Durham Miners Gala 2004 took place on Saturday  10th July.  Children from Parkside Infant School together with family and teachers took part.
The day included parading with their new "Banner for Today" for the first time as they marched with Dawdon Miners Lodge from Dawdon Miners'
Welfare Hall to the crossing at the end of Princess Road, Seaham.  From there they were taken by bus to Durham to join in  the Gala Day parade.

 

DAWDON MINERS WELFARE HALL:Saturday morning 10th July 2004 in Dawdon was dull and a persistent drizzle fell on the children, parents, and teachers of Parkside Infant School as they gathered with Dawdon Miners Lodge officials and supporters. The new childrens "Banner for Today" attracted a lot of attention.	DAWDON MINERS WELFARE HALL:The weather forecast was not good but an emergency plastic cover had been brought in case the new banner needed protection.  The procession was preparing to march  through Seaham's Dawdon Ward to the Princess Road railway crossing.  From there coaches would take them in to Durham to take part in the Miners Gala 2004.
PRINCESS ROAD: This was to be the first time the new childrens' banner  had been carried.  The children had practiced in the school hall the previous day.  Scottish Pipers  led the procession and the childrens assisted by parents, family members and teachers proudly carried their banner behind the new Dawdon Banner  which had  itself been carried into Durham the previous year.	PRINCESS ROAD: Miner Tom (former Vane Tempest miner, Tom Race has become a well known figure at the school and dressed in traditional miners working clothes he supervises the children as they took turns to carry the banner.
MARKET SQUARE, DURHAM:And so to Durham. They arrived in  Market Square, around 9:40am The first job is to unfurl the childrens' banner which had been  rolled-up for the 12 mile journey  from Seaham. Luckily, Miner Tom is on hand to help and give advice.	MARKET SQUARE, DURHAM:The children line up behind the Seaham Colliery Lodge banner.  The Seaham Lodge banner will be led in the procession by the Pittington Brass Band.
MARKET SQUARE, DURHAM: The Band takes the opportunity to practice a tune whilst they wait their turn to move forward  through the Market Square and down Old Elvet. The air is already alive with the  brass band music of other bands.	OLD ELVET: Well after about 30 minutes the children and their banner have moved  about 50 yards on to Old Elvet.  Still the rain threatens but hasn't arrived yet. Big hands help little hands to hold the banner.  The crowd is huge and there isn't much room on this narrow street.
	MORE photos from  Durham Miners Gala    >

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