Pictured left to right: Barry Chambers, Lawrence Claughan, Alan Cummings, George Robson  Yesterday, members of the Durham Miners’ Association executive committee joined ex-miners from across the UK, senior Labour MPs and trade unionists on a lively demonstration to demand an inquiry into the events at Orgreave in 1984. We would like to thank the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign […]

Durham miners paid tribute to John Cummings MP who died yesterday after a long fight against cancer. John represented Easington from 1987 until 2010. He was elected with one of the highest majorities of 24,639 and went on to serve the constituency through some of its most turbulent times. John was an NUM-sponsored MP and […]

This year, the sudden and untimely death of Dave Hopper, our general secretary for 31 years, was a huge and tragic shock.  His contribution to the welfare and wellbeing of the Durham miners was enormous and he will be universally missed. The 800 mourners at his funeral are manifest testimony to how he was respected […]

Alan Cummings, Durham Miners’ Association The spirit of Scrooge lives on in the corridors of power as injured miners are refused vital benefit payments. Two former Wearmouth miners – made paraplegic in an underground accident – have been forced them to reapply for their entitlement by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) . The Durham […]

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Derek Graham who died of the miners’ disease, pneumoconiosis, on Saturday 10th December. Derek or ‘Deka’, as he was known to his friends, started work at Bearpark colliery and later moved to Dawdon colliery before taking up employment in a private licensed mine just […]

The Durham Miners’ Association sends Len McCluskey its best wishes in his bid to be returned as General Secretary of UNITE. Len has been a good friend and a staunch supporter of miners and their families over the past 40 years and has spoken at the Durham Miners’ Gala on many occasions. He is a […]

The decision of Home Secretary, Amber Rudd not to hold an inquiry into the criminal actions of the South Yorkshire Police and other police forces present at the Orgreave Coke Works on June 18 1984 is an appalling act of injustice. She glibly asserts: ‘ultimately there were no deaths or wrongful convictions.’  Miners were lured […]

Last week across the country but particularly in Wales we have been thinking of Aberfan and the terrible events that unfolded there fifty years ago. The main emphasis has been on the tragedy of it all and the terribly sad loss of all those children and the implications for their families and friends. In all […]

Dave Hopper was born on April 8 1943, the first son of Timothy and Barbara, in a small colliery house directly opposite the gates of Wearmouth Colliery, Sunderland, where his father worked. His primary education was basic and, at a time when fewer than ten percent of Sunderland’s children were awarded a place at a […]

(Photo: PA) On Friday 29th July, a thousand mourners attended the funeral service of Davey Hopper at the historic Miners’ Hall in Durham. Numerous miners’ banners and trade union banners lined the route and moving tributes were paid to Davey by the speakers, including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.  Fittingly, the DMA brass band played the Miners’ […]