Alan Marron's Pictures of Spennymoor

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

Ernie Foster at left has with him Councillor Andrew Smith and his wife.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

Marion is never seen without that smile!

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

Age makes no difference on a day like this: young and old all share a great day.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

As we leave the Royal County behind us, another banner (and band) take our place.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

The man in the foreground is one I consider a personal friend. We grew up together in Weardale Street, Spennymoor, but Ernie Foster went on to give sterling service as a trades unionist, and as a councillor at local level (a former Mayor of Spennymoor) and as a County Councillor (he retired at the May 2008 election, stepping down from his Chairmanship of Durham County Council at the same time).

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Herirage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

Spennymoor Town Mayor Ian Harrington and wife Gill on their way to the Racecourse witth the banner.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

Some of the dignitaries on the balcony of the Royal County Hotel, Durham. Councillor John Robinson (Mayor of Sedgefield Borough) and his wife are extreme left and next to them Gill Harrington and husband Ian (Spennymoor Town Mayor).

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

There may be banners in front of us, but they're piling up behind us too! Banners will continue on their way in until sometome in mid afternoon, by which time some will be almost ready to leave!

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

Who do you not see in a picture normally? The man with the camera! So for my colleague (pictured) this is a gotcha!

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

They liked us! Nowhere is there a bigger crowd in Durham today than around this corner, and what draws them all here is the great music from an amazing number of terrific bands.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

Drumming up a storm during a slack time, when there was nothing to do but wait). Great drumming!

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

Pictured (l to r) Councillor John Marr (deputy leader: Spennymoor Town Council); Rodney Bickerstaff (life long Trades Unionist); Lord Foster (formerly Derek Foster MP); Councillor Ian Harrington (Spennymoor Town Mayor) and his wife Gill. Name dropper!

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

We're still about 400 yards from the junction, and it is going to be a while before we make it round the corner. But the excitement is building.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

The road straight ahead in the picture leads across the bridge and into Durhamm Market Place, and you can see that there's still no end to the stream of banners. But take a look at the man in the foreground. George Lavery still blows a great trombone at 83 years young!

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

As you can see, we weren't the first to arrive - but we won't be the last either! Banners converge from all sides of the city, and they all come to the crossroads ahead. Just round the corner is the Royal County Hotel, and every banner will pause there on its way to the Racecourse.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

As a social occasion, it's a great leveller: where else can you rub shoulders with a Lord of the Realm, a former Trades Union Leader, MP's, Councillors (at all levels). Everyone is there for the same reason, and the feeling of unity is unbelievable.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham MIners Gala 2008

Spennymoor Town Band leads the way as the Heritage Banner begins its parade through Durham. The traffic lights of The New Inn are just behind them.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

Some of the crowd who joined in the ceremony at 'The Tubs'.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

The banner paid its respects at the memorial in Tudhoe Cemetery, which marks the Tudhoe Mining Disaster of 1882.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D

Spennymoor Heritage Banner at Durham Miners Gala 2008

Councillor Fred Walker leads the banner along High Street. It was Councillor Walker's 60th Wedding Anniversary that day.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Spennymoor, Festivals and Events

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 10D