A FORMER mining community is staging its own celebration today, when part of its heritage is paraded through the village for the first time in 35 years.
Residents of Greenside, in Gateshead, formed Banner Tales, a group dedicated to preserving the social and mining history of the village.
They have restored the Miners' Lodge banner after raising funds and it will be paraded for the first time since the pit closed.
Banner Tales chairman Jack Graham said: "This will be a very proud moment for local people, myself included. We must not forget the rich heritage of the mining industry, and the sense of community it fostered in villages like Greenside."
Guest of honour will be 96-year-old Billy Furneus, the oldest living miner who worked at Greenside colliery.
The sons of the last NUM Branch Secretary, Jimmy Kelly, will be leading the way.
The parade begins at Rockwood Hill, at 8.30am, where the banner will be blessed by Methodist lay preacher John Carrick, before being taken to the Gala.
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