Everyone at the DMA was saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Melvin. The former miner was a tireless and inspirational campaigner for his community and one of the greatest champions of the Durham Miners Gala. Born in 1944, Bob worked at Herrington Pit from the age of 15 until his retirement in the […]
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The Durham Miners Association (DMA) will continue its programme of community advice surgeries in Dawdon on Friday 3 February. Following the closure of the collieries, the DMA continued its work providing a range of services for its beneficial members, including compensation claims, benefit information, tribunal representation and legal advice. The DMA is now taking advice surgeries into the communities. Officials will be present […]
The Durham Miners Association (DMA) is beginning a new programme of advice surgeries in coalfield communities. The first will take place in Sacriston on Friday 2 December. Following the closure of the collieries, the DMA continued its work providing a range of services for its beneficial members, including compensation claims, benefit information, tribunal representation and legal advice. The DMA is now […]
The official film of the 2022 Durham Miners Gala will premiere on Sunday evening (20 November 2022). After a three-year absence due to Covid 19, the Gala returned in style. It was the biggest Big Meeting in decades – and film crews were there to capture it all. More than 200,000 people packed the streets […]
A memorial service for the victims of mining disasters at Seaham Colliery will take place on Saturday 29 October 2022. The disaster of 1880 in which 164 men and boys were killed followed that of 1871 when 26 lives were lost. Organised by the Seaham, Dawdon and Vane Tempest Banner Group, the service will take […]
The Durham Miners Association will commemorate the great Thomas Hepburn, leader of the first miners’ trade union. The annual Thomas Hepburn Memorial Service will take place at St Mary’s Church, Heworth Saturday 15 October beginning at 11am. This year’s address will be given by DMA Chair Stephen Guy, and there will be readings from Gateshead […]
A new film of the extraordinary poem ‘Durham Beatitude’ by William (Bill) Martin created for the return of the Durham Miners Gala and shown for the first time on the giant screen at the 2022 Big Meeting. The poem mourns the victims of the 1951 Easington Disaster. The moving and powerful film combines its words, spoken […]
This year’s Durham Miners Gala is set to be the biggest of modern times, with more banners and brass bands taking part than at any time since before the Miners’ Strike. Huge crowds are expected when the Gala returns this Saturday (July 9) after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid 19 pandemic. More than 50 Durham miners’ […]
A nurse and a postal worker will top the list of speakers at this Saturday’s Durham Miners Gala. The Gala returns after two years and is dedicated to all the keyworkers who risked their lives to keep society functioning during the Covid -19 pandemic. Key workers nominated by their trade unions will be the guests […]
Details of the cathedral service during this year’s Durham Miners Gala have been confirmed. Tens of thousands of people are preparing to gather in Durham City for the Durham Miners Gala on Saturday 9 July, which returns after a two year absence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hugely popular Miners Festival Service at Durham Cathedral has been part of […]