NE Co-op sponsors Miners’ Gala

NORTH EAST Co-op will be flying the flag for Fairtrade at the 120th annual Durham Miners Gala on Saturday July 10th.
The labour movement&#039s summer showpiece event will once again be sponsored to the tune of &#163 3,000 by the society, but an added ingredient this year will be an appearance by the Anglo Gold Choir from South Africa, who will perform at Durham Racecourse before the speeches and will also sing at the city&#039s Cathedral the night before the Gala at a Co-op-sponsored free concert.
The North East Co-op banner will be paraded through the streets and Secretary Steve Warren says the society&#039s contingent will be wearing T-shirts to highlight the Movement&#039s commitment to the Fairtrade ethos.
And North East Co-op&#039s new roadshow trailer will be prominently placed at the Racecourse to dispense samples of Fairtrade products and give information on Co-op membership and activities.
"The Big Meeting as it&#039s known gets bigger and better each year and is now very much part of the region&#039s culture," said Mr Warren, who added that the society&#039s sponsorship cheque will be used to hire a number of marching bands on the day.
Dozens of miners and trade union banners will be paraded through the streets accompanied by more than 30 brass and pipe bands, while well-known singer Billy Bragg will also entertain the crowds at the meeting ground.
Gala Co-ordinator George Robson told the News: "The Gala has never been as popular in recent history as it is today. It&#039s an incredible situation ? it&#039s 11 years since the last Durham pit closed, but the Big Meeting looks as if it will be around for decades to come as more and more ex-mining communities are becoming involved.
"Over 50,000 people attended last year and there could be an even bigger crowd this time. Seven new banners will be out for the first time as more and more people join in to commemorate the county&#039s mining heritage and tradition."
Gala speakers this year include Unison&#039s Dave Prentiss, Labour MP Vera Baird, Tony Woodley of the TGWU and Steve Kemp of the NUM.