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                 MINING HERITAGE PROJECT - JULY 2004
 
DURHAM MINERS GALA 2004 - GALLERY 2

 
 
OLD ELVET BRIDGE: The children have been wonderfully patient.
  Progress from Market Square on to the Old Elvet 
Bridge is always slow.
Here they are taking yet another
rest - entertained by the band.

OLD ELVET BRIDGE: Though the band are a "marching
 band"  they spend a lot of time playing whilst  they wait
to move forward.  Each band in front  plays a tune outside of  the Royal County  Hotel and it all takes time. The rain
has held off but still threatens.


Old Elvet
Old Elvet Bridge
OLD ELVET BRIDGE:  Seaham Colliery Lodge banner
leads off  over the bridge.  The children follow behind .  
Soon they will reach the County Hotel where the band
will play "Gresford"  the Miners Hymn.


OLD ELVET BRIDGE:  The band play yet another tune
as they patiently wait the next short move forward towards
 the famous County Hotel.  The bridge itself is packed
with visitors moving between the County Hotel and Market Square.

Balcony
County Hotel
ROYAL HOTEL DURHAM: Durham NUM guests of
honour at the Gala line up on the balcony of the County Hotel to listen to each band in turn. Centre-stage is Durham NUM President , Dave Guy (a Parkside lad) and to his left Dorothea and Alan Fenwick wearing civic chains.  Alan is Chairman of  Durham County Council and is a Dawdon lad. To Dave Guy's right is "Mac" Williams who was brought up in Parkside and far left is Alan Johnson, former Secretary of Dawdon Lodge.

ROYAL COUNTY HOTEL: The children finally arrive in front of the Councty Hotel with their banner. It has been a very long wait .  
They received very appreciative applause from the gathered
crowds and from the guests on the balcony.  
As the band played "Gresford" many former miners and many others stood motionless and remembered  marras, friends and family who had worked in the pits but were no longer with us.  Some had given their lives at work many had loss their lives and health because of coal-related diseases.


race course
race course
DURHAM RACE COURSE GROUNDS:  High noon sees
The children and their banner descending the path at the
end of Old  Elvet down to the Race Course.
.

DURHAM RACE COURSE GROUNDS:  The rain has
finally started falling and umbrellas are being raised
as the procession enters the Race Course  led by the
Seaham Colliery banner.  It has been a long morning
but it has been interesting and exciting being part of
such a large crowd on such an occasion.
It has been a
day the children will not forget and one which teachers
and supporters say they want to repeat.



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