Hundreds gather for Durham Miners' Gala on 40th anniversary of strikes
People lined the streets of the city to give their support to the miners
Last updated 13th Jul 2024
Durham has marked its famed Miners' Gala on the fortieth anniversary of the miners' strikes.
This year's edition of the event marked the 138th year of the so-called "Big Meeting", with the public gathering to mark the occasion on Saturday (July 13th).
The event saw members of various mining groups march through the rainy streets of the city, along with trade unionists.
Many miners also commemorated the miners' strikes of 1984 and 1985, which saw workers down tools in an effort to maintain their livelihoods.
Mines across the country stopped working as a way to maintain their income and keep themselves in work, sustaining their local communities.
Despite their best efforts, within a decade of the strikes, every mine on Durham's coalfield had shut, which left an indelible mark on the local economy.
The moves also affected the area's social fabric, and caused many families to move away from the area in order to find work and better opportunities.
Speakers at the Gala, which was held in Durham city centre, were directly involved in the organisation of the strike, as well as giving support to those on strike in the present day.
The theme of this year's event was "Solidarity Forever", with the Durham Miners' Association ensuring that the solidarity for industrial action has continued for decades, long after the initial strike.
A Blessing of the Banners Service also took place at Durham Cathedral, in a traditional ritual to bless recently made banners of new miners' groups and trade unions.