TENS of thousands of people took to the streets for one of the best attended Durham Miners’ Galas in recent years today (Saturday, July 13).

The 129th edition of Europe’s biggest trade union event enjoyed near wall-to-wall glorious sunshine – so much in fact that many spectators and resting musicians were desperate to find any shade available.

Dozens of brass and pipe bands marched through the city carrying trade union and colliery banners, converging outside the Royal County Hotel to perform for dignitaries watching from a first-floor balcony.

This year, guests on the balcony included Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson, in Durham to promote his Shrewsbury 24 campaign to overturn the convictions of 24 builders – including himself – who were charged following the first ever national building workers’ strike in 1972.

Addressing the crowds, he praised the Gala and said: “Margaret Thatcher destroyed the mines but she never destroyed the miners or their spirit.”

The political message was prominent throughout, with Bob Crow, general secretary of the RTM transport union, saying it was “fantastic” that Lady Thatcher had died and calling on trade unions to abandon the Labour Party to create a new “party of labour”.

Journalist Kevin Maguire disagreed, saying instead of leaving Labour people should “stay and fight”, declaring: “The sun’s out, we’re out – let’s get the nasty Tories out”.

Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said David Cameron thought working people had no right to an opinion and politics was “just for posh people”.

Unite boss Len McCluskey said he wanted to engage with Labour to create a vibrant party, while radical journalist Owen Jones urged listeners to support The People’s Assembly Against Austerity.

Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James died in the Hillsborough tragedy, also spoke from the Durham Racecourse platform and there was the traditional Durham Cathedral service, which included the dedication of new banners from Thrislington, Quarrington Hill, Trimdon Grange and Ox Close Primary School, in Spennymoor.

But for many the day was just about having some fun in the sun. City centre pubs were as packed as the streets.

Superintendent Colin Williamson, the event commander for Durham Constabulary, said the Gala had been an excellent family event and a huge success for Durham.

Visitor numbers had easily topped 50,000, he said, and there had been just one arrest before 5pm.