MICK CUNNINGHAM'S letter about the Durham Miners Gala was a hypocritical rant (HAS, June 24).

As a small boy, coming from a mining family background, I also ended up working in the coal mines from 15 years old. I'm proud of what I did.

The Miners Gala is a proud day for all ex-mining communities and an upstanding event for the youth of today to remember their past heritage .

Yes, there are people who use the gala for a good booze up, which has always been a tradition, but there are people who treat the gala as a non- political event to listen to the brass bands, have a picnic and sit reminisce about the years gone by.

The business people in Durham enjoy a good turn-over from the thousands of people who attend.

And Mr Cunningham I walk proudly with our village's band and banner with my head held high along with thousands more fellow miners on this day.

So don't scoff at the North-East's working class who attend the gala.

May it carry on for many more years to come.

R Robinson,

Coxhoe.