Durham Big Meeting, has grown in strength in recent years (From The Northern Echo)

Durham Big Meeting, has grown in strength in recent years

9:08am Monday 12th July 2010 in Durham City News By Mark Tallentire

TENS of thousands of people filled Durham’s historic streets on Saturday for the 126th Miners’ Gala.

Heritage mixed with harmonies and high politics as the weather largely stayed fine for what has long been one of the stand-out dates in many diaries.

Despite the pit closures and many of the region’s brass bands struggling for players, the Gala, also known as the Durham Big Meeting, has grown in strength in recent years.

This year, more than 70 banners – from mining and other industries – were paraded through the city, led by more than 40 bands from across the North.

Musicians performed outside the Royal County Hotel for dignitaries listening on the balcony above, before continuing through to the Racecourse.

Banners from Usworth, Eldon Drift, Sacriston and Chilton left the field early to be blessed in the Miners’ Festival Service in Durham Cathedral.

The 126th Gala had a distinctly international flavour, with acts from across the world joining in the music-making, as part of Brass: Durham International Festival 2010.

Les Vilains Chicots, Magicaboola Brass Band and the Drevenack Youth Brass Orchestra were among the visitors from overseas.

Meanwhile, left-wing politics dominated the field, with former Mayor of London “Red” Ken Livingstone, the main speaker, criticising British governments for being the “lapdog” of the US, and urging the formation of a new world, with the emerging powers.

The 65-year-old, who has also served as a Labour MP and hopes to win the party’s 2012 mayoral nomination, told the crowds: “It’s a real pleasure to come to the Durham Miners’ Gala because when I watched those bands and those banners marching through the town, I realised it celebrates more than just the tradition of the Labour movement – it celebrates the culture of the working class of this country.

“The world is changing. We have lived through a hundred years of global domination by America, where all the terms of trade were rigged to their benefit and we have been their little lapdog.

We need to forge a new world, with the new emerging powers – the powers out of Asia, Latin America and Africa.”

Dave Hopper, secretary of Gala organisers the Durham Miners’ Association (DMA), said: “It’s not a new leader we (the Labour Party) need – it’s a new direction that’s needed.

“One hundred years ago, almost to the day, the Labour Party was formed, and it was formed by the trade unions.

“Today, when you watch a programme on TV where there’s a Liberal, a Tory and a Labour supporter, it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate between them.

“I don’t know what would happen if the likes of Keir Hardie or AJ Cook and the other leaders came back. They wouldn’t know who to support or who to favour.

“We’ve got to get back to real Labour values.”

Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn and Chris Baugh, assistant general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, also addressed the crowds, many of whom wore T-shirts bearing slogans including “Coal not dole”.

After years of having invitations to the Labour leadership turned down, the DMA did not invite current acting leader Harriet Harman.

However, the Gala heard that leadership hopefuls Ed and David Miliband had promised to attend in future if appointed.