THE Durham Miners’ Gala is a north eastern institution and a great family day out which is locally known as the Big Meeting. I have covered the event over the years but this was the first year that I have had access to the balcony of the County Hotel.

I was surprised to see that former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was there again. I had seen him speak on a number of occasions since he first stood as leader in 2015. Here is the report I filed, but the Trump assassination attempt kind of overshadowed any chance of my report being published so it appears below:

IT WAS appropriate that this year’s Durham Miners’ Gala marked the 40^th anniversary of the 1984/85 strike according to one of the guest speakers at this year’s annual event.

It was the 138^th Big Meeting in the north eastern city on Saturday (July 13) and it attracted hundreds of thousands of workers and trade unionists to march through Durham.

The year-long miners’ strike, which began in March 1984, saw miners and their families across the country fight to preserve their jobs, their industry and their communities.

Taking to the platform this year were trade union general secretaries Christina McAnea (Unison), Matt Wrack (FBU), Mick Whelan (ASLEF) and Daniel Kebede (NEU). Further speakers will include Ian Lavery, a former miner and president of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Alan Mardghum, Secretary of the Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) and Heather Wood, who played a leading role in the women’s support groups throughout and beyond the strike.

Heather Wood, one of the National Women against Pit Closures organisation which was formed during the industrial dispute, said she was both very proud and excited because the then Tory government had wanted to “wipe them from the face of the earth”.

She added: “She [Margaret Thatcher] might but you can see from today the spirit is here and we are all together and it has grown because all the trades unions are now coming, it is not only minoring banners that come it is all the trade unions. So, it is exciting and pride, we weren’t beaten, we are still standing.”

She said the event kept them going and once every year it was like a “fix” to keep them going for the rest of the year. She added: “We lost the battle in ’84 but we did not lose the war, we are still fighting.”

Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), said he loved the event and said it was inspiring for people involved in the trade union movement.

He added: “But I think any ordinary person who comes along can’t help but be moved by this amazing event, the music, the crowds, the banners and the messages on the banners, it is inspiring to see and I would urge anyone who has never been to come, bring family, bring friends, it is a fantastic day.”

I did mention to him that I had quoted him from press releases over the years, mainly relating to coverage of industrial action by firefighters, but it was the first time we had actually met face to face.

As it appeared on the News & Star website: Workers and trade unionists march through Durham for gala