The Gala is an opportunity to display the banners of lodges of the National Union of Mineworkers, primarily from the Durham Area, but also from across the country. There were, for instance, banners from South Wales and Nottinghamshire. With the demise of most mines it's unlikely that these banners get used on many other occasions, which is a shame as many of them are very impressive.

The event also brings together brass bands from many collieries. These seem to have survived the closure of the pits remarkably well, with someone on the platform claiming that 41 bands had marched past the hotel where assorted dignitaries inspected them and on into the field where the main rally was being held.

Participation wasn't limited to miners. There were also banners from a number of other unions. RMT banners were particularly well represented and even had one banner flown behind a plane which circled around the site.

Wikipedia describes the event as "one of the biggest political gatherings in Europe," but it is quite different from the political rallies many people will be familiar with. Not only was there a proliferation of bands, but there were also fairground rides and stalls. There were a lot of families at the event, some with young children.

Aside from the fun elements, there was a political aspect. There were stalls from an array of campaigns (including solidarity with palestine and Cuba, Stop the War and the Wobbblies) and an assortment of leftist sects. These seemed to have been sidelined, however and few were on the main field itself.

Later on in the day, there were speakers, but mercifully there were only five of them: Geoff Shears (Thompson's Solicitors), David Hamilton (Labour MP), Jennifer Bremmer (Unite), Dave Prentis (Unison) and Dave Hopper (Durham Miner's Association). They delivered predictably angry speechs, with all referring to the Miners' Strike of 84-5, the impacts of which are still strongly felt in many mining (or ex-mining) communities. There was also more criticism of the Labour Party than I'd expected, but all of it tempered by assertions as to how much worse a Tory government would be.