies under and our rich history and are it soon assumed a symbolic Labour – hastened the total prepared to fight to defend character, galvanising our collapse of the banking them from further attack. people into a united body of system for which the poorest We invite you all to join men and women around the are now being made to pay. with us on July 13 to tell principles of trade unionism The economic hardship this uncaring Tory/Liberal and each looking after all. inflicted on communities government that the British These principles have, throughout Britain creates a people are not going to be however, been under attack dangerous situation which is driven back to the poverty for the last 30 years. First, by being exploited by racists and our parents and grandparents a vengeful Tory government fascists. suffered in the 1930s and then by New Labour So the Gala is more vital Depression. Nor are we going which refused to repeal than ever and assumes a new to be dragged into another Thatcher’s vicious anti-trade significance as a focus of war of destruction to solve union legislation. opposition to these attacks. the problems of a system in A Labour Party, which Demonstrations are vital to terminal decay. l

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May-June 2013 // HOPE NOT HATE page 8 // Durham Miners’ Gala special Communities under strain By Paul Meszaros

eindustrialisation and help long even before the creation of Shotton, County Durham, to try to whip is the greatest threat the welfare state. Tight-knit communities up racism and division. and tragedy that can galvanised by common experience and We must remain vigilant and reject befall a working class hard, dangerous work created bonds these groups and their hate-filled ideas Dcommunity. of solidarity. They also created a legacy that are the exact opposite of everything If the reason for a community’s that is both enduring and fragile. These we stand for. Let us also never forget existence is torn from it, what remains values of solidarity, mutual responsibility the mass murders perpetrated by for people left behind and what and brotherhood were created Franco’s fascists against miners and their does the future hold for subsequent inadvertently by an industry that has families in Spain and by Hitler’s Nazis in generations? In extreme cases, now gone. It is thanks to the powerful Lidice, a pit village in Czechoslovakia, communities die completely. Areas that organisations that miners built that these whose postwar rebuilding was entirely have been dependent on one industry values have endured. paid for by Durham, Staffordshire and are particularly jeopardised. The end In many places, we are at a crossroads Cumberland miners. of North East shipbuilding, steel in as our traditional values come under Sheffield and textiles in Bradford, for threat, underlining the importance of the So, which way forward? instance, has left a hole that may never Durham Miners Gala. By sticking together we can defend our be filled. On this great day we celebrate the heritage, not just annually at Durham, Some places are luckier than others legacy, the comradeship and the but by working in communities with in attracting new industries and bigger importance of an industry once so vital our people, re-affirming the rightness of cities can often prove more resilient. But for the nation. But more importantly, our values, especially with the younger what happens to those areas which are generations whose world of work is so completely dependent on one industry? different from their forebears. The economic carnage inflicted on our On this great day we But we will go further. We will not ask, communities is obvious but the damage but demand of our politicians that they and wounds go much deeper. celebrate the legacy, do better. Our communities cannot be Much of our working class culture and the comradeship and left to stagnate and die; the free market identity is shaped by the industry that can go to hell if it cannot deliver for us. involved local people. The decline or the importance of an We need good quality affordable wholesale closure of an industry does industry once so vital for housing – a basic right. We want proper, not just mean economic degradation, well paid jobs – another basic right. We it also threatens to rip the guts out of a the nation want to know that our children have community’s cultural and social being. future, opportunities for meaningful Mining villages and the coalfields training and education. generally have suffered particularly we celebrate our collective values and Never mind Cameron’s ‘Big Society’, as a result of pit closures. Areas and re-affirm our commitment to them. At we need no lectures from him about communities which existed almost solely Durham, we pledge that however fragile building society. We believe in it – for the provision of coal are left bereft they appear, the values which make they don’t. But to achieve it we need and abandoned when pits go. up our notions of solidarity will not investment: real money to be spent in It is testament to generations of disappear. areas that once provided so much but miners and their families that life has The threats to them are real: we are now struggling through no fault of been able to go on. Decades before Tory have seen far-right groups do well in their own. millionaires spouted nonsense about the mining villages in South Yorkshire. The By investing in our communities ‘Big Society’, mining communities had nazi British National Party, which – let through public works and infra-structure – by their own work, self-sacrifice and us never forget ­– sided with Thatcher projects, not only will we be making a solidarity – created the mechanisms to during the Great Strike, has gained votes pledge for future generations, we will be look after people falling on hard times. by pretending to hold our values. The tackling problems of the here and now Miners’ welfare clubs were the living English Defence League has latched onto and undermining the efforts of our fascist embodiment of this, providing support local disputes and tensions, such as in enemies to exploit the situation. l

HOPE NOT HATE // May-June 2013 Durham Miners’ Gala special // page 9 Communities under strain

May-June 2013 // HOPE NOT HATE page 10 // Durham Miners’ Gala special The Gala: What it means to us

The Durham Miners’ Gala has always been Durham Miners’ Gala an important family day for me. is the most important It changed over the years from being an political date in the excited child eager to go to the fair, to a DMA diary. It means teenager enjoying the day with friends such a great deal to and now to a parent enjoying spending me and the many the day as a family with my son. It is an thousands of ex- important day for working class families miners, their families as it is a reminder to all of us that there and communities who are people who want to make changes for support a democratic the working class, and those people come society: a gathering of together each year to try and make sure hope and a vision for those changes happen. years to come, a belief that young people of Corina Moore today will understand miner’s daughter, Sherburn Hill, Durham why we carry our banners high and meet so proudly at the Gala. Derek Sleightholme former miner Washington Glebe Colliery

The Gala never fails to lift my spirits. When I march behind our banner I feel proud of what we have done. Proud of the times my union stood Durham Miners’ Gala is not only up and fought in 1972, 1974 a joyous and colourful spectacle and, of course, the long strike of bands and banners parading of 1984/85. Some people will through the streets of Durham, never have experienced the but a tangible reminder of the feeling of pride in a banner and proud spirit of the former mining in a community the banner communities. Each former colliery represents. There is sadness too. has its own unique banner and When the band plays the miners’ the day culminates with a special hymn Gresford, I think of all Miners’ Service in Durham those miners who perished in Cathedral to honour the lives of explosions and the heartache it miners and their families and the brought to villages. hardships they faced to provide vital Jack McCowliff fuel for the country. ex-miner Wearmouth Colliery and Patricia Simmons Boldon Banner Group Lambton and Houghton Banner Group

HOPE NOT HATE // May-June 2013 Blackhall Banner Group ex-miner Blackhall and Colliery ex-miner Sacriston andSacriston Colliery Restoration Group Barry Chambers Barry Lawrence Claughan daughter andwifeofaminer, Durham Jean Temple back againstwhatthisGovernment todo. istrying together andhelpsustobelieve thatwecanfight are hard bringspeople timesaheadandtheGala nowneed theGala more thanever becausethere there year. every It’s agreat occasionandIthinkwe missed sincethenandnow Imeetmygrandchildren and Icancountononehandhow Ihave manyGalas what weare. rights whichmadeus long struggleforour Durham are andthe of whothepeople music andfunbutpart It wasn’t justadayof way backtothebanner. lost wecouldfindour pictures soifwegot told tomemorisethe on thebannerwewere could read thename up withit. Before we toddlers andwegrew were firsttakentoitas people.Durham We pride andjoy ofmost The Big Meeting isthe in thelast50years. nowimportant thanithasbeen its people. IthinktheGala’s more believe inasocietythatcares for changed ourideas. We still we are stillhere andwehaven’t closed allthepitsinDurham but are our values. Theymayhave because weare sayingthatthese of theyear. It gives youareal lift For me, isthebestday theGala special forme. Iwas16atthetime the Big Meeting soitwillalwaysbe women whomettheirhusbandsat I amoneofthosethousands Bowburn Banner Group Janet Blackburn family. and neighbourliness work, struggle, heritage, hard celebrate people how Durham demonstrates Gala The Miners’ May-June 2013 //HOPENOT HATE Please help us secure the future of the Durham Miners’ Gala Join the Friends of the DMG Society here: www.durhamminers.org Or obtain banker’s order mandate from: Friends of The Durham Miners’ Gala, PO Box 6, Red Hill, Durham. DH1 4BB “HOPE not hate campaign has been extraordinary and incredibly important. I want to thank you all for the hard work that you have done as part of our bigger movement.”y Frances O’Grad General Secretary, TUC

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