Morrison Busty Banner & Knaresborough Silver Band
Durham Miners Gala
The Durham Miners Gala returned after a break due to the Covid pandemic. The organisers hoped for a big return, and they certainly weren't disappointed. More than 200,000 people packed the streets of Durham on Saturday accompanied by more than 60 miners’ banners and more than 50 brass bands – the most in decades.
We had the pleasure to accompany the Morrison Busty Banner and Knaresborough Silver Band, from an early start at the community centre in Annfield Plain, seeing the blessing of the banner, before starting a walking tour of the area with the Silver Band playing and entertaining the crowd. Then it was off on the bus to Durham for the ‘Big Meeting’.
The route of the march, started at the Market Place, along Sadler Street, crossing Elvet Bridge, stopping outside The County Hotel to entertain the ‘balcony of Key workers’ before continuing and finishing on the Racecourse.
Knaresborough Silver Band were tremendous all along the route but they particularly had the crowd on their feet at The Magdalene Steps and the County Hotel, with their arrangement of Walking on Sunshine.
The Morrison Busty Banner carried the banner with pride and dignity along the full route and managed to always keep up with the Band.
Following a well-deserved rest, some refreshments and a tour of the show field, it was the return journey back to the Market Place and back to Annfield Plain.