A personal reflection of the Durham Miners’ Gala, by Sue Reece.
The morn is wor big
Meetin’ Day, The grandest Day of arl,
The Banner lifts a 8 o’clock, Ootside the Miners’ Harl,
Wor lass and bairns ‘ll arl be there, And Granny in her Shawl.
Written in 1953 by an anonymous Durham Miner.
The Pride, the music, the splash of colour and a community coming together to remember and celebrate… the Durham Big Meeting Day has always brought with it a mixture of emotions.
For me it brings back fond memories of watching the bands march past whilst sitting on my Grandad’s shoulders and sharing his sense of pride as we followed them down to “the field” to hear the speeches.
But there is also a touch of sadness that he is no longer here to watch them with me.
They are emotions shared by the 200,000 people who line the streets as we reflect on the past, celebrate the present and hope for a better future.
I feel immensely privileged to have been asked by the Chilton Banner Committee to march with them and lay a wreath on the Miners’ War Memorial as part of Gala Day parade.
Chilton owes its existence to the presence of coal, the men who came to work the seams and their families that created a community.
Although the mine has long since gone, many of those families still live in Chilton and the legacy of their relatives lives on through the cultural practices and stories shared on great occasions, such as Gala Day with the banner, a symbol of solidarity, union and strength.
Brian Turner in his book An Industrial and Social History: Chilton, Windlestone and Rushyford writes: “The banner was something physical to relate to and rally round, it was a boost to their confidence, something they needed plenty of in those days.”
It is with great thanks from the community that the Banner Committee loving cares for the Chilton Banner and raises the money needed to take it and a band to the gala each year.
This year, the sun shone and temperatures soared, as we followed the footsteps of the many before us and made our way into the centre of Durham, stopping to play and dance in front of the balcony of what was the County Hotel before proceeding to the racecourse with the familiar, sights, sounds and smells of stalls, speeches and show rides.
It was made even more special for me to have been joined by my own granddaughter who proudly helped to carry the banner – a memory she too will never forget and I’m sure in years to come will look back with the same emotions I felt on this day.
Sue Reece
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
