Name: Thomas Hepburn Memorial Service 2024
Start: 2024-10-12T11:00:00+01:00
End: 2024-10-12T12:30:00+01:00
Location: Heworth St Mary

Join the Durham Miners Association to remember and celebrate the founder of the first miners' trade union.
The 2024 Thomas Hepburn Memorial Service will take place at St Mary's Church, Heworth Saturday 12 October 2024. The service begins at 11am and the church will be open from 10am.
Tommy dedicated his life to improve the conditions miners and their families, and is a significant figure in the development of trades unionism in the region.
It is vitally important that we keep our history alive and that we remember people such as Thomas Hepburn. We encourage banner groups and trades unions to attend and bring their banners. Let's ensure a great turn out for Tommy.
This year’s address will be given by Matt Wrack, the General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and a tremendous supporter of the Durham Miners and our coalfield communities.
The service will also feature music from North East folk singer Bill Elliott, member of the famous ‘Elliotts of Birtley’, and the Durham Miners Association Brass Band, who will play during the service, before performing Gresford, the miners’ hymn, at Thomas Hepburn’s graveside.
Following the service and laying of wreaths, people are welcome to join the DMA and the Follonsby–Wardley banner group for refreshments at The Wardley Club, Palmers bank, Sunderland Rd, Wardley, Gateshead, Newcastle NE10 8AU.
ABOUT THOMAS HEPBURN
Thomas Hepburn was born in Pelton in 1795. When his father was killed in a pit accident, he began work at Urpeth Colliery to support his family - at the age of eight. He went on to work at Lamb’s Colliery in Fatfield, Jarrow Colliery, then in 1822 at Hetton Colliery. The same year, he became a Primitive Methodist and a lay preacher.
In 1825, he founded ‘The Colliers United Association of Durham and Northumberland’ - the first miners union - and became its leader.
In 1831, the union led a successful strike - winning a reduction in the working day for children under the age of 12 from 18 hours to 12 hours.
Following this, the colliery owners organised to destroy the union and Hepburn and other leaders were blacklisted.
Hepburn remained an active Chartist throughout his life, and dedicated himself to working-class education. He died in 1864 and is buried at St Mary’s Church, Heworth. His portrait features on several Durham Miners’ Association lodge banners. He is pictured (above) on the Sacriston banner.