Westoe Band and Lodge Banner Reunited

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Westoe Band and Lodge Banner Reunited

A new Westoe Banner celebrating the heritage of Westoe Colliery was unveiled at South Shields Town Hall at 6pm, 1st July. With a Westoe Band ensemble playing music during the event.

2nd July 9:30 The new banner was displayed at a local school

3rd July 6:00 pm Banner was unveiled by Rt Hon David Miliband MP at Harton and Westoe Miners' Welfare

This event was a celebration of the heritage and sacrifices that many generations of miners have made. David Hopper, Area Secretary of the Durham NUM, made a welcome speech to David Miliband about the need to again start mining the 500 million tonnes of coal that lie under the sea between Shouth Shields and Seaburn, Sunderland. Other themes of the speech included the need to have energy independence from the Sovirt Union (??), restore employment opportunities that this work would bring could help remove the spectre of the BNP from the North East. In his reply David Miliband said that the Government was investing UK Tax payers money and further EU funds into the development of clean coal energy generating and looked forward to the day when coal was being extracted in the area. The atendees stood in silence after the Banner was unveiled as Westoe Band played the Hymn Tune Gresford, that commemorates miners who died underground.

4th July - Catherine Cookson Parade

11th July Miners' Gala Day, The Band and Banner will meet outside the Gala theatre at 9.30 and march to the Race Course stopping at the County Hotel. 1.30 Westoe Band will lead the Banner to the Cathedral service where the Banner will be dedicated.

Traditionally each Colliery Lodge Banner was lead to the Race Course by the Colliery Band. Unfortunately many of the colliery bands no longer exist or the banner has fallen into a state of disrepair so in 2009 it will be the exception that Colliery Band and Banner are together. Since the demise of Westoe Colliery Westoe Band has lead the Durham Aged Miners' Banner at the "Big Meet". Unfortunately we have had to disappoint our regular Banner of recent years for 2009.

To celebrate the New Westoe Colliery Banner Westoe Band has made a collection of clothing available to purchase through its on-line band shop

To other Band Managers, if you are leading a banner at the 2009 Miners' Gala please inform which banner you are leading. A list will be published here.