ONE of the Big Meeting's firmest friends has been immortalised on an banner.
Tony Benn, who is among today's speakers, is featured on a new version of the Blackhall Lodge banner.
The Labour MP has spoken at several galas and is regarded as one of the event's staunchest supporters.
He appears on the banner alongside socialist heroes Keir Hardie, founder of the Labour Party, revered miners' leader AJ Cook, and Aneurin Bevan, father of the NHS who are featured on the original.
"We added Tony Benn to the new banner because he is a man who has stood by the miners over the years," said Barry Chambers, chairman of the village's banner committee.
Blackhall's original banner is now considered too fragile to appear at the gala and is kept in a glass case at Blackhall Community Centre.
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