138th Durham Miners Gala

July 15, 2024

This year is also the 40th anniversary of the miners strike and the battle of Orgreave and today is the 138th Durham Miners Gala.

In June Labour pledged they would hold an enquiry into what happened. Labour’s election manifesto promised “to ensure, through an investigation or inquiry, that the truth about the events at Orgreave comes to light”. Given the fact that Starmer has a track record of breaking promises and looking after the interests of the establishment, pressure needs to be maintained to achieve justice for the miners. It’s the first week of a Labour government and the signs are not good for the working class. The government seems more concerned with building armaments, maintaining austerity and continuing the privatisation of the NHS.

The annual Durham Miners’ Gala is a unique and inspiring spectacle. It is Europe’s biggest celebration of community, international solidarity, and working class culture. More than 200,000 people pack the streets of Durham to enjoy the sights and sounds of The Big Meeting. Hosted by the Durham Miners’ Association since 1871, the Big Meeting is a vibrant carnival of hope and unity. It is a living expression of the Durham Miners’ motto – ‘the past we inherit, the future we build’. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.

Below are some photographs of previous celebrations and some historic photographs taken during the miners strike.