09 Jul 11 - 03:26 PM (#3184506) Subject: Folklore: Durham Miners' Gala From: peregrina Today was the Durham Miners' Gala. Did anyone go? There are songs about it by a number of Northeasterners. Here's a link to one by Ed Pickford: here |
09 Jul 11 - 04:14 PM (#3184528) Subject: RE: Folklore: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,Joe G I used to go every year with my auntie and uncle when I was a child - used to be the highlight of my year - unfortunately I haven't been for years. Jez Lowe did an excellent song about it too. |
10 Jul 11 - 05:34 AM (#3184748) Subject: RE: Folklore: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray We used to go every year too until we moved to Lancashire a few years ago. I find it absurd that people would wish to write songs about it given the sheer amount of amazing music that resounds through the streets on Gala day. The closest I got was a tape collage of field recordings I made a few years back entitled Pride of Banners which distilled the cross overs of the various bands playing different tunes in different keys as the emerged from the cathedral echoing in joyful cacophany around Palace Green which has to be one of the most beautiful sounds. I was there in 1984 and it tore my heart out. |
10 Jul 11 - 03:40 PM (#3184995) Subject: RE: Folklore: Durham Miners' Gala From: Cats I went to the 125th two years ago and it was amazing |
11 Jul 11 - 03:20 PM (#3185608) Subject: RE: Folklore: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,cujimmy I lived in Durham for 2 years in 1990 - 92 and attended a few "Big Meetings", they are inspirational - a wonderfull day out and I would recomend going along to next years event to anyone. |
11 Jul 11 - 08:07 PM (#3185759) Subject: RE: Folklore: Durham Miners' Gala From: Edain I was there, was a good day, bar a couple of bouts of torrential rain. |
12 Jul 11 - 01:51 PM (#3186182) Subject: RE: Folklore: Durham Miners' Gala From: Jim McLean My wife is from Durham and I was there a couple of times in the mid 1960s. I think it was also called Durham Big Meeting Day? She has some excellent photos taken in Silver street of the banners ... and a few scuffles with the police. Also some great photos taken at the fair ground. Happy memories. |
06 Jun 15 - 10:19 AM (#3714799) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,jim bainbridge Well it's coming up again- July 11th this year- the bands are coming in to the lovely city of Durham from 8 a.m & the last ones arrive at the meeting ground as the speeches are starting about 3 pm. There's nothing like it anywhere.....best access is by train as many roads are closed in and around the city. |
07 Jun 15 - 04:58 AM (#3714972) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: Wheatman Hi Jim, we will be in Durham on our annual tour of the North East at Big Meeting time. Will you be playing a banner in as last year and can we join you on the day? Will there be a practise the evening before, if so where? |
07 Jun 15 - 07:05 AM (#3714988) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: Mr Red Has anyone mentioned the pronunciation? Or has it reverted to received English now? FWIW I have heard it referred to many times as a Gay La |
07 Jun 15 - 03:08 PM (#3715093) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,jim bainbridge dead right- it certainly is not ' Garla'! Hi Wheatman- yes all are welcome to join the band- musically we keep it as simple as possible, controlled by my uncle Peter's LNER Acme Thunderer whistle. It's all in G, with one or two exceptions If you've been before, you'll know that it's an early start- say 9 oclock A.M !!! although Doreen & Bryan will give a definite time soon. We leave with the 'Cotia banner from the DMA (Durham Miners' association) HQ at Redhills above Flass Street not far from the stationin the city. The early start means we are often thin on the ground when we set off, but...!! We used to have a practice on the Friday but not these days- will have a tune sheet but nothing complicated- am doing the Davy Lamp Folk Club in Washington the same evening.... |
08 Jun 15 - 04:21 AM (#3715155) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: Wheatman Thanks Jim, we will have the caravan at Durham. Just a question of getting the bus into town in good time. I will only have a mouthie. A trip to the Davy Lamp that evening would be good as well, it's been years since we were there. I will mail Bryan and ask for a start time. Gan Canny Brian |
25 Jun 15 - 06:33 AM (#3718847) Subject: RE: Folklore: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,jim bainbridge Re my post on 7 June, the departure time from Redhills DMA HQ will be 0830 this time- a bit early for most folks, but you can join the band en route. AS I said, the DMA HQ is at the top of Flass Street, near the station but unless you are VERY early, don't try & drive there on the morning of the Gala- it's far easier to arrive at Durham station. Look forward to marching off to 'Tipperary' at that unearthly hour! |
26 Jun 15 - 04:13 AM (#3719017) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST At the wettest of Durham big meetings Oh how your heart it was easily won I shouted for tunes by the Beatles, Not that fat man from Athens they kept putting on But the beer got me singing to his serenade And you laughed all embarrassed in your lemonade And I told you that one day I'd light up you sky with Greek lightning |
13 Oct 15 - 02:36 PM (#3743656) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,terry c Interesting article about this in the current issue of Living Tradition.... |
14 Oct 15 - 07:52 AM (#3743806) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: McGrath of Harlow It's a bit late now maybe, but I'm curious about that post from GUEST on June 26. Is this from a song? Is there more of it? |
07 Jul 16 - 08:52 AM (#3799365) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,jim bainbridge Re my post of June last year- same info for the 2016 Gala- we'll leave the DMA HQ at Redhills by 8.30 and maybe earlier.... Join the band there or en route- it takes a couple of hours minimum & probably a lot more! We do this in homage to miners worldwide and in particular to Jack Elliott and Jock Purdon, the two miners on the 'Cotia banner. Anyone who remembers the actions of Thatcher and her current descendants, who are probably worse, might enjoy the left wing nature of this event. This is a huge event.....There were 150,000 people there last year but as usual it was almost totally ignored by the UK's rightwing media. Don't expect this year will be any different. |
07 Jul 16 - 09:44 AM (#3799373) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,Joe G McGrath - a very late response to your query - yes it is from the Jez Lowe song 'Greek Lightning' one of my favourite songs as it happens - on the Bede Weeps CD and I dare say there will be a You Tube or other recording of it somewhere |
07 Jul 16 - 10:45 AM (#3799383) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,jim bainbridge The Gala (or Big Meeting if you prefer) is on Saturday July 9 |
08 Jul 16 - 02:48 AM (#3799439) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,Little Robyn Jez Lowe's song. Robyn |
09 Jul 17 - 06:19 AM (#3865227) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,jim bainbridge Wasn't able to be at this year's Gala, held yesterday with the usual vast crowds and speakers Jeremy Corbyn and Len McCluskey. No mention of it on the BBC Today programme - never mind, there was good coverage of the Hampton Court Flower Show.... ho hum... |
09 Jul 17 - 08:19 AM (#3865243) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: FreddyHeadey "... it has no start time, no finish time and no one place of assembly. |
09 Jul 17 - 07:05 PM (#3865328) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: McGrath of Harlow More coverage than normal - the Guardian ran a couple of stories, and the Mirror, online at least, went to town with about 20 good pictures. The BBC had some good pictures, but treated it as a local news story, rather than national. Mind, I suspect that's more the BBC tending to see anything outside London as foreign. I'm sure there'll be lots of coverage of Notting Hill Carnival - and I reckon that could be pretty political this year, with the carnival parade passing the shell of Grenfell Tower. |
10 Jul 17 - 05:59 AM (#3865394) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,peregrina, cookieless Top year this year with incredible atmosphere and the largest crowd I've ever seen for the speeches. Some say the largest attendance ever. Speeches: Ken Loach, Angela Rayner, the head of the firefighters union, head of communication workers union, others, Jeremy Corbyn, of course. Stirring, angry, hopeful. And yes, very very political. But also serious, peaceful, joyful and lots of fun. |
11 Jul 17 - 06:21 AM (#3865549) Subject: RE: Durham Miners' Gala From: GUEST,jim bainbridge Yes, last post a fair summary of what it's abnout.... Johnny Handle's song of fifty years back, when the collieries were still very much operating, summed it up in the last verse of his song about the Big Meeting or Gala...... 'So if ye come with me next year, just get your pockets lined Fetch the missus and the bairnies if ye have a mind We'll hear the bands and speeches too, and spend most of wor pay But we'll have worsels a bloody good time at Durham Big Meetin Day |