15 historic pictures from the Durham Miners Gala when Labour leaders had to attend

Since Keir Hardie became the first leader of the Labour Party to address the gala in 1906, it has been traditional for high ranking Labour politicians to be on the balcony of the Royal County Hotel and then on the stage at the racecourse. However, as the Labour Party began to move away from its trade union roots so leaders of the party became less willing to take a starring role at the gala. The last Labour leader to address the gala was Neil Kinnock in 1989, and although Tony Blair was keen not to be seen on the Durham streets, his deputy leader John Prescott was in evidence in the years before the 1997 election victory.

The Labour connection was revived in 2012 by Ed Miliband and he was followed by Jeremy Corbyn, who received a rapturous reception.

But this year's gala is dedicated to key workers. Key workers are going to be on the balcony and key workers' union leaders are going to speak from the stage. This means that Sir Keir Starmer has not been forced to make a decision about whether, at a time of growing industrial relations tensions, he should attend an event which is so closely tied to trade union history.

From its very beginning, on August 12, 1871, the gala was a show of unity for Durham miners as, under the auspices of their union, the Durham Miners' Association, they came together beneath their banners to press their case for fair pay, better conditions, lower hours and an end to the yearly bond which tied them to an employer for 12 months.

So let's delve into the Echo's photo-archive and look back on some of those famous, even infamous, faces which have graced the gala in the last 70 years.

Labour grandees attend the 1951 gala: left is Herbert Morrison, deputy leader and grandfather of Peter Mandelson, centre is Prime Minister Clement Attlee with his wife, Violet. To her left is Sam Watson, he general secretary of the Durham Miners' Association. Durham Chief Constable Alex Muir is escorting the party to the Racecourse stage to make their speeches. Below: Herbert Morrison addresses the 1951 gala. Far left in the glasses is a young Michael Foot

Hugh Gaitskell, leader of the Labour Party from 1955 to 1963, waves from the County balcony on July 15, 1961

Tony Benn at the racecourse in 1962

The 1964 gala was extremely wet. The rain had abated at the moment when this picture was taken beneath the balcony with Harold Wilson on it, but Tony Benn got a soaking...

...although Harold Wilson and his wife, Mary, managed to stay dry at the racecourse...

Who is this Labour lady? She was on the County balcony for the 1964 gala, but unfortunately the picture in the Echo archive doesn't have her name on it

Another mid-1960s balcony scene, with Jim Callaghan beside Harold Wilson

Denis Healey and Michael Foot on the Royal County balcony in 1981 when they were Labour deputy and leader, with leader-to-be Neil Kinnock a little distracted beside them

NUM leader Arthur Scargill beneath the County balcony in 1984, at the height of the strike. It looks like Neil Kinnock on the balcony?

Labour leader Neil Kinnock attends the 1985 gala - is that Edwina Currie smiling at him second from the right?

John Prescott and his wife, Pauline, at the 1994 gala. Mr Prescott returned in 1995 as deputy leader of “New Labour” which was accused of losing its traditional roots. When he spoke, the crowd passed its verdict by holding up scorecards like judges on Strictly Come Dancing. For “socialist content”, he scored 0, 0, 0 and 0

Labour leader Ed Miliband, carries his son Daniel, aged 3, prior to making his speech in 2012 as the party leadership reconnected with the gala after more than 20 years absence

Jeremy Corbyn provedd very popular in his balcony appearances, with the brass bands having worked out how to play his theme tune, Oh Jeremy Corbyn, and serenading him from beneath