1869 |  | Formation of Durham Miners’ Association (DMA). |
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1871 | | First Big Meeting, Wharton Park, Aug 12th. |
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1872 | | Big meeting moved to race course July 15th. |
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1873 | | Three platforms. |
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1874 | | Held on August 15th. |
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1875 | | Trains withdrawn. |
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1876 | | Monday July 3rd, opening of Miners Hall, North Road
First MP speakers. |
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1877 | | Monday 16th July. |
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1883 | | Women carried banner for first time. |
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1892 | | Moved to third week in July. |
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1897 | | First Cathedral Service. |
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1899 | | First Aged Miners’ Home opened. |
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1905 | | Start of Labour of Leader attendance. |
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1908 | | Two women carried banner. |
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1909 | | West Stanley Disaster, 168 lost. |
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1910 | | Held in August. |
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1915 | | Opening of Red Hill offices. |
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1923 | | Bishop hoyed in river. |
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1925 | | Banner “To Hell With Bishops”. |
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1926 | | No big meeting. National stoppage, one at Burnhope. 50 lodges attended. |
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1929 | | Second Labour Government minority. |
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1930 | | Durham Miners Convalescent home opened (Cumbria). |
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1932 | | Ramsey MacDonald’s face covered up on banners following formation of National Government. |
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1936 | | “Gresford” the miners’ hymn composed by Robert Saint, a Durham Miner, after the Welsh disaster. |
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1936 | | Spanish dancers pleaded for help in the Spanish Civil war. |
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1940-45 | | No Big Meetings during war years. |
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1944 | | Opening of the Hermitage Rehabilitation Centre, Chester-le-Street. |
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1945 | | Formation of the NUM (National Union of Mineworkers). |
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1945 | | Election of Labour Government. |
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1946 | | First post war Big Meeting. |
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1947 | | Nationalisation, Big Meeting. Unveiling miners’ memorial at Durham Cathedral. Methodist Meeting. Scottish Gala started based on Big Meeting. |
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1948 | | Tutill Banner Makers gift of production banner. |
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1949 | | East Tanfield production banner. NCB got coat of arms. Start of NUM banners. |
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1950 | | Re-election of Labour Government. Hetton Lyons protest against closure. |
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1951 | | Easington/Eppleton big meeting. Sinking of new shaft at Murton.. |
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1953 | | Opening of Memorial Garden, Redhills. |
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1954 | | No trains from Elvet station . |
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1955 | | Election of Conservative Government. Russian delegation to the big meeting . |
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1957 | | Bus strike affected attendance. Start of closures. |
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1960 | | First overseas band, 3rd US Air Force Band. |
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1961 | | Opening of the Sam Watson Rest home, Richmond. |
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1964 | | Last trains for Big Meeting. Election of Labour Government. |
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1965 | | Heavy Security for Harold Wilson PM. |
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1966 | | Sixty three banners. |
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1967 | | Last paper programme. |
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1968 | | Black and white booklet programme. Forty five banners. |
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1969 | | Centenary DMA 25 old banners paraded +38. Heavy closures. |
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1970 | | Election of Conservative Government. Only 1 platform, 33 banners. Words wrote to Gresford hymn. |
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1971 | | Durham in protest against Industrial Relations Bill, London and Newcastle. 34 banners. No Labour front bench speakers. Pub closed by 3pm. |
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1972 | | Exhibition at DLI. 22 banners. First booklet “Banner Parade followed by The Banner Book. |
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1973 | | Introduction of Children’s Jazz Bands (9). BM March composed by Reg Wright. |
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1974 | | First NCB Chairman invited. 28 banners. |
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1975 | | First Cokemen Banner. 25 banners. |
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1976 | | Durham Banner. General Strike. 50 years exhibitions at Newcastle and London. |
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1979 | | First Mechanics area banner. 25 banners. Big Meeting play toured Durham. |
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1980 | | Big Meeting moved to 2nd Saturday in July. Jack Charlton led in Horden for a BBC film. 24 banners. |
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1982 | | Nadir of Big Meeting. 20 banners, 14/15 working pits. Approximately 15000 attendance. |
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1983 | | 100th Big Meeting. 74 banners from across the British coalfield. Homes Association and Durham areas first time. Gilesgate Junior school produced a book. |
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1984 | | 100th Big Meeting video on tour. Mini Big Meeting at Easington. 32 banners including Scottish, Trade Unions and Labour. 22 banners on display at Thornley in June. No Big Meeting (strike). March from Sands to Racecourse. 82 banners. Trade Unions, Labour, support groups and from across the coalfields. |
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1985 | | Big Meeting open to all comers. 78 banners. 8 banners to exhibition in Washington. 42 banners given to Beamish Museum. |
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1986 | | Neil Kinnock Big Meeting. Doubts about the attendance because of his poor support during the strike. 59 banners. Exhibition on racecourse approximately 110 banners. 19 banners at Burnhope 6oth Anniversary. TUC held alternate gala at Beamish. |
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1987 | | 56 banners. |
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1988 | | 65 banners. 5 at Burnhope. |
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1989 | | Durham banners at National Gala at Barnsley June 17th. Big Meeting 52 banners. |
