News
Camping on sale now for 2018 Durham Miners’ Gala
Organisers of the Durham Miners’ Gala are offering affordable, high-quality camping for this year’s Big Meeting.
Marras – The Friends of Durham Miners’ Gala are offering official camping over three nights, just a short walk from the celebrations. The 134th Durham Miners’ Gala takes place on Saturday, July 14 2018.
More than 200,000 people attended the 2017 Gala, and organisers are expecting an even bigger crowd this year. Camping is limited and people are advised to book early.
The campsite at East Durham College’s Houghall Campus will include free luxury showers and toilets. Accommodation can be booked now for Thursday 12, Friday 13, and Saturday 14 of July. Camping is priced at just £20 per person per night for adults, and £10 for children. There is also a 25 percent discount for Marras.
Grahame Morris MP, chair of the Friends, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer camping as an affordable and high-quality option, so more people can stay in Durham and make the most of this wonderful event. We’re expecting even bigger crowds than last year, and are working to ensure that the 134th Big Meeting is the best yet. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Durham in July, and I urge everyone to become a Marra and support this unique celebration of our working-class heritage.”
The Big Meeting, as it is known, is one of the world’s largest working-class festivals, and celebrations of community spirit, trade union collectivism, and international solidarity.
Proceeds from the camping will go to the Friends of Durham Miners’ Gala, established to fund the Big Meeting. The success and growth of the Gala in recent years means the costs of staging this year’s event have risen significantly. Historically, the Gala was paid for by the working miners of the Durham Coalfield. Now its paid for by Marras.
Camping can be booked now online at durham-gala-camping.wescantickets.com
To support the Gala – and receive a 25 percent discount on camping – become a Marra online now:
Pride: film showing and Q&A with Mike Jackson and Dave Lewis from LGSM
Join Mike Jackson and Dave Lewis from Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) for a screening of ‘Pride’ in the magnificent setting of Redhills: The Miners’ Hall in Durham.
Pride, starring Dominic West, Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton, tells the story of LGSM, the group of lesbian and gay activists who campaigned and raised funds for the miners during the 1984-85 strike.
A talk and Q&A with Mike and Dave will follow the screening of the film that tells their story.
The event will be held at Redhills on Friday, March 2.
Tickets, all priced just £5 each, are on sale now HERE
Proceeds to Marras: Friends of Durham Miners’ Gala.
The screening will begin at 7pm.
Doors open at 6pm.
The event is hosted by Marras – Friends of Durham Miners’ Gala, established to secure the future of the Big Meeting, LGSM, and the Northern TUC.
Become a Marra
Established in 1871, the Durham Miners’ Gala was historically paid for by the working miners of the Durham Coalfield. It is now paid for by Marras: the Friends of the Durham Miners’ Gala.
The success and growth of the Gala in recent years means costs this year will rise by at least £20,000. If you haven’t yet, please consider becoming a Marra – from just £2 a month – to help secure the future of one of the world’s greatest celebrations of community and trade union values.
We’re planning further events and have introduced priority ticket booking as a membership benefit.
Become a Marra here
For more information visit:
Film showing and Q&A with Dennis Skinner MP
We’re delighted to announce that legendary socialist politician Dennis Skinner is coming to Durham for a screening of a new film about his life and career.
The Bolsover MP will be at Redhills: The Miners’ Hall in Durham for a Q&A and screening of Nature of the Beast on Saturday, 2 December.
The veteran Labour MP will be joined at the event by the film’s director Daniel Draper. Proceeds will go to Marras – Friends of Durham Miners’ Gala, the organisation established to secure the future of the annual Big Meeting.
Grahame Morris MP, Chair of the Friends of the Gala, said: “We are delighted and proud that Dennis and Daniel are coming to Redhills for what will be a fantastic event. Dennis has been a great supporter of the Gala for decades. He’s always one of the most popular figures at the Big Meeting and has spoken from the platform on many occasions. Proceeds from the event will go to the Friends of the Gala to help fund the Big Meeting and secure its future. I encourage anyone who is not already a member to sign up today.”
Marras will be hosting events during the year and are introducing priority ticketing as a membership benefit. An allocation of tickets for the Dennis Skinner event will go on sale to initially to members of the Friends of Durham Miners’ Gala on Friday, October 20. Remaining tickets will then go on public sale on Friday, October 27.
Nature of the Beast is a cinematic portrait of the committed socialist and trade unionist who has fought for the rights of the working class for over half a century. The feature-length documentary by film company Shut Out The Light traces his rise to become a political icon, and reveals the man behind the ‘Beast of Bolsover’.
Doors will open at 5.45pm on Saturday, December 2. The screening will begin at 6.30pm and will be followed by the Q&A.
All tickets for the event are priced £10. Friends of Durham Miners’ Gala will be sent an email to access the initial sale.
Tickets will then go on public sale at 10am on Friday, October 27 online at: http://buytickets.at/marrasfriendsofdurhamminersgala/121181
Tickets will also be available in person from: Redhills: The Miners’ Hall, Flass Street, Durham DH1 4BE and at The People’s Bookshop, 70 Saddler St, Saddlers Yard, Durham DH1 3NP.
Jeremy Corbyn’s special message about the Big Meeting
Lots of Support for the Marras at 133rd Big Meeting
Photo: Faduma and Shelly show their support for the Marras
Marras – Friends of the Durham Miners’ Gala was well received at last Saturday’s spectacular Durham Miners’ Gala.
Paul Simpson from the Marras campaign said “We had a fantastic day. It was wonderful to see so many people sign up to become a Friend and talk about how important it was to them to help keep the Big Meeting going for future generations.”
Grahame Morris MP, chair of Friends of Durham Miners Gala said: “It was a truly remarkable day. Terrific turnout, fine speeches and a great sense of solidarity and friendship.”
Please support one of the world’s greatest working class festivals by joining today.
Massive donation to the Gala in memory of the ‘bairns’ of Aberfan.
The son of a Durham miner, who wishes to remain anonymous, has donated a massive £5,000 to Friends of the Durham Miners’ Gala to help ensure that the Gala continues.
Attached to the donation was this heartfelt dedication:
• In memory of the bairns of Aberfan and of all those killed and maimed by capitalism’s greed and need for coal.
• In memory of all those miners and their families, especially in Durham who have always fought so hard for their dignity, their industry, their union and their communities.
• In memory of all those pitmen who travelled to distant Spain to fight against fascism during the Spanish Civil War.
Long live the ”Enemy Within”!
Tony Benn Film Showing in Durham Cathedral Raises Funds for the Gala
A film showing of the critically acclaimed Tony Benn: Will and Testament hosted by Durham Cathedral last year has raised £2,000 for the Durham Miners’ Gala.
Durham Miners’ Association Secretary Dave Hopper said: ‘The Durham Miners’ Association is delighted to receive this generous donation of £2,000 from Durham Cathedral. It will be used to help ensure the future of the Durham Miners’ Gala.
‘For over 100 years the cathedral has played a pivotal role on Gala Day, hosting the Miners Commemorative Service, which attracts thousands each year and adds so much to the success of the day.
‘It has been a pleasure for us to collaborate with the cathedral staff on a number of projects over the years and we look forward to our continued association.’
Director of the documentary Skip Kite said: “We wanted to screen the film in Durham Cathedral because it played such an important part in Tony’s life through the Miners’ Gala – the film even includes footage of Tony processing through the Cathedral on one of those famous Gala days.
“It is wonderful to think that the meony from this event will go towards ensuring the Durham Miners’ Gala can enjoy a bright future, because I have no doubt that Tony would have been supporting the DMA and its Gala had he still been alive.”
Well done Darren!
Congratulations and a massive thank you to Darren Meadows from Horden in County Durham who completed the Great North Run in 2 hours 45 minutes this weekend to raise funds for the Durham Miners’ Gala.
Darren said: ”The Big Meeting means a lot to me. I’ve been going every year since I was very young. My grandad worked at Horden Pit and it was the greatest honour of my life for me to march in with Horden banner this year. I decided to do the Great North Run for the first time because I wanted to do my bit to support the Gala and keep my heritage alive.”
So far, Darren has raised over £1,000 for the Big Meeting!
Please donate here: www.gofundme.com/darrenmeadowGNR
Durham Miners’ Gala: A ‘record’ 150,000 cram into city as they celebrate area’s coal-mining heritage
Reproduced from an article in the Daily Mirror by Jon Livesey, 11th July 2015 – You can view the original here
The biggest trade union event in Europe, Durham Miners’ Gala saw people lining the streets, marching, waving banners, singing and dancing
A staggering – and most likely record-breaking – 150,000 people paraded through a city centre as part of the annual Durham Miners’ Gala this morning.
With the sun shining in the North East, by 8am the streets were lined with people waving and cheering ahead of the event, known as the Big Meeting.
As bands made their way to the Racecourse, mining banners from former collieries across the region were carried and displayed with pride.
Those represented included East Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside, while unions, NASUWT and GMB, also put their colours on show.
The event was given a dash on added glamour by Turner Prize-winning transvestite, Grayson Perry, who was there as part of a documentary about masculinity.
He joined the march, walking with the Trimdon Grange Banner.
Durham Miners’ Gala is the biggest trade union event in Europe, and this year it attracted factions from as far afield as Cuba and Venezuela.
Former Easington miner, Billy Huitson, 89, helped give the event an air of authenticity as he dressed as a pitman, entertaining the crowds with his singing and dancing.
Speakers included NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates, Fire Brigades’ Union general secretary Matt Wrack, and train drivers’ union, ASLEF president, Tosh McDonald.
As always, a traditional blessing of the banners service takes place in Durham Cathedral.