FILM and television actor Alun Armstrong has returned to his native North-East as part of campaign to support the Big Meeting.

The 68-year-old son of a pitman from Annfield Plain, near Stanley, spoke today (Thursday, July 9) at the launch of ‘Marras’, the fundraising call by the Friends of Durham Miners’ Gala.

He gave a passionate speech at Durham Town Hall about growing up in a mining community and what the event means to him.

Mr Armstrong said: “Because our society has become more fractured and we have grown further apart from each other, people have come to realise what has been lost and this gala celebrates those very qualities of community, togetherness and the bond people had when there was a coal industry.”

The Friends of Durham Miners’ Gala has also gained support for its campaign from other well known figures including actor Ricky Tomlinson, MP Dennis Skinner, author Owen Jones and journalist Kevin Maguire.

Mr Armstrong said he is looking forward to attending the 131st gala the city with his wife on Saturday.

He said: “It means a lot to me. It is a celebration of my background and the values that I grew up with and still hold, of my political affiliations and the aspirations for the future that I share with people who are still living in mining communities.”

The Friends’ group has developed an online and social media membership service to allow supporters to contribute to the cost of staging the annual brass band and banner parade through the city, which culminates with political speeches on the Racecourse.

Further details are available via www.friendsofdurhamminersgala.org