Buckhaven at Durham Miners Gala
Buckhaven & Methil Miners Brass Band are back from Durham Miners Gala. This is the third consecutive year that the Band have marched at the famous Miners Gala. The Band travelled down on Friday 8th July and spent an enjoyable evening at their hotel for the weekend, The Copthorne Millenium on the banks of the River Tyne, right in the centre of Newcastle. It was an early start on the Saturday. At 8:00am the Band marched through the mining village of Thornley in County Durham picking up the residents who were going to the Gala for the day, stopping at both the War Memorial and Mining Memorial to play 2 verses from the Miners Hymn, Gresford. Then, onto the coaches for the trip into Durham where the Band mustered at the University. From there it was a March into the centre of Durham to the Royal County Hotel. This is where all the bands stop and play an entertainment piece for the dignitaries on the balcony of the hotel and the thousands of people congregated around. This year the Band played 'Hoots Mon', an Alan Fernie arrangement of a 1958 hit by Lord Rockingham. As the Band were the only Scottish brass band in attendance, this piece went down really well with the crowds. From there it was marching and playing to the Old Racecourse playing fields where the 'Big Event', as the locals call it, took place.
During the Gala on the Racecourse two of our younger players, percussionist Ruaridh Neil and cornet player Adam Cowan met someone famous. He is Carlos Bugueno Alfara, one of the Chilean Miners trapped underground for seventy days. Carlos and one of his colleagues were guests of honour at this year's Gala. The two boys were pleased to have their photographs taken with Carlos......
Ruaridh Adam
After a couple of hours free time, allowing for lunch and refreshments, it was onto Durham Cathedral to march and escort the Thornley Mine Banner following a dedication service in the famous church. Following a meal in a local hostelry it was then back onto the coach back into Newcastle, where there was plenty of different entertainments available for all the varied age groups in the party.
On Sunday morning, after a leisurely late breakfast, the Band said farewell to Newcastle and headed to Beamish Open Air Museum. It is also the Band's third year back here to play on the Victorian bandstand, and this year the audience seemed larger than before, probably due to the beautiful sunny weather. When a band accepts a booking to play in Beamish it is stipulated that the music played should be from the period reflected in the surrounding 'living museum', the early 1900's. This year our conductor, Dave Neil, managed to slip in a few more modern pieces that sounded like they were from that era, and no-one seemed to notice!! After the concert it was back on the bus and back up to Scotland after another successful trip.
For more information on Durham Miners Gala there are plenty of videos available on www.youtube.com. Worth a look if your band is planning a visit.
