Durham Miners' Association

Everyone at the DMA was greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Doreen Henderson. 

Doreen, who has died aged 94, was a legendary figure in folk music. The daughter of Jack Elliott, she was a member of the famous Elliott family of Birtley. 

The Durham Miners Gala will return this year, organisers have confirmed.

Hosted by the Durham Miners Association (DMA) since 1871, the Gala was cancelled for the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The DMA has been working with the local authority, police and other partners to confirm arrangements for the safe return of the event, which is attended by more than 200,000 people from across the region and beyond. It now confirms that The Big Meeting, as it is popularly known, will return on Saturday 9 July 2022.

The words of the poet laureate exploring a hidden history of the Durham coalfield is among the highlights of this year’s BRASS Festival. 

Simon Armitage and his band LYR will premiere new music at Durham Cathedral inspired by the incredible story of Durham’s ‘Category D’ villages.

The work is the result of a commission for the festival in partnership with the Durham Miners Association (DMA) and the Redhills charity.

Everyone at the Durham Miners Association was greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Florence Anderson.

A great friend and comrade to the DMA, Florence was leading figure in the support groups during the 1984-85 strike and continued to serve her community as a city councillor in Sunderland.

Here, DMA Secretary Alan Mardghum pays tribute to Florence:

A wonderful new banner for Murton has been unfurled - 30 years on from the closure of the colliery.

The people of Murton turned out in force despite the awful weather to see the unfurling of the banner at The Glebe Centre on Saturday night. 

A group of volunteers who banded together to promote their mining heritage are preparing to unfurl a new banner for Murton (excerpt previewed above).

Elliot Dixon, Chris Nutton, Michael Rawlinson and Laura Dixon formed a new banner group to preserve the values of their community for a new generation.

Davey Ayre, who has passed away aged 90, was a greatly respected and much loved trade unionist and activist.

Like trade unionists and socialists across our region and further afield, everyone at the Durham Miners’ Association is greatly saddened by his passing. Davey was a wonderful man who dedicated his life to his community and his class.

Davey is pictured above with the DMA area banner and his friend Kathyrne Wray campaigning for Durham's Teaching Assistants.

Please see below for funeral details.

A special service at Durham Cathedral has celebrated the 150^th anniversary of the Durham Miners Gala.

The world’s greatest celebration of community, solidarity and working class life was first held in 1871.

Everyone at the Durham Miners Association (DMA) is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dick Quin, who served as secretary of the DMA Brass Band for more than three decades.

The 150th anniversary of the Durham Miners' Gala will be celebrated at a special service at Durham Cathedral.

Known as The Big Meeting, the annual celebration of community, solidarity and the coal mining heritage of County Durham was first held in 1871. The Miners Festival Service at Durham Cathedral has been part of every Gala since 1897.