The DMA will be represented at the funeral of Nottinghamshire miners leader Ray Chadburn. After working at Welbeck Colliery, Ray served as the President of the NUM Notts Area from 1977 until his retirement in 1989. Together with Henry Richardson, who we lost in 2020, Ray ran the union through the most difficult of times, remaining […]
Author: DMA
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 […]
The funeral and wake for Dave Temple will take place on the afternoon of Tuesday 7 October. A service at Durham Crematorium will begin at 1.30pm, followed by a wake at Redhills – Durham Miners Hall. All are welcome. If you are unable to attend the funeral at Durham Crematorium in person, a link can be provided to enable you […]
The Durham Miners Association (DMA) supports Allen Young for re-election as the Mineworkers Pension Scheme (MPS) trustee to represent the members in our region. Allen, who worked as a coal miner for almost 20 years, working Murton and Westoe collieries, has received the unanimous backing of the DMA executive who urge members in our region to give […]
The Durham Miners Association (DMA) welcomes the announcement of an inquiry into the events at Orgreave on 18 June 1984. The DMA thanks everyone at the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign and all those who have worked so hard for so many years to get us to this point. It is time for all of the facts […]
“Put your tokens in. You did your stint.” Everyone at the DMA is saddened to learn of the passing of Tot Holyoak. Among the longest lived of Durham miners, Tot passed away aged 101 years old. Albert Holyoak – affectionally known at ‘Tot’ – worked at Wearmouth Colliery from the age of 14 in 1938 until […]
The Durham Miners Association presents a great line up of performances and activities on the Racecourse throughout Gala day. The 139th Durham Miners Gala takes place on Saturday 12 July. Read on for details about our 2025 performers and activities and our incomparable compere… Alfie Joey – Compere Alfie Joey will compere the main stage […]
The hugely popular Miners Festival Service at Durham Cathedral will return this weekend as part of the Durham Miners’ Gala. The service, which takes place at 3pm, has been part of every Gala since 1897. Tens of thousands of people are preparing to gather in Durham City on Saturday 12 July 2025 for the 139th Miners’ Gala, with […]
The platform speakers for the 2025 Durham Miners Gala have been confirmed. Hosted by the Durham Miners Association (DMA), the 139th Gala takes place on Saturday 12 July. Jeremy Corbyn returns to the Gala platform, joining Palestinian Ambassador Husam Zomlot, who has already been announced as a speaker. They are joined by trade union general secretaries Sharon Graham of Unite, Eddie Dempsey of RMT and Matt […]
At the 139th Durham Miners’ Gala on Saturday 12 July, Ambassador Dr Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestine Mission to the UK, will join the platform speakers, and we will use the occasion to voice our solidarity with the Palestinian people in the face of genocide. We do not use the word “genocide” lightly. Genocide is defined in international law […]