Marching down Elvert, Durham
County Hotel, Durham
Big Wigs on Durham Racecourse
Durham Big Meeting 11th July 2010
Every second Saturday in July is Durham Miners Gala or the Big Meeting as its known. I have been told that I’ve been before but I was little and don’t remember. I was carried on my dad’s shoulders above the crowd, left on a wall with an ice cream for a bit, then picked up again and carried some more. My dad’s getting on a bit now (80 in October) so not able to put me on his shoulders for as long these days, but I didn’t moan too much and just walked.
COLLIERY BANNERS
There are no mines any more but the pit villages of the north east still maintain the tradition of coming together for this day. They still have their colliery banners which are paraded through the City of Durham past the County Hotel, for the dignitaries to see, with their brass band accompanying them on the march past.
AN IMPORTANT DAY OUT
It’s a rousing sight and hundred of people come to Durham to watch them march. The traffic stops and the police are in charge of guiding each colliery band and banner through the streets finishing at Durham Race Course. Some are there for the day out with their family. Some are there to drink beer. Some are there to help carry the banner, an honour. Some are there to play in the brass band. Some are there because they are ex-miners and proud. Some are there to support their union and some are there because they just always go.
It really doesn’t matter why because it’s a grand day out.
POLITICAL EVENT
It’s a working mans event. If I was going to be political about it I would have to say it’s a left wing socialist event. The Socialist Worker and the Morning Star were on sale and the editors of those papers were on the stage. There was also Mrs Arthur Scargill the ex-leader of the mine workers union and Ken Livingston (Red Ken to his mates) was the keynote speaker. The words ‘brothers and sisters’, comrades and ‘suffering of the poorest in our society’ were banded around quite a lot. It was an opportunity to criticize David Cameron’s new austerity measures and generally have a pop, unchallenged, about the new coalition government.
In the meantime during these highly charged political speeches the fare ground continued to play its music, people continued to picnic on the grass and the banners and bands rested around the edges of the field. Whatever their reason for turning up didn’t matter, they were all having a great time.
Here is a poem written by my dad about the event.
Durham Big Meeting
By Bert Draycott W.C.S.P.
Banners bands and people
Filling every street
On the second Saturday in July
When the Durham miners meet
The city traffic stops that day
Everyone goes on foot
And the pubs are open all day log
It’s true, they never shut
Every colliery village sends a banner and a band
To march and play in Durham streets
The sight is really grand
Just banner after banner, down
Elvet and past the jail
Banners bellowing in the breeze
Like galleons in full sail
When Fishburn (my banner) comes along
Your chest sticks out with pride
And you step off from the pavement
And march along beside
With the bairn sat up on your shoulders
And your work mates from the pit
While the band plays The Blaydon Races
Or one of the latest hits.
Hey- you’ve never seen as many shows
In all your life
No wonder every pitman goes, and takes
The bairns and wife
You can see the tattooed lady, shuggy boats
And bumper cars
Flying chairs and a boxing booth
And in there you might see stars
Then you’ll meet old friend and stand and crack
And then go on your way
And hope to see them all again
On Durham Big Meeting Day.
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