TRIBUTES have been paid to a County Durham man who was passionate about preserving his town’s mining heritage.

Fred Smith, who died aged 86 on Saturday January 10, was known locally as ‘the man who pinched the miners’ banner’ in 1964.

Bosses at the struggling Crook Colliery decided that year they couldn’t afford the transport and band to take part in Durham Miners’ Gala.

Mr Smith, of Grasmere Grove, in Crook, was the ringleader of ten men who flouted the ruling and took the banner to the gala on the bus.

They were hauled in the next day for a disciplinary but bosses ending up praising the group for representing the pit, known as The Hole In The Wall, at the parade.

Mr Smith’s niece, Brenda Smith, is a member of the Crook and District Local History Society.

She said the miner’s gala was an important occasion.

“Many of the men thought it was a shame this was the first time since the lodge was formed that they would miss it,” she said.

“They had a sense of pride in their pit. If your colliery was not represented at the gala it would have been horrible.

“Although the banner wasn’t valuable in the monetary sense it was quite a big thing though because you didn’t just nick the banner.”

Crook Colliery, which had over 300 men on the payroll at its height, would close later the same year.

Known locally as ‘the banner man’ Mr Smith became a custodian of the Crook miner’s banner and has been instrumental in preserving it for future generations.

“He became known as the man who pinched the banner but he was just so passionate about it,” added Ms Smith.

“He was proud of being a miner and wanted kids today to know what their grandfathers and great grandfathers did and the heritage they have.”

Wear Valley District Council have commissioned a replica of the banner to preserve the condition of the original which will be finished in March.

Mr Smith, who later worked for Wear Valley District Council, was also Crook Colliery’s union secretary.

One of his achievements was striking a deal with taxi firms who acted as an on call ambulance for injured miners.