The Durham Miners Association will commemorate the leader of the first miners’ trade union. 

The annual Thomas Hepburn Memorial Service will take place at St Mary’s Church, Heworth on Saturday 11 October 2025 beginning at 11am.

Thomas Hepburn spent his life working to improve the lives of miners and their families, and founded the Colliers United of Durham and Northumberland in 1825. He is buried in the churchyard at St Mary’s.

The Durham Miners Association (DMA) is encouraging banner groups and trade unions to attend with their banners and for the public to turn out in numbers in honour of Hepburn.

This year’s memorial address will be delivered by Ian Lavery MP, Member of Parliament for Blyth and Ashington and former President of the National Union of Mineworkers.

Alan Mardghum, Secretary of DMA, said: “Thomas Hepburn dedicated his life to improve the conditions of miners and their families, and is a significant figure in the development of trades unionism in the region.

 It is vitally important that we keep our history alive and that we remember people such as Thomas Hepburn. I urge people to get along and bring their banners and help us ensure a great turn out for Tommy.”

The service will also feature musical guests Trev Gibb and the children’s choir at the nearby XP school, each performing a new song about Thomas Hepburn. The Durham Miners Association Brass Band will play during the service, before performing Gresford, the miners’ hymn, at the graveside. There will be readings from Dave Pike, Regional Secretary for the TUC North East, Yorkshire and Humber, and from the Mayor of Gateshead, Cllr Freda Geddes. 

The 2025 Thomas Hepburn Memorial Service

Saturday 11 October, 11am

St Mary’s Church

Heworth, Gateshead

NE10 0PA

Following the service and laying of wreaths, guests are welcome to join Follonsby Miners Lodge Association for refreshments at:

The Wardley Club, Palmers bank, Sunderland Rd, Wardley, Gateshead, Newcastle NE10 8AU

About Thomas Hepburn

Thomas Hepburn was born in Pelton in 1795. When his father was killed in a pit accident, he began work at Urpeth Colliery to support his family – at the age of eight. He went on to work at Lamb’s Colliery in Fatfield, Jarrow Colliery, then in 1822 at Hetton Colliery. The same year, he became a Primitive Methodist and a lay preacher.

In 1825, he founded ‘The Colliers United Association of Durham and Northumberland’ – the first miners union – and became its leader.
In 1831, the union led a successful strike – winning a reduction in the working day for children under the age of 12 from 18 hours to 12 hours.

Following this, the colliery owners organised to destroy the union and Hepburn and other leaders were blacklisted.
Hepburn remained an active Chartist throughout his life, and dedicated himself to working-class education. He died in 1864 and is buried at St Mary’s Church, Heworth. His portrait features on several Durham Miners’ Association lodge banners. He is pictured (above) on the Sacriston banner.