Remembering 'forgotten' miners' gala 100 years on

One hundred years ago, the miner's gala ventured outside Durham to a village seven miles (11 km) away - for the first and only time in the event's history.

About 40,000 people descended on the village of Burnhope in July 1926 - including Miners' Federation secretary AJ Cook - after the gala could not take place in the city, with miners locked out of their pits because of the general strike.

The "forgotten gala's" centenery is being marked this weekend as part of efforts to celebrate and preserve the village's heritage.

"The forgotten gala needs to be remembered 100 years on," said resident Cindy Brockington, who has been involved in organising the event.

"We have a lot of 90-year-olds and 80-year-olds who have learnt things passed down by their families, but it's been less passed on to their children and their children," she said.

"We consider that this needed to be caught in time, before it was lost."

Back in 1926, Brockington said thousands of people flocked to the village with just a week's notice after Burnhope's mining community made the decision to host the gala locally.

"The miners in Burnhope said, 'wait a minute we're not going to have this completely cancelled - we'll hold it here' - in this tiny, upland village.

"And 40,000 people with banners and bands descended upon the village," the 70-year-old explained.

It was one of the most significant gatherings Burnhope has ever witnessed.

Brockington said AJ Cook - who remains known for the phrase "Not a penny off the pay, not a second on the day" - was "smuggled" into the village on a farmer's cart.

He spoke at the event for about 90 minutes.

This centenery celebration will be one of the biggest of its kind since an event in 1986, attended by Arthur Scargill.

"People can remember it - one lady said to me that it was the best day of her childhood," Brockington said.

A significant feature this year is the return of the Burnhope Miners' Banner.

It was painted in 2012 on the final piece of 1950 jacquard‑weave pink Tuthill silk and has been marched at the Durham Miners' Gala every year.

Over time it became too fragile to parade safely and, following temporary repairs in 2019, funds were raised to restore it properly for the forthcoming centenary.

Janice Ross, from organisers Burnhope Partnership, said volunteers with ages ranging from 10 to 90 had helped put together the event this weekend.

"The community's as important as ever in Burnhope and lots of other North East villages," she said.

"That community bonding is still there."

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