Washington County Durham
HOME WHAT'S WHERE MINING COLLECTION 1
Memories of Mining
Concord Miners' Blue Plaque & Statue
- Blue Plaque
- Miners' Statue
- Sculptor
- Ceremony
- Blessing
- Booklet
- Echo Article
- NUM Badges
- 'Big Meeting' Plate
WASHINGTON MINERS' BLUE PLAQUE
Commemorating Mineworkers from Local Coal Mines
( Officially Unveiled on Friday, 24th July 2020 )
Photographer: Tom Copeman, Member of Washington History Society.
[ Friday, 24th July 2020 ]
The Washington Miners' Memorial Stone and Blue Plaque can be seen close to the Washington Miners' Statue
on the grassed area between Victoria Road and Concord Bus Station.
Washington Miners' Memorial - Flowers laid by Councillor Jill Fletcher
[ Photographer: Tom Copeman ]
Councillor Graeme Miller, Leader of Sunderland Council
Les Simpson, Chairman of Washington Miners and Community Heritage Group
Sharon Hodgson MP - Kevin Roddy, Washington Miners' Banner Group
Councillor Jill Fletcher - Wilf Brown, Bowes Railway Museum Volunteer and former Miner
Alan Mardghum, President / Secretary of the Durham Miners' Association, and former Wearmouth Lodge Secretary.
[ Photographer: Tom Copeman ]
The Miners' Memorial Stone & Plaque were unveiled by Sharon Hodgson, Graeme Miller and Alan Mardghum.
N.B. The brief, informal Unveiling Ceremony took place during the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic, hence the absence of crowds and ceremony.
[ See Washington Glebe Disaster, Washington 'F' Pit and Usworth Fatalities via the Top Menu ]
WASHINGTON MINERS' STATUE
( A Miner, his Wife and Son. "Don't forget your bait, Dad." )
'STEPPING OUT INTO A BRIGHTER FUTURE'
Sculptor: Carl Payne
Photographer: Kieron Mathews, 10th May 2016.
Sited near Concord Bus Station, Washington.
Thanks to Washington Miners and Community Heritage Group.
Funded by Washington Area Committee
WASHINGTON MINERS' STATUE
Usworth & Glebe Banner Groups visit the Sculptor in Stoke
Mr Les Simpson, Chairman of Washington Miners and Community Heritage Group
( Thursday, 8th March 2012 )
Sculptor Carl Payne with The Washington Miner
The Washington Miner's Family - Almost Complete
( Thursday, 8th March 2012 )
[ Photographs taken by Members of Usworth & Glebe Banner Groups. Thanks to Cllr John Kelly. ]
WASHINGTON MINERS' STATUE
The Unveiling Ceremony
Saturday, 31st March 2012
Mr David Hopper (left), General Secretary of Durham Miners Association, does the Honours.
Cllr Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland Council - Cllr John Kelly
Mr David Hopper, General Secretary of Durham Miners Association - Mrs Sharon Hodgson MP
Applause from the Large Crowd along Victoria Road
Mr David Hopper
General Secretary DMA
Revd Paul Grundy
Rector of Usworth Holy Trinity Church
Prayers at the Unveiling Ceremony were led by Revd Grundy.
[ Photographs taken by Members of Usworth & Glebe Banner Groups. Thanks to Cllr John Kelly. ]
WASHINGTON MINERS' STATUE
Blessing of the Miners' Statue
Sunday, 9th September 2012
Cllr Bob Heron, Mayor of Sunderland - Rt Revd Mark Bryant, Bishop of Jarrow
Washington Miners Statue with Usworth, Washington Glebe & Washington 'F' Pit Lodge Banners.
The young man in the picture is wearing the colours of Usworth Primary School.
The Bishop also blessed Banners created by local Primary Schools.
[ Wessington, Usworth Colliery, Albany, St. Bede's, Springwell, John F. Kennedy and Usworth Grange. ]
Rt Revd MARK BRYANT - BISHOP of JARROW
"It is essential that people continue to remember the sacrifices made by the region's Miners
and that younger generations are educated in the region's mining past."
[ Photographs taken by Members of Usworth & Glebe Banner Groups. Thanks to Cllr John Kelly. ]
WASHINGTON MINERS' STATUE
Programme for Unveiling Ceremony
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WASHINGTON MINERS' STATUE
Sunderland Echo Article
12th September 2012
Transcript of Sunderland Echo Article
Picture of Usworth Colliery
NUM BADGES
Durham Miners Association
Durham Mechanics
The Section of the NUM for Colliery Craftsmen
e.g Electricians, Fitters, Blacksmiths, Welders, and their Apprentices.
[ Thanks to owner of Badges Dave Jones, former Durham Mechanics Member / Fitter at Herrington Colliery. ]
• • ◊ • •
Collery Officials and Staffs Area
Durham Enginemen
COSA
The Section of the NUM for Colliery Officials and Clerical Staff throughout the NE Area.
e.g Assistant Electrical / Mechanical Engineers, Ventilation Officers and Clerical
Staff at Local Pits, 'A' Group HQ (Usworth Hall) and NE HQ (Team Valley).
Durham Enginemen
The Section of the NUM for Colliery Windermen (Pit Cage Operators) and
other Major Machine Operators, surface and underground.
This Section also included Lorry Drivers.
• • ◊ • •
NUM National Badge
DMA Strike Badge
NUM Ties
Durham Miners Epic Strike 1984-85
Dawdon Colliery 1907-1991
[ Thanks to Dave Jones. ]
Miscellaneous Items
[ Thanks to Dave Jones. ]
• • ◊ • •
OTHER MINING UNIONS
NACODS
National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers
BACM
British Association of Colliery Management
Colliery Manager, Deputy Manager and Undermanagers,
Colliery Electrical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer and their Deputies,
Colliery Surveyor and Personnel Manager.
Senior Staff at Area HQ.
[ Middle Management Colliery Staff were termed 'Weekly Paid Industrial Staff' (WPIS). Senior Staff (BACM) were paid a salary. ]
DURHAM 'BIG MEETING'
Gala Commemoration Plate
( 1993 )
Thanks to former 'F' Pit Miner, Jeff Platt, whose family owned this fabulous Plate,
and to Washington History Society for making its image available.
Inscription on Rear of Plate
We will hopefully be able to sustain and retain for future generations this Great Historic and Social Event.
• • ◊ • •
Durham Big Meeting
Usworth Lodge Banner on North Road having just left Durham Station (1953)
Peter McGivern (bait tucked safely inside his jacket)
Durham Big Meeting
Usworth Lodge Banner at Elvet Bridge (1973)
Thanks to Lenny Wilson (glasses, below Banner pole)
Durham Big Meeting
Usworth Lodge Banner passing The County Hotel en route to The Racecourse
Durham Big Meeting
Usworth Lodge Banner leading the Colliery Band, Miners, Family & Friends onto The Racecourse (1952)
Durham Big Meeting
'Old Mother Riley' (Matty Snell) relaxing on The Racecourse with the Usworth Lodge Banner (1954)
Usworth Lodge Banner and Colliery Band entering Manor Road
en route to Usworth Miners' Welfare Hall