Billy Elliot Fans - Durham Miners Gala

Thanks so much for posting this Mark. Unfortunately I wasn't able to look at the BBC videos but the photos are great and I really enjoyed reading about the gala. (gay-ler!) Those banners are pretty spectacular. I even noted one with Jack Elliot's name on it!

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Great turnout at the Gala today, lovely weather helped :).

Alot of the bands have now died out. My dad used to play for a small coal mining band called Silksworth (in Sunderland) and until recently they had their own band but that is no longer the case, so the old band members now join with Easington. Alot of bands come in from outside areas to carry in some of the banners.

When the mines were open every pit had its own band, quite large, and they would be paid by their respective pits for participating in the miners gala. Obviously with the pits closing alot of the bands folded too, and they do it for pleasure now.

The photos from this year are now up -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/image_galleries/durham_gala_2009_gallery.shtml

Check out picture number 9 for the Easington banner