Durham Miners' Association

Our Executive Committee paid their respects to Durham Miners' Association stalwart Frank Shaw at his funeral yesterday.

Frank was a trade unionist for all his working life and continued to represent former miners as a full member of the DMA following his retirement.

A miner at Dawdon Colliery, he was active in Dawdon Lodge and served as lodge delegate. He also served as an Easington District Councillor.

Frank continued to play a full and active part in meetings of the DMA until shortly before his passing, at the age of 81.

DMA Secretary Alan Mardghum said: “Although we differed on how we could achieve a fairer, decent society, Frank always argued his point passionately and was a great advocate for working class communities. His passing leaves the world a poorer place. Our condolences go to Frank’s family at this sad time.”

Frank is pictured outside Redhills: Durham Miners Hall during his time as a member of our Executive Committee.

Frank was born on 17 December 1937 and died on 17 April 2019. His funeral was held at St Mary Magdalene Church, Seaham.

Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) is joining forces with Sunderland AFC in a new partnership celebrating the shared heritage of the two institutions.

The partnership will see Sunderland AFC support the work of the DMA, with the club becoming a ‘Marra’ – an official friend of the Durham Miners’ Gala. The Marras group was set up to ensure that, through donations and fundraising, the annual Gala can survive and thrive, and inspire generations to come.

The Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) has announced new leadership in its 150^th year, as it seeks to secure a vibrant legacy for the region’s coal mining heritage.

Alan Mardghum has said he is “proud and humbled” to begin work as the new President/ Secretary of the DMA, which was founded in 1869.

The Durham Miners’ Association and Labour MPs have welcomed the Government decision to finally recognise an industrial disease following a four-and-a-half-year campaign.

Dupuytren’s Contracture causes the fingers to curl over into a claw-like state, and can lead to amputation. Known as ‘Miner’s Claw’, the incurable condition is common among former pitmen. It also affected former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

A special fundraising event in celebration of the great Sir Bobby Robson will be held at the historic home of the Durham Miners. 

A screening of the new film about Sir Bobby, a former Durham miner, will be followed by a discussion and Q&A with some of the people who knew him best.

A new feature film will tell the unique and inspiring story of the Durham Miners' Gala.

The team behind the acclaimed Nature of the Beast – about legendary Labour MP Dennis Skinner – is making the new film with the endorsement of the Durham Miners' Association (DMA).

The Durham Miners’ Association has opposed opencast mining for many decades and support the locally lead campaign to protect Pont Valley in Co. Durham.

It damaged deep mining in the past and now threatens to ruin our environment for no perceivable benefit.

Our communities have suffered enough with the decline of the coal industry and they do not need to have more injury added to insult.

There are deep mining projects reopening in various parts of England. So, there is little need to rip up the countryside to get coal.

We have been informed that an error has occurred that has resulted in a number of MPS members mistakenly being issued with new tax codes.

We are told that this is being rectified as a matter of the highest priority by Capita and HMRC. Affected members will be contacted shortly to advise them that neither their original tax codes nor their pension payments should be affected, and that their tax liabilities are completely unchanged. In the meantime Capita are dealing with any member enquiries.

Capita can be contacted on:

0333 222 0077

[email protected]

Durham Miners and the city's University will work together to educate students in understanding the heritage and culture of the county in which they study.

Durham University and the Durham Miners' Association (DMA) will meet  tomorrow morning (November 28) to discuss positive ways forward from the offence caused by inappropriate and offensive student behaviour.