AN annual service to honour the leader of the first mining trade union will be held this weekend.
The Thomas Hepburn Memorial Service will be held in St Mary’s Church, in Heworth, Gateshead at 11am on Saturday.
Neil Findlay, Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Lothians, will lead the service.
A pupil from the Thomas Hepburn Community School will read a lesson, and children from Lingey Lane Primary School will perform a song at Mr Hepburn’s graveside.
The service will also feature the Durham Miners Association Band, who will play the Miner’s Hymn, Gresford, prior to the laying of the wreath.
Thomas Hepburn founded the Northumberland and Durham Pitman’s Union in 1825 until it was broken by the coal owners in 1832.
Although he was forbidden to partake in trade union activities after 1832, Mr Hepburn dedicated his life to the education of miners, and achieved shorter working hours for mine workers before his death in 1864.
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