A hand made limited edition art print by an acclaimed British artist celebrating the communities of the Durham Coalfield has been produced for the 2025 Gala. We Are Still Here! by Bob and Roberta Smith celebrates the resilience and solidarity of the former mining communities that are maintaining the union banners more than a generation since the […]

In July we will host the 139th Durham Miners Gala, and we are looking forward to greeting old friends and new from across the county and far beyond. Reform UK, who in the May elections won control of Durham County Council – benefiting from protest votes and a very low (34.8%) turnout – have chosen to […]

A message from the Durham Miners Association, to our coalfield communities as we prepare to go to the polls in the council elections on May 1… There are many within our communities who feel disaffected and abandoned by the current Labour Government. We at the Durham Miners Association (DMA) understand your disappointment. Some people are […]

The Durham Miners Association (DMA) is hosting an event in Seaham to mark International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD). All are welcome to join the DMA on Saturday 26 April at Christ Church, Seaham, SR7 OBH, beginning at 10am. The DMA is joining with a former mining community to remember those who have lost their lives at work or from work-related injury […]

Anne Scargill speaking during the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike Everyone at the Durham Miners Association is deeply saddened to learn that Anne Scargill has passed away. Anne was a founder of Women Against Pit Closures and made an immeasurable contribution in support of the miners throughout and beyond the 1984/85 strike. She earned the respect, admiration […]

The DMA sends the very best of birthday wishes to the great Dennis Skinner. The former coal miner is 93 years old today. Dennis has been a great friend and supporter of the DMA, and a hugely popular figure at the Durham Miners Gala, for more than half a century  DMA Secretary Alan Mardghum said: “Dennis is […]

The DMA has welcomed Durham County Council’s calls for a full independent enquiry into policing at Orgreave during the 1984/85 Miners’ Strike. Striking miners picketing at the Orgreave coking plant in South Yorkshire were subjected to police violence on 18 June 1984. Durham County Council has passed unanimously with cross party support a motion calling […]

Everyone at the DMA is saddened to learn of the passing of union stalwart Ken Capstick. Ken was the former Vice President of the Yorkshire area NUM. He played key roles in the Battle of Saltley Gate in 1972 and the 1984-85 Miners Strike. DMA Secretary Alan Mardghum said: “Ken was a great figure, not only in […]

The official film of the 2024 Durham Miners Gala will premiere online on Thursday 12 December at 7pm. The 138th Gala marked 40 years since the Miners Strike. The theme of ‘Solidarity Forever’ ran through the Gala, with the DMA highlighting the solidarity that sustained the strike and has kept the Gala going in the decades […]

The Durham Miners Association (DMA) has welcomed the increase in pensions for coalminers announced in the budget. After years of campaigning by former miners and organisations including the NUM, the government announced it would hand over the investment reserve fund of the Mineworkers Pension Scheme (MPS) worth £1.5bn. This means 112,000 former coalminers will receive an increase […]