Mining Strikes

Many old mining communities continue to commemorate their mining past at the Miners' Gala. It provides an oppportunity to meet up with old work colleagues, and often revisit memories of past events such as strikes and pit closures. Communities also meet at significant anniversaries, such as the recent 20th anniversary of the 1984/5 miners' strike, to march with their trade union banners through their home town or city often to the sound of brass bands. Recent commemorations also have included memorials to miners who have died at local pits, and a simple memorial to the long history of mining in a local area.