|
THE FINAL MARCH |
|
Picture (by Ed Mason):
Seaham Mayor, Ron Meirs watching the emotional sight
of the old banners being raised for the last time on an official march. Ron is Treasurer of the Seaham, Dawdon & Vane Tempest Bannerfund Trust. |
|
| |
They had seen better days
and were weary now - torn here and there and reinforced with plastic sticky
tape against further damage in the wind. They had been held proudly
aloft so many times. Sometimes it had been in battle against injustice
to the miners who carried them. Sometimes they had been draped in black
in remembrance of marras lost in Seaham's deep, dark pits. Always they had
been carried with pride into Durham on so many Gala Days.
Today, Seaham's three old miners banners were being carried for the last time for a mining event in the Town. The autumn weather was kind for this final march in remembrance of miners who died 121 years ago in the terrible explosion at Seaham Colliery. Led by the red-uniformed musicians of Pittington Brass Band, the procession started this final journey from the old Seaham Lodge Miners Hall. The town's Mayor, Ex-miners, miners leaders, the local MP, local councillors and other townspeople followed behind the banners.
The route took them past the old Miner's Hall into Encliffe Road. From here the view eastwards was no longer blocked by Seaham Colliery. Across the now-barren wasteland, Christ Church could be seen (pictured above). Turning right at the north end of Encliffe Road
the procession passed The Phoenix Inn, risen from the ashes of
the Seaton Inn which was bombed during World War II.
It was at the Mill Inn that the enquiry into the 1852 explosion took place and where the North East Institution of Mining & Mechanical Engineers was formed. Turning right the entourage flanked by two police officers climbed the bank into Station Road past Seaham Colliery Welfare Grounds which were originally developed through the penny contributions donated from miners pay notes (pictured below).
The prak is now known as Seaham Town Park and administered
by Seaham Town Council. At the top of the bank a new housing development flanked
the road to the right hiding the view of the old Seaham Colliery site where
even more houses will soon mask any sign of the "Nicky Nack" pit.
The service which followed was conducted by the
Rev. David A. Roberts, Vicar of Christ Church.
After the service the whole congregation gathered
around the Memorial Garden to listen to the moving rendition of Pittington
Brass Band and to the speech of John Cummings MP and the prayers of Rev Roberts.
|
