massive picspam
Jul. 13th, 2008 08:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mistletoeNot a very exciting set of piccies but this is where I was yesterday in the sun as opposed to the predicted heavy showers.
This is part of the first band we saw at 9 o'clock, though not the first band down as they sneaked in at 8.30!
Crookhall Lodge banner. This is part of Consett and actually the first branch of the Labour Party I belonged to. Course that was 25 years ago. I wouldn't bother now.
Trimdon Grange banner protected with plastic sheeting against the elements. Fortunately, it didn't rain, although it looked a bit threatening after one band played Singin' in the Rain.
We marched down the hill with this band from Harrogate. They didn't make it for another 40 minutes after we arrived. They were good.
One of several Pipe bands; this one is from Houghton-le-Spring, which is not in Scotland. I like it when the girls twirl their drumsticks.
A typical biblical homily can be found on Lumley 6th Pit's banner: the lion will lie down with the lamb complete with shepherd boy. Just another example of how a miner would see Paradise. Many were religious, goes with the territory, often Methodists.
This Indian group was very popular last year but my batteries went before the dancer came on.
No such problem this time. Unfortunately, the big guy in front got in the way of a picture of her bending over backwards and up again.
She was obviously pleased with the feat. Her feet were bare by the way. Don't think she could twirl with those point shoes on.
This is the rear view of one of five new banners paraded this year: this one for the Aged Miners' Homes movement. It was dedicated later at a service in the Cathedral.
Another biblical reference, this time from Lambton; Jesus walks on water with a child and a suitable verse is shown beneath.
Here, a bandsman doubles as conductor. His instrument is on the ground.
This is the brass band from Ohio who led in the new Bowburn banner. They were the first American band to play at the Gala for 47 years. Scarily, I was there then. I think it was an American Airforce band and they play St Louis Blues. I was only 7. This lot played Marching with Sousa while their equivalent of a majorette twirled his baton, not very successfully. The chap leaning forward and looking to see how many more banners are coming is former Labour MP Tony Benn - a stalwart of the Gala. He never misses.
This was one of his better moves.
And here's the rear view of the banner.
Here's the reverse of our banner showing the old pithead with some tubs in the foreground. Nothing is left now.
And still they come. This is actually a teaching union, not mine, protesting the introduction of academies in the county. Notice the banners still waiting to come down the bank. This was nearing noon.
This banner features the convalescent and rest home for miners at Conishead.
And this is the reverse of the Vane Tempest banner. It's called "The Famous View" and features Durham Cathedral from its most photographed side. The Vane Tempest pit was on the cliff top at Seaham. It found coal under the sea bed up to six miles out. There is a massive housing estate on the site now called East Shore Village. It's the place to live in Seaham.
Here's another Pipe Band from a bit nearer the Border: Morpeth. So it featured some Scottish country dancers doing a Highland Fling.
Last band through at 1.30, featuring a girl with one arm on horn. Notice our friend from Chopwell flicking through the programme and revealing yet another banner with two Labour politicians from the past. Only one current Labour MP turned up - from Midlothian.
And here's the view at 1.50 with crowds still milling. The last band had barely got to the Racecourse before the first was marching off. There were great scenes at the top of the hill where people sat on the steps and cheered each band as it marched back up the cobbles, many of them playing, Naturally they stopped for a breather there and often played a tune. Others performed impromptu mini concerts in the market place. If you love brass bands, Durham on the second Saturday in July is the place to be.
I got home at ten past six, completely knackered, with a pot of strawberry jam made with the ones we picked last Saturday. I had two slices of toast with some of it. Absolutely delicious. My mam made 19 jars. That should last a bit.
This is part of the first band we saw at 9 o'clock, though not the first band down as they sneaked in at 8.30!
Crookhall Lodge banner. This is part of Consett and actually the first branch of the Labour Party I belonged to. Course that was 25 years ago. I wouldn't bother now.
Trimdon Grange banner protected with plastic sheeting against the elements. Fortunately, it didn't rain, although it looked a bit threatening after one band played Singin' in the Rain.
We marched down the hill with this band from Harrogate. They didn't make it for another 40 minutes after we arrived. They were good.
One of several Pipe bands; this one is from Houghton-le-Spring, which is not in Scotland. I like it when the girls twirl their drumsticks.
A typical biblical homily can be found on Lumley 6th Pit's banner: the lion will lie down with the lamb complete with shepherd boy. Just another example of how a miner would see Paradise. Many were religious, goes with the territory, often Methodists.
This Indian group was very popular last year but my batteries went before the dancer came on.
No such problem this time. Unfortunately, the big guy in front got in the way of a picture of her bending over backwards and up again.
She was obviously pleased with the feat. Her feet were bare by the way. Don't think she could twirl with those point shoes on.
This is the rear view of one of five new banners paraded this year: this one for the Aged Miners' Homes movement. It was dedicated later at a service in the Cathedral.
Another biblical reference, this time from Lambton; Jesus walks on water with a child and a suitable verse is shown beneath.
Here, a bandsman doubles as conductor. His instrument is on the ground.
This is the brass band from Ohio who led in the new Bowburn banner. They were the first American band to play at the Gala for 47 years. Scarily, I was there then. I think it was an American Airforce band and they play St Louis Blues. I was only 7. This lot played Marching with Sousa while their equivalent of a majorette twirled his baton, not very successfully. The chap leaning forward and looking to see how many more banners are coming is former Labour MP Tony Benn - a stalwart of the Gala. He never misses.
This was one of his better moves.
And here's the rear view of the banner.
Here's the reverse of our banner showing the old pithead with some tubs in the foreground. Nothing is left now.
And still they come. This is actually a teaching union, not mine, protesting the introduction of academies in the county. Notice the banners still waiting to come down the bank. This was nearing noon.
This banner features the convalescent and rest home for miners at Conishead.
And this is the reverse of the Vane Tempest banner. It's called "The Famous View" and features Durham Cathedral from its most photographed side. The Vane Tempest pit was on the cliff top at Seaham. It found coal under the sea bed up to six miles out. There is a massive housing estate on the site now called East Shore Village. It's the place to live in Seaham.
Here's another Pipe Band from a bit nearer the Border: Morpeth. So it featured some Scottish country dancers doing a Highland Fling.
Last band through at 1.30, featuring a girl with one arm on horn. Notice our friend from Chopwell flicking through the programme and revealing yet another banner with two Labour politicians from the past. Only one current Labour MP turned up - from Midlothian.
And here's the view at 1.50 with crowds still milling. The last band had barely got to the Racecourse before the first was marching off. There were great scenes at the top of the hill where people sat on the steps and cheered each band as it marched back up the cobbles, many of them playing, Naturally they stopped for a breather there and often played a tune. Others performed impromptu mini concerts in the market place. If you love brass bands, Durham on the second Saturday in July is the place to be.
I got home at ten past six, completely knackered, with a pot of strawberry jam made with the ones we picked last Saturday. I had two slices of toast with some of it. Absolutely delicious. My mam made 19 jars. That should last a bit.
