| Where: | Durham, Co. Durham - city centre |
| When: | 2nd Saturday in July |
| Time: | from 8.30 approx; Cathedral blessing 3pm |
Though most of the mines closed some time ago, the Durham Miners Gala is still a major demonstration of trade union and labour support; unions from other industries now participate and it’s undergone something of a revival in recent years. Union banners aloft, a truly grand procession with brass band accompaniment marches from the city to the old Racecourse where there are speeches by major left-wing political figures (from about 12.30) and entertainments including a funfair. There is a memorial service in Durham Cathedral at 3 in the afternoon where the banners are blessed. The focus of the procession is the point where the groups merge into one huge formation at the County Hotel at Old Elvet, where the great and good watch from the hotel balcony as the groups perform in turn below – the crowd is particularly dense at this point and it can take hours for everyone to pass. The atmosphere is fantastic and very welcoming! Expect pipe bands as well as brass, playing everything from traditional tunes to pop ; the beautifully illustrated banners are a significant part of the visual spectacle.
Further reading :
Splendour of the Gala: The Durham Miners’ Gala and the Northumberland Miners’ Picnic.
by Ken and Jean Smith [link]
Helpful Hints
In 2025 it should be held on Saturday July 12th.
It’s frequently though not exclusively pronounced “gayla” (the only time I know of that this pronunciation is used, and the subject of much debate) and is also known as The Big Meeting. Expect large crowds of up to 100,000. There are town centre road closures and parking is a challenge – we found the park and ride very useful and much less hassle.
Programmes are on sale all through town (£2 each in 2013 and full of photos).
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DurhamMinersGala
Click here for the event website : http://www.durhamminers.org
I would like to know if it would be possible to operate an inflatable slide,an inflatable noahs ark boat, an inflatable jack in the box,ten bed set of trampolines,three game stalls,which are hook a bag and duck stall,ring over the block,foot ball game,ball in bucket and also two childrens rides at durham miners gala
Dear Andrew,
We don’t have any direct links with the organisation of events listed on the Calendar Customs site – but if you contact visitor@thisisdurham.com
they should be able to help you get to the right person. Hope you get it sorted out soon!
Kind Regards,
Averil
It’s pronounced gar-la.
Hi Rachel,
I’m going to have to disagree about the pronunciation! It’s the only gala that I know of that ISN’T pronounced garla ( I have no idea why!). We live in the same local news area as Durham so all my life I’ve heard the newscasters and weather forcasters pronouncing it as gay-la as well as various local folks – even Wikipedia says it’s usually pronounced that way. Maybe it’s done to confuse everyone else, who knows?
Best wishes,
Averil
That’s your perogative and right of course. Speaking only as someone born and bred in Durham who’s both attended the gala as a child and marched it with my trade union’s banner as an adult, my own opinion is of course circumstantial and limited.
Fair enough! Why the confusion then, d’you think?
I’m afraid you are wrong Rachel. It is a pitmatic term and most definately pronounced gay-la. I come from a mining family and have attended over 30 Big Meetings. You will struggle to find a Durham miner who says gar-la – this is a southern way on prounouncing the word!
You will be lucky to see a miner now the coal fields have closed.
We are importing coal from other countries now.
It’s always been gar-la round here ( Easington Colliery) actually it’s always been the Big Meeting but gar-la is how it is said amongst us common folk.
Why not likely, it has always been called Durham Big Meeting!!!!
I honestly have no idea, I’ve never heard it pronounced any other way in my life before I found this website.
Hello,
Im well with Rachel on the pronunciation . Its “Gar–la” & always has been . Only some phillistine from a far-off distant planet would pronounce it “Gay-la”. ( ie Television people)
I was born in Durham, too, & have attended the Gala as a child & adult.
I even met a certain Anthony Blair once on the Racecourse. (purely by accident) It was approx 1985/86 when he was “only” the MP for Sedgefield. He was on his own & Dennis Skinner was speaking at the time. I even remember what that nice Mr Blair was wearing….not that I ever take notice of such detail at the best of times.
Looking forward to The Big Meeting/ Miners Gala 2012. Happy days. M
Hi Martin!
Thanks for your comment – I’m beginning to think (after lengthy discussions with a number of people)that the Gay-la pronunciation may be a Tyneside peculiarity as most of the Geordies I’ve spoken to pronounce it that way but most people from Durham pronounce it Garla like yourself. And since it’s in Durham that must be the right way to say it. But Gayla is alive and kicking on Tyneside and in Tynedale (and as you point out, on the TV) even if it’s completely wrong!!
Never mind, the important matter here is for people to attend the event and enjoy it, however it ought to be pronounced!
Kind Regards,
Averil
Of course it is pronounced “gayla” as it was spoken in the pit villages of the Durham coalfield not Durham city. Coming from Ryhope (in my childhood a pit village) and having attended the gala almost every year since the 1960s I have only ever heard it pronounced gayla at least from any one with a mining background
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your comment! I was beginning to imagine that the rest of the world all pronounce it gar-la – nice to know that I’m not the only one!!
Kind Regards,
Averil
It’s not a tyneside way of speaking, it is most definately the Durham pitmatic language. It is most definately pronounced gay-la!
100% right Lynn I’ve been trying to tell our lass this for years , now she might believe me lol
Should have shot him!
Philistines like me from Halifax said gayla as opposed to garla – only snobs said garla!
Averil
And of course I, my old mates and family will be there again next week for our annual cultural immersion. A great day out and and one that the County should be proud of. If only modern day politicians still attended and took time to read the words on the banners they might understand the true Labour Party heritage.
If you want to hear how gala should be pronounced just go into the Victoria pub it was the only pub that opened during the gala in 1985 and some of us have a long memory.
Enjoy the day
Cheers
Bob
Please not “GAY”LER!!!!!
you’re all wrong, it’s pronounced ‘big meeting’
but anyway, what time do the first bands get to the County ?
Hi Wilf
The band I’m playing for are meeting at 7am on Saturday (heaven help me 🙂 ) and usually march through the village not long after and get on the bus to durham usually no later the 7:45/8am. We’ll be in Durham from about 8:30 i’d say, well if it’s the same as last year 🙂
Thanks Karen, I’m cycling there from Wallsend so it’s gonna be an early start, my first visit since 1982. Which band are you in ?
I’ll be playing with Craghead Colliery Band.
You are spot on Wilf!!!
You are spot on Wilf !!!
Well sorry but I also pronounce it gah-la! As do 100% of My local friends, family, work mates, neighbours and the majority of the Durham university students I spoke to about big meeting a few weeks ago. I am with Rachel on this one!!
I’d pronounce it garla but I guess it depends on where you’re from. The bands call it Durham day, or at least the band I play for do 🙂
does any 1 no if durham big meeting is still om tomo
Yes, it’s underway as I write 🙂
Check out the Painting “fuelling The fight” comissioned to commemerate the Durham Miners Gala & Durham Light Infantry http://www.patriotart.co.uk/gallerys/patriot-art-gallery/category/4-military-art
could you tell me is it true that this will be the last gala this year or not
Hi Mona,
No, I think it’ll be going for a good while yet! I’ve checked out the event’s own website and there’s nothing on there to suggest 2014 will be the last Gala, though they need to keep fundraising to secure its future long term. Have a look yourself at http://durhamminers.org/News/Keep%20the%20Gala%20going.html
Best Wishes,
Averil
Durham Miners Gala 2014
Please can any tell me if the Kelloe – East Hetton – banner is going to be in the Gala this year and who I can contact there to join in?
My great granddad worked there. He was in the rescue team that went through the connecting tunnel into Trimdon Grange after the explosion and they all died.
I am going in under the Trimdon Grange Banner but they get off to a very early start so some of the family will not be able to make the start.
I am hoping that Kelloe get to Durham later so that they can join in as well.
Geofff
Hi Geoff,
Here at Calendarcustoms we haven’t any connection with the organisation of the Gala but if you visit the event’s own website at http://durhamminers.org or email admin@durhamminers.co.uk they should be able to give you contact details for Kelloe-East Hetton and confirm if they’re attending this year.Sounds like a real family affair – hope you can all get there!
Best Wishes,
Averil
how do you pronounce gala then?
Well, without wishing to cause any more arguments on the subject, I’ve always thought it was gay-la though lots of others pronounce it gar-la. Having spoken to many people about it, I think it must be one of theose words that can be pronounced in more than one way (you say tomato….etc)- so I now think there isn’t a “right”way of pronouncing it, just 2 different ways.If in doubt just refer to it as The Big Meeting 🙂
Best Wishes,
Averil
Big Meeting….. Always has been!!!!!
I come from Framwellgate Moor and my wife comes from Sherburn Hill, ( from a mining family incidentally). We are both in our sixties and have both always known it as Gay-la, and we`ll be there tomorrow, hooray!
Hi Brian,
Thanks for contacting Calendarcustoms!Hope you have a lovely day at the Gala- we’re off to the Battle Re-enactment at Tewkesbury tomorrow or we’d be there, too. Never mind, there’s always next year!
Best Wishes,
Averil
I am 70 and it was Always referred to as Durham Big Meeting not Gala or Gayler!
Big Meeting, ways has been and not all this Gala, Gayler rubbish
Could anyone tell me what is behind the tradition of the miners going to the Cathedral in the afternoon? -or why its associated with the Cathedral at all? thanks
Not sure but was once told it was to show respect to all the miners killed during the previous year